SWATCH SISTEM51 HODINKEE GENERATION 1990 Watch

There is something about the understated simplicity of a SWATCH watch that we love here at The Coolector and when we saw that they’d be joining forces with Hodinkee for the SISTEM51 HODINKEE GENERATION 1990 Watch, it was inevitable that it would be love at first sight – and so it has proven to be. Offering the always alluring California dial in a whole new colourway – what’s not to love about this fantastic collab from two timepiece colossuses.

The SWATCH SISTEM51 HODINKEE GENERATION 1990 Watch has a wallet friendly price tag of just $170 and when designing the Generation 1990, Hodinkee wanted to draw on elements rooted in watchmaking history. One of the first pieces of inspiration that rose to the surface was the California dial and that has really given this timepiece an impactful punch like few other SWATCH watches out there.

Vintage Vibes

The unique California dial design pairs Roman numerals on the top portion of the dial with Arabic numerals on the lower half, which is responsible for delivering a strong visual interest and effortless readability. To further enhance the design, Hodinkee have incorporated a new colourway featuring five bold hues that are both seasonal and unconventional. The green colour ensures a striking twist on a more common blue or black case. In addition, the subtle grained texture of the navy dial provides an interesting spin on the sunburst finish you may remember from Hodnikee’s first collab with Swatch.

As if the California dial and all-new colourway weren’t enough for this SWATCH SISTEM51 HODINKEE GENERATION 1990 Watch ($170), the back of the timepiece is just as much a talking point as the front. Inside the Generation 1990 is the automatic SISTEM51 caliber with a Nivachron™ balance spring, which is a titanium-based alloy that’s resistant to magnetism, shocks, ageing, and temperature variation. It has 30 meters of water resistance, alongside a thoroughly impressive 90-hour power reserve.

There is also a date complication, which is located at six o’clock on the dial. The SISTEM51 is visible in all its glory through the exhibition caseback and this gives this watch a real visual edge that isn’t often seen in timepieces at this price point.

Innovative Design

A new design feature of this SWATCH / Hodinkee collab is a fully transparent rotor plate with the brand’s signature “H” pattern around the periphery. To achieve this unique visual and functional element, SWATCH used a solid piece of synthetic material charged with half-weighted tungsten, as opposed to the traditional half rotor.

At just $170, the SWATCH SISTEM51 HODINKEE GENERATION 1990 Watch doesn’t break the bank but will add a really compelling accessory to your wrist that boasts a pleasing sense of minimalism but with striking design elements in all the right place. Definitely a watch we’ll be looking to add to our own collection here at The Coolector.