The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

For me it is really THE military watch (type 2nd World War) par excellence. Great simplicity in design and therefore very good readability. Too bad that the water resistance is given for 5 bars only. The lugs are a little long for my taste (significant gap between the bracelet and the case). I appreciate the 3 days of power reserve. A watch that I wear during my travels or trips to areas where it is better not to have a watch that is too "flashy".

THE military watch

After watching a very comprehensive report on the spring drive movement that definitely convinced me that this movement is indeed a mechanical movement above all, I started to analyze the different models and see which one could suit me best. At the same time I was looking for a green watch. By cross-referencing the 2 criteria (spring drive + green dial) I arrived at this SBGE257 model. In the process I went to an AD Grand Seiko (Bijouterie Médard in Versailles) where I had the chance to try it. After 2 days of thinking about it I went back to buy it. For 8 months it is the watch that I wear the most, it is superb from all angles. The dial is matte most of the time and becomes sunray in strong light. The precision of the springdrive is obviously unbeatable (I noticed a drift of 1 to 2s per month). The zaratsu polishing of the hands and indexes is incredible. This is one of the watches that raises the most questions when I wear it, especially with its second hand with a perfectly fluid movement that slides endlessly. As you will have understood, I highly recommend this model. With my Rolex Explorer II, it has become my favorite daily. The only downside: the screws on the bracelet links are really very small and difficult to handle (the bracelet should be adjusted by your watchmaker).

SBGE257: superb

Military-inspired watch, but only inspired because unlike my 38mm khaki (see my other reviews), this one has some flaws that make it unsuitable for all-terrain use, notably the mirror-polished bezel and the combination of a glossy dial and the lack of anti-reflective coating, which means it constantly reflects light, which is quite annoying (especially when taking photos! It's a real pain).

military-inspired watch

The main criterion that led to my purchase is this incredible "linen canvas" dial but it is not the only asset of this watch. It is very thin and therefore very pleasant to wear. The day can be displayed in English or in kanji. The applique logos (Seiko & Lord matic) bring relief, as well as the indexes. There is great Seiko in this Seiko. A great treat for not much money (300 euros on Chrono 24).

superb dial, very thin case, for a very sexy price

This is the BR V2 92 steel heritage model with the tropical rubber strap. A military-style watch, very readable. The cream color of the hands and indexes gives a nice vintage look. I love the delta wing-shaped second hand base (looks like the wing of the Mirage 2000 with its single engine). The window is very discreet thanks to its black background and its small size. The watch is very flat and its rubber strap is very comfortable to wear.

a good military style watch

I bought this hefty piece (it's quite heavy) in the early 2000s. I don't wear it on my wrist anymore, but I still carry it in my heart :) because it brings back memories of a particular period in my life. Maybe I'll wear it again someday. It still looks great, it's very legible, the sunburst dial is beautiful, and the crystal that follows the curve of the case is a nice touch...that's it, I want to wear it again!

I'm not wearing it at the moment, but I'm attached to it.

Launched in Switzerland in 1983, Swatch transformed the watch into an accessible, colorful, changeable object, conceived as a &ldquo;second watch&rdquo; worn by desire, mood, or design taste, rather than as a single solemn lifetime purchase.
<h3>1983: the &ldquo;second watch&rdquo; that revived the Swiss imagination</h3>
Swatch was born in a period of watchmaking crisis, when the Swiss industry had to respond to quartz competition and the rise of affordable watches from Asia. The answer was not only technical: it was cultural. Swatch offered an accessible Swiss watch, industrially produced, with an emotional, young, immediate design that turned the watch into a style signal.
The idea of a &ldquo;second watch&rdquo; is central: the watch does not necessarily replace the classic piece; it accompanies it. You can own several, change according to clothes, seasons, travels, or memories. This logic deeply changed the public&rsquo;s relationship with watches: instead of being a rare object kept for life without variation, the watch became a living accessory, almost an extension of personality.
This revolution also relies on great industrial simplicity, with a construction designed to reduce component count, ease assembly, and keep prices contained. This choice is not incidental: it explains how Swatch could combine Swiss Made, global distribution, renewed design, and accessibility while becoming one of the symbols of the Swiss watchmaking revival of the 1980s.
<h3>Plastic, color, and pop culture: the watch as mood</h3>
Plastic becomes a material of expression at Swatch, not merely an economic choice. It enables color, lightness, graphic freedom, transparency, patterns, themed editions, and more spontaneous forms. While many brands associate seriousness with steel or gold, Swatch embraces another idea: value can come from creativity, freshness, and immediate pleasure.
The dial and strap work like a canvas, which explains the richness of the collections and the historical place of artists, illustrators, designers, and cultural collaborations in the brand universe. A Swatch can be monochrome, humorous, graphic, sporty, minimalist, or deliberately extravagant. That diversity is part of its DNA: the brand does not seek one dominant aesthetic, but a permanent energy of renewal.
This freedom makes Swatch very different from a classic watch brand. You do not choose a reference only for its specifications, but for the visual emotion it triggers. The watch can recall an era, a trip, an exhibition, a specific collection, or a fashion moment. This also explains the strength of the community: some Swatches become personal memories, others sought-after collectibles.
<h3>Originals, Skin, Irony: three entry points into the Swatch universe</h3>
The major Swatch families read like a wardrobe, with very different intentions depending on the level of presence you want. Originals embodies the most iconic spirit, Skin focuses on thinness and lightness, while Irony brings a more metallic, urban feel. This structure keeps the brand highly accessible: the buyer chooses an attitude first, then a color, size, or finish.
<ul>
<li>Swatch Originals &mdash; The brand&rsquo;s historical spirit: color, graphics, lightness, and collecting energy.</li>
<li>Swatch Skin &mdash; An ultra-thin line designed for comfort and an almost imperceptible wrist presence.</li>
<li>Swatch Irony &mdash; A more urban proposition, often more metallic, with a stronger &ldquo;watch&rdquo; feel on the wrist.</li>
<li>Swatch Sistem51 &mdash; An accessible automatic watch designed to democratize mechanical pleasure.</li>
<li>Swatch Big Bold &mdash; A more expressive line, with larger cases and an openly graphic presence.</li>
</ul>
This family logic prevents Swatch from being reduced to a single image. The brand can be playful, minimalist, automatic, sporty, or more fashion-driven depending on the collection. To choose well, start from real use: a very thin watch to forget it on the wrist, an Originals for graphic pleasure, an Irony for a more urban result, or a Big Bold to embrace stronger presence.
<h3>Sistem51: making automatic watchmaking accessible without losing the Swatch spirit</h3>
Swatch Sistem51 marked an important step, because the brand translated its democratizing ambition into the world of automatic mechanical watches. The idea is simple: offer contemporary mechanics, industrially produced, with accessible positioning and an aesthetic that remains faithful to the Swatch spirit.
The pleasure here is not decorative high horology, but that of an automatic watch that is easy to understand, playful, and coherent with the brand&rsquo;s historic promise. Sistem51 speaks to people who want to discover mechanics without entering an intimidating universe, or accepting the prices and very serious codes of traditional houses.
This proposition also has symbolic value: it reminds us that Swatch is not only a brand of colorful quartz watches, but a brand capable of changing public perception. By making automatic watchmaking more affordable and more fun, Swatch extends its original mission: opening watchmaking to a broader audience.
<h3>BioCeramic, MoonSwatch, and Scuba Fifty Fathoms: the halo effect of collaborations</h3>
BioCeramic has become a key material in the recent period, notably because it gives a denser, more contemporary feel than traditional plastic while keeping the lightness and freedom of color that belong to Swatch. The material therefore participates in the story: it modernizes touch, enriches object perception, and supports the most visible collaborations.
The MoonSwatch changed the scale of the phenomenon, taking the codes of OMEGA&rsquo;s Speedmaster Moonwatch into an accessible, colorful Swatch version built around BioCeramic. Its success comes from a powerful mix: an instantly recognizable watch icon, a popular brand able to make it playful, and a distribution model that turned buying into an event.
The collaboration with Blancpain extends this strategy, with the Scuba Fifty Fathoms revisiting another major watchmaking myth in a more relaxed, more colorful, more accessible register. These projects are not simple derivative products: they reinforce the idea that Swatch can be a bridge between the wider public and historical references within the group, creating desire without requiring the same budgets.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/swatch/moonswatch">Swatch MoonSwatch</a> &mdash; Collaboration with <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/omega">Omega</a> around the codes of the Speedmaster Moonwatch.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/swatch/bioceramic_scuba_fifty_fathoms">Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms</a> &mdash; Collaboration with <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/blancpain">Blancpain</a> inspired by the Fifty Fathoms universe and diving.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/swatch/royal_pop_x_audemars_piguet">Swatch Royal Pop</a> &mdash; Announced collaboration with <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/audemars_piguet">Audemars Piguet</a> around a highly pop, wearable reading of iconic codes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Collecting Swatch: pleasure, rarity, and reasonable buying</h3>
Swatch holds a special place in watch collecting, because it combines accessibility, creative abundance, and occasional rarity. Some editions become highly sought after, not because they are luxurious in the traditional sense, but because they capture an era, a collaboration, a motif, or a cultural moment. Swatch collecting is therefore less about complications than about visual memory.
The risk is confusing pleasure with hype. A watch bought because it is buzzing can lose interest if it does not fit your style or comfort. Conversely, a simpler Swatch chosen for a color or graphic idea that truly speaks to you can become a watch you wear very often. The right purchase is the one that keeps its power to make you smile after the event.
To choose calmly, stay concrete: case comfort, perceived size, legibility, strap type, expected resistance, and real availability. Swatch is a pleasure brand, but daily satisfaction depends on the same criteria as any watch: desire to wear it, ease of use, and coherence with your life.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Swatch is for people who want an accessible, expressive, easy-to-live watch, able to move from colorful accessory to collectible object or event collaboration. Its identity rests on one strong idea: the watch can be joyful, renewable, cultural, and Swiss at the same time. To choose well, start from your use case &mdash; daily fun, discreet thinness, a more metallic feel, accessible automatic mechanics, or iconic collaboration &mdash; then validate comfort and real wrist pleasure. To compare that desire with concrete owner experiences, consult Dialicious customer reviews.
(Updated May 2026)
Sources consult&eacute;es hors HTML : l&rsquo;historique officiel du Swatch Group confirme le lancement de Swatch en 1983 comme montre suisse &ldquo;second watch&rdquo; low-cost, high-tech, artistique et &eacute;motionnelle ; Swatch pr&eacute;sente ses familles et ic&ocirc;nes actuelles, dont Originals, Skin, Sistem51, BioCeramic et MoonSwatch ; la collection MoonSwatch est d&eacute;crite par Swatch comme une collaboration reprenant les codes de la Speedmaster Moonwatch ; l&rsquo;annonce r&eacute;cente Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop a &eacute;t&eacute; publi&eacute;e en mai 2026.

Swatch Cobblestone, 40 mm.
A pleasant watch for summer. As light as a plastic Swatch! Its gray color is unique due to the transparent case back, which reveals the mechanism. It's easy to read with its blue indexes and red hands. The strap is very flexible, which is pleasant. I own a few Swatch watches, and this is by far the loudest... a real 80s alarm clock!!! Irreplaceable for keeping accurate time every day.

Light, readable, precise...but noisy!

Another gift. Maximum emotion because it was a gift from my darling.
It is a fun and unpretentious quartz watch, "artists" collection: the dial reproduces the great wave of Kanagawa, a print by Hokusai, a somewhat forgotten figure of impressionism.
Despite what we hear about Swatch (plastic watch, quartz, etc.) we must admit that it is a good model that can go anywhere.
Disadvantage: the quartz movement is extremely noisy...Impossible to sleep in the same room as my watch! That is also why I rarely wear it, and only when I am in a noisy environment (restaurant, concert, etc.) or outdoors.
Too bad because for the rest, it is perfect.

Fun art

Swatch Obsidian Shimmer, 40 mm
Very flat metal case, metal pin buckle, very supple silicone strap. Very comfortable and very readable. Its dial could be mesmerizing. No lume for nighttime use, which is a shame. No second hand, extremely silent. Impulse purchase at a price (€215) that I find excessive for such a watch.

A silent but expensive Swatch...

Another collector's item from the 1st generation of Swatch. When I show my watch collection, some people ask me: "Why do you bother with all these plastic Swatches?" First of all, I only have 3/4 of them and each one is either a memory of the journey taken before arriving at more prestigious models, or they are part of history.

In this case, it has never been taken out of its box except to take the photos in this review and allow you, like me, to remember where Swiss watchmaking comes from before forgetting it with a Swatch x Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 😎

Far from the wrist and yet not far from the heart!

Released around 2002, for the 40th anniversary of James Bond, this watch pays homage to the film Dr. NO.
It's quite unusual with its square chronograph case and three dials plus a date.
The rubber strap is quite comfortable and makes it easy to wear.
A watch that stands out in a Swatch collection thanks to its original design.

007 WEARING SWATCHES!

ZRC est une maison horlog&egrave;re fond&eacute;e en 1904 &agrave; Gen&egrave;ve (Suisse) par Edmond Zuccolo et Joseph Rochet. N&eacute;e dans l&rsquo;univers des cha&icirc;nes de gousset puis des bracelets m&eacute;talliques extensibles, la marque s&rsquo;adresse aujourd&rsquo;hui aux amateurs de plongeuses-outils iconiques, rendue c&eacute;l&egrave;bre par sa Grands Fonds d&eacute;velopp&eacute;e pour la Marine nationale &agrave; partir des ann&eacute;es 1960.
<h3>Couronne &agrave; 6 h, bo&icirc;tier monobloc et esprit Marine nationale</h3>
Con&ccedil;ue pour r&eacute;pondre aux contraintes op&eacute;rationnelles des plongeurs-d&eacute;mineurs fran&ccedil;ais, la Grands Fonds adopte la couronne &agrave; 6 h, un bo&icirc;tier monobloc et des solutions maison comme l&rsquo;ECS (Easy Clean System) et le CPS (Crown Protection System). Dans la pratique, la couronne &agrave; 6 h et le CPS emp&ecirc;chent de porter la montre si la couronne n&rsquo;est pas parfaitement viss&eacute;e, limitant ainsi les risques d&rsquo;erreur avant immersion ; l&rsquo;ECS facilite le rin&ccedil;age pour &eacute;viter la cristallisation du sel sous la lunette.
<h3>Grands Fonds et d&eacute;clinaisons contemporaines</h3>
La collection actuelle d&eacute;cline l&rsquo;ADN historique (lisibilit&eacute;, ergonomie de terrain, silhouette &laquo; outil &raquo;) en plusieurs tailles et niveaux de performance. Quel que soit le mod&egrave;le, l&rsquo;architecture et la signature &agrave; 6 h rendent la lecture imm&eacute;diate et l&rsquo;identit&eacute; instantan&eacute;ment reconnaissable.
<ul>
<li>ZRC Grands Fonds MN64 &mdash; Hommage aux sp&eacute;cifications Marine nationale, codes historiques de cadran et de lunette.</li>
<li>ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage&nbsp;&mdash; Gabarit plus contenu (38 mm) conservant la signature de couronne &agrave; 6 h pour les poignets fins.</li>
<li>ZRC Securicode &mdash; R&eacute;interpr&eacute;tation d&rsquo;un th&egrave;me de la fin des ann&eacute;es 1950/1960, avec &eacute;l&eacute;ments de style historiques.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Positionnement : outil pro, prix et distribution</h3>
La marque revendique un positionnement &laquo; instrument de plong&eacute;e &raquo; au sein de l&rsquo;horlogerie ind&eacute;pendante suisse, avec volumes de production non communiqu&eacute; et diffusion s&eacute;lective (d&eacute;taillants sp&eacute;cialis&eacute;s et vente directe). &Agrave; titre indicatif, de nombreuses r&eacute;f&eacute;rences acier se situent autour de 2 500&ndash;3 000 &euro;, tandis que des versions techniques en titane d&eacute;passent 4 000 &euro; ; certaines &eacute;ditions sp&eacute;ciales ou m&eacute;taux nobles s&rsquo;&eacute;tablissent nettement au-del&agrave;. Pr&eacute;sence confirm&eacute;e en France avec des &eacute;taillants comme <a href="https://www.bijouterie-clouzeau.fr/fr/marques/zrc-1904">Clouzeau</a> ou <a href="https://www.berenger.fr/fr/horlogerie-berenger/marques/zrc-1904">Berenger</a>, et sur quelques march&eacute;s Asie/Moyen-Orient via un r&eacute;seau resserr&eacute;.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
ZRC s&rsquo;adresse aux amateurs de montres-outils au style imm&eacute;diatement identifiable, qui privil&eacute;gient la fonctionnalit&eacute;, la lisibilit&eacute; et une signature de design forte. Le choix se fera entre un usage polyvalent quotidien (Grands Fonds 300/38), une filiation historique appuy&eacute;e (MN64, Securicode) ou une approche plus technique et extr&ecirc;me (Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium). Les acheteurs sensibles &agrave; l&rsquo;ergonomie appr&eacute;cieront la couronne &agrave; 6 h et la s&eacute;curit&eacute; du CPS ; les puristes salueront la coh&eacute;rence d&rsquo;ensemble. Pour &eacute;clairer votre d&eacute;cision au-del&agrave; de la fiche technique, fiez-vous&nbsp;aux avis clients Dialicious, utiles pour comprendre confort, lisibilit&eacute; r&eacute;elle et ressenti au port&eacute;.
(Mise &agrave; jour Ao&ucirc;t 2025)

ZRC is a watch brand founded in 1904 in Geneva, Switzerland, by Edmond Zuccolo and Joseph Rochet. Born in the field of pocket-watch chains and later expandable metal bracelets, the brand now caters to enthusiasts of iconic tool divers, made famous by its Grands Fonds developed for the French Navy from the 1960s onward.
<h3>6 o&rsquo;clock crown, monobloc case and French Navy spirit</h3>
Engineered to meet the operational demands of French Navy mine-clearance divers, the Grands Fonds features a 6 o&rsquo;clock crown, a monobloc case and in-house solutions such as ECS (Easy Clean System) and CPS (Crown Protection System). In practice, the 6 o&rsquo;clock crown and CPS prevent the watch from being worn unless the crown is fully screwed down, reducing user error prior to immersion; ECS helps flush out salt to prevent crystallization under the bezel.
<h3>Grands Fonds and contemporary variants</h3>
The current collection translates the historical DNA (legibility, field ergonomics, tool-watch silhouette) into multiple sizes and performance levels. Whichever the model, the 6 o&rsquo;clock signature ensures instant readability and an immediately recognisable identity.
<ul>
<li>ZRC Grands Fonds MN64 &mdash; Core diver inspired by 1964, 300 m, bold legibility for versatile daily wear.</li>
<li>ZRC Grands Fonds Hertiage &mdash; Smaller 38 mm option retaining the 6 o&rsquo;clock crown signature for slimmer wrists.</li>
<li>ZRC Securicode &mdash; Reinterpretation of a late-1950s/1960s theme with historical design elements.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Positioning: pro tool, pricing and distribution</h3>
The brand&rsquo;s stance is that of an independent Swiss &ldquo;diving instrument,&rdquo; with production volumes not disclosed and selective distribution (specialist retailers and direct sales). As a guide, many steel references sit around &euro;2,500&ndash;3,000, while technical titanium pieces exceed &euro;4,000; special editions or precious-metal variants are significantly higher. Presence is established in Europe such as <a href="https://www.soprana.com/zrc-1904/?lang=en">Soprana</a> in Italy or <a href="https://junod-lausanne.ch/fr/collections/zrc">Junod</a> in Switzerland, and selected Asian/Middle-Eastern markets through a tight retail network.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
ZRC speaks to those who value immediately recognisable tool-watch design with functional clarity and a strong signature. Your choice will likely fall between versatile daily wear (Grands Fonds 300/38), an emphatic historical link (MN64, Securicode), or a more technical, extreme approach (Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium). Ergonomics benefit from the 6 o&rsquo;clock crown and CPS safety; purists will appreciate the overall coherence. To refine your decision beyond the spec sheet, rely on Dialicious customer reviews to understand comfort, real-world legibility and on-wrist feel.
(Updated August 2025)

If you are not a DBZ fan, move on! As for me, being a super fan of Dragon Ball Z, I couldn't miss this special edition. The VEGETA model is for me the most interesting with the Kamesennin, thanks to its red glass that reminds me of the monocle of the super sayans. For a perfectly matching style, I regularly wear it with red Jordans. The packaging is also very nice and so it sits proudly on my desk.

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