My daughter bought me a first generation Sistem51 watch for my 50th birthday. I loved it. Wore it as much as I could. After about 1 year, the watch strap buckle broke. I went to my local Swatch store to buy a replacement strap, and they replaced it for free. About three years in, the watch just stopped. It would work if I shook it but only for a few seconds. It turns out the mainspring must have fallen off its mounting point. I tried manual winding and hear a noticeable "click" sound while turning the crown. I love the proposition of the Sistem51 movement. It was accurate and a functionally good movement. But in the end, it is a kid's toy for adults. You play with it for a little while and throw it away. I'm pretty sure the plastics would dry out and crack if you leave it in the sun too long. I'm tempted to get another one, but feel I could get a something less fun, but would last much longer for less money.
My first watch ever that I bought with my part time salary at a student was a blue Sistem51. I wore it every day for around 4 years until it ran 1 hour in just 15 minutes. I have bought other watches, so I think it is justified as an entry gateway to the hobby. P/S: I recycled my old Sistem51, and I got a 10% discount on a Seiko 5.
I have had a swatch irony diaphane that I bought in 2005. 4 jewel quarts chrono. Wore it for 5 years almost daily. Still have it and I still wear it. It's been 19 years. No fog, condensation, and always works well. Buy those instead
I agree with your overall take. I have the Sistem51 in the Blanc Pain collaboration. IMO it's a fine piece of modern watch engineering. Besides the rotor being loud it works fine and keeps time.I would appreciate a better feeling crown and winding feel. Until the Omega collaboration, I would have never thought of buying one. I had not owned a Swatch since 1986. My parents gifted me a Swatch for my 5th-grade graduation.
I bought one in white, loved it for about five minutes, wore it for about five minutes, and then forgot about it for nearly two years before selling it on - it's one of those things, it's a great watch in theory, but in practice, you end up NOT wearing it for some reason
I picked up a Sistem51 similar to the one reviewed a while ago. I was looking around for a Moonswatch but they were still kind of hard to get. I was in High School in the 80's, all of the cool kids had Swatches, but I couldn't afford one back then. The purchase was nostalgia for me. I think your review was fair. I have nicer watches now, and the Sistem51 still makes me smile when I wear it, even with its limitations. Isn't that what a watch should do?
My dog wears a Swatch. She holds it up and points at it to me when it’s time to eat. I think a Swatch is a very good watch for dogs because it is durable, inexpensive and fashionable. The fact that it’s Swiss is a plus. Thank you.
I’m a swatch collector, and I vastly prefer the old automatics they put out in the early 90s over sistem51. They are only a tad bit bigger than a standard swatch, and the rotor is a lot less noisy and weighty than sistem51, and they somehow are a lot thinner than the modern automatics to boot, and on top of all that they can be found on the second hand market relatively inexpensively. And this is just my personal take, but the old 90s swatch automatics really lean more into the bright, fun and bold designs that really defined the brand in the early era. Sistem51, imo, tend to offer somewhat bland and muted designs.
that was incredible. what a beautiful watch and what great work you did on it!I love MAMACOO watch!! Dream watch! Everytime I wear it, makes me feel amazing!
I like the idea of Swatch and even have a couple that were gifts. I only have the quartz - not Sistem51; so my biggest problem (apart from Sistem 51 NON-serviceability, which doesn't apply to mine), is the price. I feel that no Swatch should be more than $80-100 (for limited/special designs) and should rival the cheaper Casios in price, as that is really the quality level - in fact, the Casios have way more functionalty as well, even at the lower end e.g. F-91W. Swatch and a lot of Timex are over-priced for what you are getting, I would say.
I was thinking it's a nice gift, not cheap, not too rich, but something the receiver could enjoy for a few years and the giver doesn't come off as cheap to their favourite nephew etc. It could be a nice first watch. I do think the non-serviceability is an issue at this price point. For double the price, a Seiko 5 will prob run for 10 years before it absolutely needs a service.
@@bernardovargasc Wow. This is far more than I'd expect from this movement. Especially for a 1st gen model. There're reports that tell a complete different story. Maybe many owners don't handle it properly.
I bought Irony Blurang with SISTEM51 few months back when I was on a vacation in Italy and it quickly became my favorite piece in the collection. There’s just something in it that makes me wear it again in again. Highly recommend it. I hope it doesn’t break any time soon.
My thought is I love Swatch! One of the first watches I owned was a triple black Swatch. However, if I’m going automatic, I found an automatic Tissot for $100 more that’ll last forever. If someone asked me about getting into Swiss automatic timepieces, I’d steer them in that direction. BTW, I own three Tissots. I really love the brand. Great product at a great value.
Thanks for showcasing this one Teddy. I remember a time I was "cool" when wearing my Swatch and love that it's still relevant today. I truly hope you have a great 2024 and continued success ... "goooooo 1M subs!!"
I was looking for a watch 2 years ago, cheap, automatic and nice to look at. I came across the Swatch Sistem51 and I was really excited about it until I found out it wasn't serviceable. Look there's one thing when you have a watch that looses seconds, minutes, heck hours through a year, nothings perfect, but not being able to service it means you cannot correct the time losing of the watch, meaning it's something recyclable, something like a smartwatch... and for me that's a no, I have my second ever watch, a Q&Q plastic quartz piece of junk, but it still works after 25 years with the same 5 minutes lost every year, it costed maybe 2 euros
the concept of swatch i just cant wrap my head around when casio does disposable plastic watches too but with more functions, significantly more durable and for a quarter of the price
@@wenbolu6157 Casio for me never made disposable plastic watches, all of them can work for ever or until you smash them or do something to them that will damage them beyond repair. But here we have a watch that makes itself irrelevant no matter what you do. It's even worse than a smartwatch which can still be usable if you change it's battery. I just hate this mindset of limited shelf life watches...
Been watching your videos for a while now and was inspired to start a collection. Started with the AMZWATCH, its specs for price and clean looks, now am looking for a dress watch to add.
4:35 As a Swatch Group employee I can tell you all that the Irony Sistem 51 are actually serviceable, we service only that line of production, after the service you get a certificate of guarantee on the service done and my personal favorite timepiece of the whole Sistem 51 production line is the Magnificent Irony, take a look at that
Will my Swatch Blancpain Atlantic Ocean be serviceable and if so when that time comes what do you recommend? Thanks for any feedback. Love the Swatch Group. 👍🏻❤️
I have an irony version of Sistem51 and I like it. This watch is designed for Swatch buyers and gives them the choice of having one without a battery. Nothing more. They buy Swatch in the same way as clothes, shoes, etc. Of course there are people who collect them, but they are rare I think. It's a fun watch at the end, this is why i have a Sistem51 in my collection.
I'm a dial who@e. I base the vast majority of my watch purchase on how much I love the dial. I have had a sistem51 in my collection for long time. Blacked out, rubber strap, 90 hour power reserve. $200. What's not to love?
@@alfieakaronaldog I've never counted to be honest... When I do wear it I just give it winds to get it going and then wander around doing my daily routine - maybe it's my long walks that keep the spring wound more?
I love the gateway watch drivel. For me, it’s a gateway to nothing. I like having an inexpensive automatic. Nicely goes with my Pagani Design and Seagull from AliExpress. And I got mine from eBay for $70. Perfect. And the movement is really cool to look at.
I think Swatch is a starter for many, myself included. I own one sistem51, and despite some shortcomings, the watch isn't great, but it is ok. As far as durability is concerned, if you don't wear it every day it will last, mine is 8 years and it's still good, I only changed the strap once, that's all.
I got my first Swatch in the 80’s & still have it ticking away! A quartz “Comet” dial model. I wore it to death, well not really. But it did take a hammering! It’s so called 30m water resistance may be a misnomer as mine spent many, many hours in the home pool or nearby lakes water skiing. It didn’t ski though.🤣
I’ve had one for a number of years. The dial is a discontinued model, which is a shame, it is incredibly easy to read. Don’t wear it as much as I used to, but when I do, it starts right up no problem. Happily keep it as long as I can. When time comes to replace, I’ll see about their new irony versions
I’m 57 so I grew up during the Swatch early years - in Europe, so right in the thick of it. I always liked the concept of it but the large watches are too large and the small is, well, too small. The ultra thin ones were pretty nice, however, they are quartz and like all Swatch they have that very easily scratched up acrylic crystal…. So to me they are rather disposable. If I were looking for a less expensive automatic watch I’d go for the little more expensive Timex (yea, I know, not Swiss…) that are coming up with some really nice designs, or go vintage. Buy something second hand. Cheers! Cool video.
I bought a Sistem Navy and wore it on and off. After a few months of storage, it wouldn't run for long periods and only got worse. Later on I bought a "lighlty used" Sistem Flier which also crawled to a halt. It seems like the lube inside these watches gets thick over time, the same as with many Chronos. My Sistem Navy became an experimental watch. I pulled the crown and squirted my own lube in. The crown broke on the second round of lube but the watch runs great again nonetheless. I just have to start it at the right time as the time cannot be set anymore 😅
i bought a S51 in Singapore at launch and it stopped after 2 years. A few years ago I gave it another chance and bought another S51 while in Paris. Same thing happened. The rotor spins but watch hands do not move at all. I went to swatch and asked for help. Their answer was... the watch is not serviceable. I threw both watches away. Nuf said.
Bought with enthusiasm the Sistem Check YIS412G 5 years ago, stopped working luckily within the warranty time, so the mouvement was replaced fro free. Now it works correctly only on the table, if is on my wrist start slowing down and is not usuable. I still like it, but when I have time and money to spend on it I will send it back to Swatch, just for the sake of having watches in working order. However, I do not recommand to buy to anybody. Seiko, Orient, Citizen or many more microbrand are a better choice.
Completely agree with your comments. I like the watch itself and would wear one but I don’t like that it doesn’t have longevity. I own watches that I plan to keep for a long time if not forever unless I fall out of love with a particular one and even then I would want to pass it on which you just couldn’t do with this watch because of the unserviceable element.
So have an original 2013 set (blue, red, black, white). Unworn but ran fine then. Ten years later, took out of storage, and none run. Can be wound, set, but nothing gets the balance working. Obviously not intended for long-term collecting.
I have a similar watch as you presented, but in a metal case. Gut to admit, i love this watch, and it makes me like automatic watches. However, I'm not a watch expert, so it's just a simple person view...
Have owned a white Sistem51 as a summer watch but rarely wear it because of its weak water resistance; something maddening considering the sealed case. Also the rotor noise!
The proposition of a watch being disposable I think fundamentally misunderstand how most people think about watches. Watches are not consumables, and people tend to hold onto them for many decades-or as long as they can. These are often, sentimental pieces, and for Swatch to treat them like eventual trash is just ludicrous-not to mention majorly environmentally majorly out of step
As a teenager in the 80s I loved Swatch, they were just the coolest things to wear, now I'm in my 50s I collect vintage watches and own a few newer high end Swiss watches but I still have a soft spot for those crazy 80s & 90s Swatches. Without Swatch, today's watch world would be unrecognizable.
Am I wrong in thinking that back in the day Swatches were very cheap? I think that’s the problem with these Sistem51. Sure 180 bucks isn’t insane, but it’s not insanely cheap either
swatches were my entry to watch enthusiasm. i had a couple swatches over the years, and the most recent one i had would tick so loudly (quartz movement), to the point where i had to bury it in my sock drawer at night to not wake me up. i wanted to know why my swatch was so loud, which led me down the rabbit hole of movements, the watch industry, to then the purchase of my first automatic watch! much quieter than my swatch 😅
Hey Teddy splendid video as always could you perhaps make a video about the boderry voyager I’m considering purchasing one but I would like to hear your opinion on it before I do it would be marvellous if you could
I have just ordered (a couple of days ago) AM51 and am looking for a HODINKEE. I really want to have those two pieces in my collection that I'm building. They look easy to wear and combine with day-to-day stuff. I will post my 6-mount view when I get them. Tnx for this video.
This watch is beautiful. I understand why some people would want it, but I don’t wanna have to throw it away when it stops working. I would rather spend my money on a watch that’s gonna last that I can service myself.
I bought a black one with leather straps in 2015. I still have it and wear it daily. The leather strap is long gone, but the watch is still running strong.
It's cool that it exists. I think even enthusiasts who'd never buy one would enjoy receiving one as a gift (even if they'd never wear it...) - and its price makes that possibility likely
If people thought about it for 5 seconds, the idea that a movement that has 80-90% parts interchangeability with a base 2824 is unserviceable should be laughable, but you still get people who say watchmakers can't take apart Powermatic80s
I have started my watch collection with a Casio Edifice. After this video, maybe I'll think of adding System 51 for an automatic type watch in my collection.
i love swatches, theyre meant to be fun and not to be passed down to next generations. i have a few swatches and goes great with summer outfits. I cant see anyone that can hate on these fun watches. Theyre also amazing as gifts to a watch lover. Just treat them as what theyre meant to be.
I like Swatch for their funky designs but I prefer their quartz offerings. You can find a lot of vintage Swatches for cheap and a lot of them are still in great condition. They're just fun to wear and, providing you don't spend too much money on them, they're good value. But I wouldn't elevate any of their models new or old, quartz or mechanical, to any level of horological significance.
System 51 is in my Tissot. Two years old and I wear it. I rotate so I wear it only few times at month. Swiss means something to me like Polar over Garmin. Polar made the path for the followers.
Key food for thought by the end of the video, the romantic idea of being able to service a Seiko NH35 even though unlikely and inconvenient is something we all have in the back of our minds as feasible.
I wonder how well these sell. I imagine not as well as they would like, or they would have more models available. I rarely see additions to the line. I check every few months and in fact it seems like a couple I kind of liked before are no longer available. I've never found just the right one for me. I do own 4 Swatches (2 of them MoonSwatches), and Swatch in the '80s is really what got me interested in watches in the first place. It's too bad about the rotor noise on the Sistem51 as well. Is it as annoying as the ticking of the quartz models (why haven't they engineered that out yet?)?
I bought my Seagull 1963 Chronograph for $154. At least it can be serviced, albeit at a premium more than the price of the ⌚ itself. . .and it is a chronograph with metal and a real exhibition caseback.
I've got the white Hodinkee version. I'd like to say that I like it, but the reality is that it gets worn very rarely, for a variety of reasons. The first is that my wrists are large. I generally wear 45mm+ watches, so a 42 looks like a toy on my wrist. The second is that it's a pain to set with the cheap little crown. I don't leave mine on a winder, so when it comes time to choose a watch, the Sistem51 must be a decision made ahead of time. It's not one of my grab-and-go choices. Third, since it's all white, it's also a very deliberate style choice. While I don't regret the purchase and I don't plan on selling it, I don't think I could justify purchasing another one.
Writing this before watching the video, Plssss teddy be nice I recieved A swatch sistem51 as a gift. Thankfully i actually really like it the blue dial and automatic movement. Now after watching the video, I Completly 100% agree with you on both arguments presented. I really enjoy the watch, its beautiful and have a lot of memories with it at this point in "time", However, ever"time" I think of what'll happen when the watch stops working, Its a throw away movement, not servicable, does that mean it will just be there as a non-working watch and all my memories should be thrown away with it?
Im thinking of buying the same watch just for parts, but is there really no way to replace,service the movement even if I dont care about its warranty or water resistance??@@lindenhoch8396
I think they have a place and the designs mean you can have a lot of fun for not a lot of money. If you were building a watch collection you may forgive the non serviceable aspect to allow for the quirk that is Swatch but for me personally probably would prefer an older vintage watch for the price point
I was seeking for see If this movement are worth power reseve 90 hours for watch there are colour full and nice ticking sound year of Dragon 2024 came 5 yes I read other rewiev here about swatch wear it sometimes must say Bravissimo ☆☆☆☆☆
I'got one as a birthday present a few years ago. Then it just stop working, and I realized that it was impossible to repair it. Is there a way to replace the whole movement? It´s a beautyful watch, but paying 150+ for a disposable item is insane.
I bought the Hodinkee release a few years back. It is a really surprising piece, keeps good time, looks good on the wrist. Happy customer. Their power play with the Omega brand really pissed me off though.
I think it was marketing genius. Swatch owns Omega anyhow. I don't think it cheapens Omega by any standards, rather than introducing a new crowd into watches. Watch collecting and enthusiasm with the hobby isn't something found in the general population. The product could have been better, but it's a plastic Swatch, what more did anyone expect? It's not an Omega.
I bought the first Sistem51 -- I loved it and wore it almost every day, going through two leather straps in as many years. However, as my collection grew, it slowly fell out of rotation. Once, when I decided to use it after a couple of months, I found that it had stopped working. I tried winding it but it would grind to a halt after a few seconds. Unfortunately the movement is unserviceable by design, so the watch has been consigned to a drawer. I would save a few dollars by going for a quartz model, or spend a bit more for a Seiko 5.
100m WR and I could do one. something to surf with and not worry about. Gimme that classic 80's sunrise as the background, Orange seconds hand, poly instead of glass. dont even need a rotating bezel.
Bought my first Swatch. A Bioceramic quartz not an automatic and did this after purchasing a Longines, Rado and Tudor. It fits perfectly in my collection and love wearing it. Teddy is right. It's about what YOU like or don't like that matters. Full stop.
A quick google says Timex bought Laco in the 60s because they had a competitor product to the Hamilton electric movement, and produced electric watches for a time before quartz was introduced by Seiko
I used to have two watches with this system51 and I did not like them and exchanged them for traditional irony quartz swatch, which is quiet, a lot more accurate and has more functions (chronograph). Toy watches are for children, not for adult men.
For the money, I would buy a Seiko automatic. My wife gave me a kinetic in 1996 that I still wear regularly. Seikos are known to last and can be serviced and passed down. Just my opinion, but I would buy a Timex or Casio long before the Swatch, but I wasn't a fan of them in the 80s either.
I guess folks could ask themselves a question: Would you be okay spending $200 to get a Seiko 5 or an Orient Bambino serviced when the same money could be spent on getting a brand new one? If you would maybe something like this Swatch wouldn't be a good fit, as you likely put more value in the personal history you might have with the watch rather than its objective monetary value. Other people might feel "Hey, at this price point I'm not looking for forever, but a good time right now." There is no right or wrong answer, just a feel for what you are personally more comfortable with.
I own several 51s. For the full price I would never buy one, but for some reason people are selling them in a pristine condition for 30-35 EUR (probably a present or whatever). Like so I am using it as a beater watch instead of a digital casio and having a lot of fun
Some say it's the most controversial concept in the watch world. I'd say it's not, it's a no-go. The thing is, I bought one myself, just because to have something which shouldn't exist and for technical interest. And to find out how long can such kind of movement last. Finally I sold it before it broke, as it simply was too heavy for my wrist.
A novelty. Nothing more, nothing less. Bought one when it first debuted. Wore it a few times, it now resides in a junk drawer. This video has me digging around for it just for a quick look.
Initially I felt like a prince with my disposable automatic watch. Not going to lie. But mine started losing time after a few months, sent it back, and fair play.. Swatch replaced it, no questions... I then gave it (unused)..to my Mrs for Christmas. . These watches are not cheap, not reliable but are great summer watches....though don't leave them on too long as your wrist may get a nasty sweat rash. Or just get a steeldive 1970 or one of the new San Martin GMTs. Paganni Design do great stuff too for half the price. Stainless Steel with a japanese NH34,5,6 movement over light plastic and an experimental weird movement everytime for me.
its so crazy that swatch still exists as a branch of the swatch group when casio does everything swatch does but better with the f91w while being more durable, cheaper, more functions, better accuracy, offer different build qualities with the duros and edefices, and is also a known brand. the sistem 51 movement is probably the worst automatic movement on the market atm, heck id take 7s26 seikos over this: at least its reppacable. swatch is a marketing gimmick surviving off nostalgia while overcharging for ubderspeced watches and i actively am repulsed by and hate them for it
Mine was terrible. Bought one, wore it 3 days, put it in a drawer because I didn't like it. Took it out two years later.....broken. Would not run for more than 10 seconds. Never had that with any watch. I have had watches that hadnt run in 30 years start up without issue (need a service okay, but they work). The Swatch cannot be serviced or fixed so : in the bin.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
My daughter bought me a first generation Sistem51 watch for my 50th birthday. I loved it. Wore it as much as I could. After about 1 year, the watch strap buckle broke. I went to my local Swatch store to buy a replacement strap, and they replaced it for free. About three years in, the watch just stopped. It would work if I shook it but only for a few seconds. It turns out the mainspring must have fallen off its mounting point. I tried manual winding and hear a noticeable "click" sound while turning the crown. I love the proposition of the Sistem51 movement. It was accurate and a functionally good movement. But in the end, it is a kid's toy for adults. You play with it for a little while and throw it away. I'm pretty sure the plastics would dry out and crack if you leave it in the sun too long. I'm tempted to get another one, but feel I could get a something less fun, but would last much longer for less money.
like a seiko 5...
They make metal ones
My first watch ever that I bought with my part time salary at a student was a blue Sistem51. I wore it every day for around 4 years until it ran 1 hour in just 15 minutes. I have bought other watches, so I think it is justified as an entry gateway to the hobby.
P/S: I recycled my old Sistem51, and I got a 10% discount on a Seiko 5.
You were very lucky. I had a Sistem Blue, and it only lasted a few weeks.
I have had a swatch irony diaphane that I bought in 2005. 4 jewel quarts chrono. Wore it for 5 years almost daily. Still have it and I still wear it. It's been 19 years. No fog, condensation, and always works well. Buy those instead
I agree with your overall take. I have the Sistem51 in the Blanc Pain collaboration. IMO it's a fine piece of modern watch engineering. Besides the rotor being loud it works fine and keeps time.I would appreciate a better feeling crown and winding feel. Until the Omega collaboration, I would have never thought of buying one. I had not owned a Swatch since 1986. My parents gifted me a Swatch for my 5th-grade graduation.
I bought one in white, loved it for about five minutes, wore it for about five minutes, and then forgot about it for nearly two years before selling it on - it's one of those things, it's a great watch in theory, but in practice, you end up NOT wearing it for some reason
Yep! Loses time, cannot be serviced, fun for a day or two. After that, in a box until sold.
Same as me
i have a couple of swatches....theyre FANTASTIC for summer wear.
Same here….
Haha, exactly, 😂
I picked up a Sistem51 similar to the one reviewed a while ago. I was looking around for a Moonswatch but they were still kind of hard to get. I was in High School in the 80's, all of the cool kids had Swatches, but I couldn't afford one back then. The purchase was nostalgia for me. I think your review was fair. I have nicer watches now, and the Sistem51 still makes me smile when I wear it, even with its limitations. Isn't that what a watch should do?
My dog wears a Swatch. She holds it up and points at it to me when it’s time to eat.
I think a Swatch is a very good watch for dogs because it is durable, inexpensive and fashionable. The fact that it’s Swiss is a plus.
Thank you.
You said it all 😂
I’m a swatch collector, and I vastly prefer the old automatics they put out in the early 90s over sistem51. They are only a tad bit bigger than a standard swatch, and the rotor is a lot less noisy and weighty than sistem51, and they somehow are a lot thinner than the modern automatics to boot, and on top of all that they can be found on the second hand market relatively inexpensively.
And this is just my personal take, but the old 90s swatch automatics really lean more into the bright, fun and bold designs that really defined the brand in the early era. Sistem51, imo, tend to offer somewhat bland and muted designs.
Teddy has become a part of the marketing machine to move product.
@@_cru8368 he is paid to do it but of course he wont tell you
@@romybuenaventura3133 Proof?
Can you recommend where to buy one of the 90s ones?
that was incredible. what a beautiful watch and what great work you did on it!I love MAMACOO watch!! Dream watch! Everytime I wear it, makes me feel amazing!
Sometimes I love loud splashy contrasting, bright colors because that is the mood I'm in! I then turn to Swatch. They serve their purpose too.
I like the idea of Swatch and even have a couple that were gifts. I only have the quartz - not Sistem51; so my biggest problem (apart from Sistem 51 NON-serviceability, which doesn't apply to mine), is the price. I feel that no Swatch should be more than $80-100 (for limited/special designs) and should rival the cheaper Casios in price, as that is really the quality level - in fact, the Casios have way more functionalty as well, even at the lower end e.g. F-91W. Swatch and a lot of Timex are over-priced for what you are getting, I would say.
Especially considering it's a disposable watch, no less.
I was thinking it's a nice gift, not cheap, not too rich, but something the receiver could enjoy for a few years and the giver doesn't come off as cheap to their favourite nephew etc. It could be a nice first watch. I do think the non-serviceability is an issue at this price point. For double the price, a Seiko 5 will prob run for 10 years before it absolutely needs a service.
I got a Sistem51 since they first came out and I'm very happy with it; no issues at all.
So how old is your SISTEM51 now while still working?
@@SOPM2007 Like 10 years
@@bernardovargasc Wow. This is far more than I'd expect from this movement. Especially for a 1st gen model. There're reports that tell a complete different story. Maybe many owners don't handle it properly.
I bought Irony Blurang with SISTEM51 few months back when I was on a vacation in Italy and it quickly became my favorite piece in the collection. There’s just something in it that makes me wear it again in again. Highly recommend it. I hope it doesn’t break any time soon.
My thought is I love Swatch! One of the first watches I owned was a triple black Swatch. However, if I’m going automatic, I found an automatic Tissot for $100 more that’ll last forever. If someone asked me about getting into Swiss automatic timepieces, I’d steer them in that direction. BTW, I own three Tissots. I really love the brand. Great product at a great value.
Thanks for showcasing this one Teddy.
I remember a time I was "cool" when wearing my Swatch and love that it's still relevant today.
I truly hope you have a great 2024 and continued success ... "goooooo 1M subs!!"
I was looking for a watch 2 years ago, cheap, automatic and nice to look at. I came across the Swatch Sistem51 and I was really excited about it until I found out it wasn't serviceable.
Look there's one thing when you have a watch that looses seconds, minutes, heck hours through a year, nothings perfect, but not being able to service it means you cannot correct the time losing of the watch, meaning it's something recyclable, something like a smartwatch... and for me that's a no, I have my second ever watch, a Q&Q plastic quartz piece of junk, but it still works after 25 years with the same 5 minutes lost every year, it costed maybe 2 euros
the concept of swatch i just cant wrap my head around when casio does disposable plastic watches too but with more functions, significantly more durable and for a quarter of the price
@@wenbolu6157 Casio for me never made disposable plastic watches, all of them can work for ever or until you smash them or do something to them that will damage them beyond repair. But here we have a watch that makes itself irrelevant no matter what you do. It's even worse than a smartwatch which can still be usable if you change it's battery.
I just hate this mindset of limited shelf life watches...
Been watching your videos for a while now and was inspired to start a collection. Started with the AMZWATCH, its specs for price and clean looks, now am looking for a dress watch to add.
4:35 As a Swatch Group employee I can tell you all that the Irony Sistem 51 are actually serviceable, we service only that line of production, after the service you get a certificate of guarantee on the service done and my personal favorite timepiece of the whole Sistem 51 production line is the Magnificent Irony, take a look at that
Will my Swatch Blancpain Atlantic Ocean be serviceable and if so when that time comes what do you recommend? Thanks for any feedback. Love the Swatch Group. 👍🏻❤️
i was never a fan of their watches until i tried one on, hands down they make the most comfy strap out there
I have an irony version of Sistem51 and I like it. This watch is designed for Swatch buyers and gives them the choice of having one without a battery. Nothing more.
They buy Swatch in the same way as clothes, shoes, etc. Of course there are people who collect them, but they are rare I think.
It's a fun watch at the end, this is why i have a Sistem51 in my collection.
I'm a dial who@e. I base the vast majority of my watch purchase on how much I love the dial. I have had a sistem51 in my collection for long time. Blacked out, rubber strap, 90 hour power reserve. $200. What's not to love?
You’re getting 90 hours??!!
@@alfieakaronaldog That's the stated power reserve of Sistem51 from Swatch (and also from Teddy in this video). I get 90 hours out of mine.
@@outcastkatsuki Thanks for reply. Think I am getting half that but will check properly.
How many times do you wind it?
@@alfieakaronaldog I've never counted to be honest... When I do wear it I just give it winds to get it going and then wander around doing my daily routine - maybe it's my long walks that keep the spring wound more?
Had mine since 2018 and love it
I love the gateway watch drivel. For me, it’s a gateway to nothing. I like having an inexpensive automatic. Nicely goes with my Pagani Design and Seagull from AliExpress. And I got mine from eBay for $70. Perfect. And the movement is really cool to look at.
I think Swatch is a starter for many, myself included. I own one sistem51, and despite some shortcomings, the watch isn't great, but it is ok. As far as durability is concerned, if you don't wear it every day it will last, mine is 8 years and it's still good, I only changed the strap once, that's all.
I got my first Swatch in the 80’s & still have it ticking away! A quartz “Comet” dial model. I wore it to death, well not really. But it did take a hammering! It’s so called 30m water resistance may be a misnomer as mine spent many, many hours in the home pool or nearby lakes water skiing. It didn’t ski though.🤣
I’ve had one for a number of years. The dial is a discontinued model, which is a shame, it is incredibly easy to read. Don’t wear it as much as I used to, but when I do, it starts right up no problem. Happily keep it as long as I can. When time comes to replace, I’ll see about their new irony versions
I’m 57 so I grew up during the Swatch early years - in Europe, so right in the thick of it. I always liked the concept of it but the large watches are too large and the small is, well, too small. The ultra thin ones were pretty nice, however, they are quartz and like all Swatch they have that very easily scratched up acrylic crystal…. So to me they are rather disposable. If I were looking for a less expensive automatic watch I’d go for the little more expensive Timex (yea, I know, not Swiss…) that are coming up with some really nice designs, or go vintage. Buy something second hand. Cheers! Cool video.
❤ Hey it is a very inexpensive Swiss made fun watch with just about infinite choice of colors. 😊❤
I bought a Sistem Navy and wore it on and off. After a few months of storage, it wouldn't run for long periods and only got worse. Later on I bought a "lighlty used" Sistem Flier which also crawled to a halt. It seems like the lube inside these watches gets thick over time, the same as with many Chronos. My Sistem Navy became an experimental watch. I pulled the crown and squirted my own lube in. The crown broke on the second round of lube but the watch runs great again nonetheless. I just have to start it at the right time as the time cannot be set anymore 😅
Bought one when they released the first batch of sistem51 watches. It's comfortable but damn the movement is LOUD.
i bought a S51 in Singapore at launch and it stopped after 2 years. A few years ago I gave it another chance and bought another S51 while in Paris. Same thing happened. The rotor spins but watch hands do not move at all. I went to swatch and asked for help. Their answer was... the watch is not serviceable. I threw both watches away. Nuf said.
That's my experience, except mine lasted only a few months, not two years.
Another cracking video.
Greetings from England 🇬🇧
Love my Sistem51 Swatch- and what it represents as far as innovation goes
Bought with enthusiasm the Sistem Check YIS412G 5 years ago, stopped working luckily within the warranty time, so the mouvement was replaced fro free. Now it works correctly only on the table, if is on my wrist start slowing down and is not usuable. I still like it, but when I have time and money to spend on it I will send it back to Swatch, just for the sake of having watches in working order. However, I do not recommand to buy to anybody. Seiko, Orient, Citizen or many more microbrand are a better choice.
I like the good old down-to-earth Teddy like your early videos
Completely agree with your comments. I like the watch itself and would wear one but I don’t like that it doesn’t have longevity. I own watches that I plan to keep for a long time if not forever unless I fall out of love with a particular one and even then I would want to pass it on which you just couldn’t do with this watch because of the unserviceable element.
So have an original 2013 set (blue, red, black, white). Unworn but ran fine then. Ten years later, took out of storage, and none run. Can be wound, set, but nothing gets the balance working. Obviously not intended for long-term collecting.
Pitty, i considered this too: collectinh all 4, bought only one: the blue version, still wearing it when i do sports: works fine after 10 y!!
Got a hodinkee for less than $75 on eBay today. Love it.
I have a similar watch as you presented, but in a metal case.
Gut to admit, i love this watch, and it makes me like automatic watches.
However, I'm not a watch expert, so it's just a simple person view...
Have owned a white Sistem51 as a summer watch but rarely wear it because of its weak water resistance; something maddening considering the sealed case. Also the rotor noise!
The proposition of a watch being disposable I think fundamentally misunderstand how most people think about watches. Watches are not consumables, and people tend to hold onto them for many decades-or as long as they can. These are often, sentimental pieces, and for Swatch to treat them like eventual trash is just ludicrous-not to mention majorly environmentally majorly out of step
I respect Swatch as a company for at least trying to reach out to the newer generation of watch buyers
As a teenager in the 80s I loved Swatch, they were just the coolest things to wear, now I'm in my 50s I collect vintage watches and own a few newer high end Swiss watches but I still have a soft spot for those crazy 80s & 90s Swatches. Without Swatch, today's watch world would be unrecognizable.
Am I wrong in thinking that back in the day Swatches were very cheap? I think that’s the problem with these Sistem51. Sure 180 bucks isn’t insane, but it’s not insanely cheap either
Just bought one 51 while visiting Lugano couple weeks ago. Nice watch for the price.
I still have a Swatch Automatic from 1992, still runs fine. Quite impressive what it has been going through. I don’t wear it anymore though.
Same. Had two in fact but gave one to a friend.
"Thank you for watching" i chuckle every time...
swatches were my entry to watch enthusiasm. i had a couple swatches over the years, and the most recent one i had would tick so loudly (quartz movement), to the point where i had to bury it in my sock drawer at night to not wake me up. i wanted to know why my swatch was so loud, which led me down the rabbit hole of movements, the watch industry, to then the purchase of my first automatic watch! much quieter than my swatch 😅
Hey Teddy splendid video as always could you perhaps make a video about the boderry voyager I’m considering purchasing one but I would like to hear your opinion on it before I do it would be marvellous if you could
Got mine new for $99. Feel kind of like Teddy, like the simplicity of the watch, but don't like the throw away aspect of the watch.
I have just ordered (a couple of days ago) AM51 and am looking for a HODINKEE.
I really want to have those two pieces in my collection that I'm building.
They look easy to wear and combine with day-to-day stuff.
I will post my 6-mount view when I get them.
Tnx for this video.
Don't see the point of this being mechanical if you can't service it. A quartz version would be thinner, cheaper, last longer, and be more accurate.
This watch is beautiful. I understand why some people would want it, but I don’t wanna have to throw it away when it stops working. I would rather spend my money on a watch that’s gonna last that I can service myself.
I bought a black one with leather straps in 2015. I still have it and wear it daily. The leather strap is long gone, but the watch is still running strong.
It's cool that it exists. I think even enthusiasts who'd never buy one would enjoy receiving one as a gift (even if they'd never wear it...) - and its price makes that possibility likely
My gripe with the system 51 is how many people conflate it with the powermatic 80. That neither movement is serviceable.
If people thought about it for 5 seconds, the idea that a movement that has 80-90% parts interchangeability with a base 2824 is unserviceable should be laughable, but you still get people who say watchmakers can't take apart Powermatic80s
I have started my watch collection with a Casio Edifice.
After this video, maybe I'll think of adding System 51 for an automatic type watch in my collection.
Do you still have a pre owned section on your website? I am trying to find it and I can’t.
i love swatches, theyre meant to be fun and not to be passed down to next generations. i have a few swatches and goes great with summer outfits. I cant see anyone that can hate on these fun watches. Theyre also amazing as gifts to a watch lover. Just treat them as what theyre meant to be.
I remember being interested in system 51 until i read online that they break a lot
I love swatch watches
Considering the price and the variety they are a fun, cheap and cheerful proposition.
Just don’t expect them to last too long.
You never disappoint! Good work! 😀
I like Swatch for their funky designs but I prefer their quartz offerings. You can find a lot of vintage Swatches for cheap and a lot of them are still in great condition. They're just fun to wear and, providing you don't spend too much money on them, they're good value. But I wouldn't elevate any of their models new or old, quartz or mechanical, to any level of horological significance.
System 51 is in my Tissot. Two years old and I wear it. I rotate so I wear it only few times at month. Swiss means something to me like Polar over Garmin. Polar made the path for the followers.
May I ask how did it get there?
Key food for thought by the end of the video, the romantic idea of being able to service a Seiko NH35 even though unlikely and inconvenient is something we all have in the back of our minds as feasible.
Even if you don't service the NH35, you can always swap the movement and keep the watch. With this, the whole watch is intended to be disposable.
@@BeerHombre Also,, the NH35 will last for years, or decades without service, while the Sistem51s I've had lasted only a few months.
I wonder how well these sell. I imagine not as well as they would like, or they would have more models available. I rarely see additions to the line. I check every few months and in fact it seems like a couple I kind of liked before are no longer available. I've never found just the right one for me. I do own 4 Swatches (2 of them MoonSwatches), and Swatch in the '80s is really what got me interested in watches in the first place. It's too bad about the rotor noise on the Sistem51 as well. Is it as annoying as the ticking of the quartz models (why haven't they engineered that out yet?)?
Love it so far.
Mido and Tissot are hard to beat for the money.
Don't forget the Swatch rubber face protectors!
I really like the look of the dial and case on this one and think that would be fun. However ... not being able to service it sort of kills it for me.
Well conceived review/essay, but your hand model could use some moisturizer!
I bought my Seagull 1963 Chronograph for $154.
At least it can be serviced, albeit at a premium more than the price of the ⌚ itself. . .and it is a chronograph with metal and a real exhibition caseback.
I've got the white Hodinkee version. I'd like to say that I like it, but the reality is that it gets worn very rarely, for a variety of reasons. The first is that my wrists are large. I generally wear 45mm+ watches, so a 42 looks like a toy on my wrist. The second is that it's a pain to set with the cheap little crown. I don't leave mine on a winder, so when it comes time to choose a watch, the Sistem51 must be a decision made ahead of time. It's not one of my grab-and-go choices. Third, since it's all white, it's also a very deliberate style choice.
While I don't regret the purchase and I don't plan on selling it, I don't think I could justify purchasing another one.
Hi Teddy what's your opinion on Armand Nicolet watches. Was thinking of purchasing the S05-3.
Writing this before watching the video, Plssss teddy be nice I recieved A swatch sistem51 as a gift. Thankfully i actually really like it the blue dial and automatic movement. Now after watching the video, I Completly 100% agree with you on both arguments presented. I really enjoy the watch, its beautiful and have a lot of memories with it at this point in "time", However, ever"time" I think of what'll happen when the watch stops working, Its a throw away movement, not servicable, does that mean it will just be there as a non-working watch and all my memories should be thrown away with it?
You don't have to throw it away, even if it doesn't function as a watch anymore it'll be a vessel of your memories.
Im thinking of buying the same watch just for parts, but is there really no way to replace,service the movement even if I dont care about its warranty or water resistance??@@lindenhoch8396
3:30 bro you ever heard of lotion? Lol😂
I love Swatches.
I think they have a place and the designs mean you can have a lot of fun for not a lot of money. If you were building a watch collection you may forgive the non serviceable aspect to allow for the quirk that is Swatch but for me personally probably would prefer an older vintage watch for the price point
I was seeking for see If this movement are worth power reseve 90 hours for watch there are colour full and nice ticking sound year of Dragon 2024 came 5 yes I read other rewiev here about swatch wear it sometimes must say Bravissimo ☆☆☆☆☆
I'got one as a birthday present a few years ago. Then it just stop working, and I realized that it was impossible to repair it. Is there a way to replace the whole movement? It´s a beautyful watch, but paying 150+ for a disposable item is insane.
The rotor is far too loud and you can feel the vibration as it spins. Better to get a San Martin/Pagani for less but with better specifications.
I love that sensation. Makes me feel like there is something living on my wrist at all times. Just ticking away
If you’re allergic to metals on touch the polymer system51 watches are safe to wear since even the strap buckle is polymer.
I bought the Hodinkee release a few years back. It is a really surprising piece, keeps good time, looks good on the wrist. Happy customer. Their power play with the Omega brand really pissed me off though.
I think it was marketing genius. Swatch owns Omega anyhow. I don't think it cheapens Omega by any standards, rather than introducing a new crowd into watches. Watch collecting and enthusiasm with the hobby isn't something found in the general population. The product could have been better, but it's a plastic Swatch, what more did anyone expect? It's not an Omega.
bought that as well
I bought the first Sistem51 -- I loved it and wore it almost every day, going through two leather straps in as many years.
However, as my collection grew, it slowly fell out of rotation. Once, when I decided to use it after a couple of months, I found that it had stopped working. I tried winding it but it would grind to a halt after a few seconds. Unfortunately the movement is unserviceable by design, so the watch has been consigned to a drawer.
I would save a few dollars by going for a quartz model, or spend a bit more for a Seiko 5.
100m WR and I could do one. something to surf with and not worry about.
Gimme that classic 80's sunrise as the background, Orange seconds hand, poly instead of glass. dont even need a rotating bezel.
I'd prefer a Pagani with NH35 movement. I love my PD1701 despite it being a quartz watch
Bought my first Swatch. A Bioceramic quartz not an automatic and did this after purchasing a Longines, Rado and Tudor. It fits perfectly in my collection and love wearing it. Teddy is right. It's about what YOU like or don't like that matters. Full stop.
Im curios about Timex’s vintage “electric” watches see them for sale from time to time
A quick google says Timex bought Laco in the 60s because they had a competitor product to the Hamilton electric movement, and produced electric watches for a time before quartz was introduced by Seiko
“You can’t service the movement” is very rational. Planned obsolescence; or the fast- fashion of the watch world.
I used to have two watches with this system51 and I did not like them and exchanged them for traditional irony quartz swatch, which is quiet, a lot more accurate and has more functions (chronograph). Toy watches are for children, not for adult men.
For the money, I would buy a Seiko automatic. My wife gave me a kinetic in 1996 that I still wear regularly. Seikos are known to last and can be serviced and passed down. Just my opinion, but I would buy a Timex or Casio long before the Swatch, but I wasn't a fan of them in the 80s either.
All dat MAMACOO watches sssssoooooooo gorgeous！
I guess folks could ask themselves a question: Would you be okay spending $200 to get a Seiko 5 or an Orient Bambino serviced when the same money could be spent on getting a brand new one? If you would maybe something like this Swatch wouldn't be a good fit, as you likely put more value in the personal history you might have with the watch rather than its objective monetary value. Other people might feel "Hey, at this price point I'm not looking for forever, but a good time right now." There is no right or wrong answer, just a feel for what you are personally more comfortable with.
I own several 51s. For the full price I would never buy one, but for some reason people are selling them in a pristine condition for 30-35 EUR (probably a present or whatever). Like so I am using it as a beater watch instead of a digital casio and having a lot of fun
Some say it's the most controversial concept in the watch world. I'd say it's not, it's a no-go. The thing is, I bought one myself, just because to have something which shouldn't exist and for technical interest. And to find out how long can such kind of movement last. Finally I sold it before it broke, as it simply was too heavy for my wrist.
You did not mention that it winds anti clockwise, which I found odd.
A novelty. Nothing more, nothing less. Bought one when it first debuted. Wore it a few times, it now resides in a junk drawer. This video has me digging around for it just for a quick look.
Initially I felt like a prince with my disposable automatic watch. Not going to lie. But mine started losing time after a few months, sent it back, and fair play.. Swatch replaced it, no questions... I then gave it (unused)..to my Mrs for Christmas. . These watches are not cheap, not reliable but are great summer watches....though don't leave them on too long as your wrist may get a nasty sweat rash.
Or just get a steeldive 1970 or one of the new San Martin GMTs. Paganni Design do great stuff too for half the price.
Stainless Steel with a japanese NH34,5,6 movement over light plastic and an experimental weird movement everytime for me.
its so crazy that swatch still exists as a branch of the swatch group when casio does everything swatch does but better with the f91w while being more durable, cheaper, more functions, better accuracy, offer different build qualities with the duros and edefices, and is also a known brand. the sistem 51 movement is probably the worst automatic movement on the market atm, heck id take 7s26 seikos over this: at least its reppacable. swatch is a marketing gimmick surviving off nostalgia while overcharging for ubderspeced watches and i actively am repulsed by and hate them for it
Mine was terrible. Bought one, wore it 3 days, put it in a drawer because I didn't like it. Took it out two years later.....broken. Would not run for more than 10 seconds. Never had that with any watch. I have had watches that hadnt run in 30 years start up without issue (need a service okay, but they work). The Swatch cannot be serviced or fixed so : in the bin.
I love all three of mine.
Could you make a video on the watches that Car brands make?