It's been over a year since Swatch took the wraps off its Swatch Sistem51 at Baselworld 2013, and after making its way to Switzerland in December 2013, the watch is finally set to make its way to U.S. shores.
Come July 1, New Yorkers will be able to lay their hands on the Sistem51 from the flagship Swatch store at Times Square 9:51am onwards. The West Coast is not far behind either as a week later on July 8, the Swatch pop-up store in San Francisco (101 Grant Street to be exact), will receive the Sistem51.
Swatch is looking to celebrate by putting up installations that are devoted to a few of the pivotal features of Sistem51 like the "single central screw," the unusual striping present on the case back designs etc.
The fully mechanical Swiss watch comprises 51 parts and is 100 percent made by robots i.e. its assembly from start to finish. Swiss watches are synonymous with craftsmanship and quality, and Swatch Sistem51 lives up to the reputation. However, unlike conventional Swiss watches, which command a staggering price, the Swatch Sistem51 will not burn a hole in your wallet as the robotic process ensures that the costs associated with hand-crafting get nullified. Subsequently, consumers will need to shell out $150 for the Swatch Sistem51, which is comparable to the price of any regular quartz watch.
Sistem51 also has an "exceptional 90 hour power reserve" that keeps the watch on even when it is not in use. It is also "hermetically" sealed in its case so that moisture and dust are kept away, making the watch last longer and maintenance free.
The delay may have been been due to the fact that the manufacturing process had to be fully automated plus the intricate construction details of Sistem51. However, consumers in the U.S. will be able to grab the affordable Swiss watch before the end of summer this year.
The Sistem51 will be available in four hues - red, blue, white and black. It will carry a price tag of $150 in the U.S.
