Swatch goes Back to Skull

It was definitely a match made in heaven — and not in hell! It seemed that not even the heavens could stop Swatch’s invitational Back to Skull club party last May 26. Typhoon Chedeng changed its course to give way to the irreverent event of the season. Swiss fashion watch and jewelry maker Swatch presented the trendiest Full-Blooded watches yet: 10 trendy new models in straight-off-the-catwalk colored dials with rugged aluminum bezels and bracelets with Swatch Bijoux skull pendants to complement the collection stole the club scene.

Recreating the Swatch club scene experience in the new television commercial for the Swatch Full-Blooded collection, the Swatch interactive billboard right next door to the Swatch Greenbelt 5 store was transformed into an underground party for Manila’s “it” crowd. First prize winner of

Swatch endorser Angelica Panganiban with her Early Bird Award prizes: Full-Blooded Black Skull and White Skull

the Swatch and The Philippine STAR’s Chinese New Year Art Contest for the Year of the Tiger (2010), Jerome Lorico conceptualized and designed the night’s fashion installation with specially sculptured wire skulls housing the new Full-Blooded watches. “The idea of the skull is akin to the concept of trying to look within the recesses of someone’s personality — looking beyond skin deep, beyond muscle and the physicality of man,” Jerome said. The new watches lit up, portraying man’s “think tank” at work. “The new collection of Swatch is in tune with this concept — where the watch is a shell, like the skull, where you can imagine thousands of things and elements happening and working inside it,” he added. Mysterious male models with crystal-embellished faces and bone accessories scribbled, “What’s in your head?” on the glass windows the entire night, stimulating the guests’ minds. Not only cranial indulgences were satisfied but also those of the stomach: squid-ink colored grissini sticks shaped liked bones, grilled bone marrow scooped straight out of the bone and surf and turf would gratify any gourmand.

To further highlight the enigmatic collection, Manila’s hip crowd was treated to an interactive social with a real-time Swatch experience as they watched 30 seconds of hot and savvy vibes in a commercial presenting the latest Full-Blooded collection for the first time in one of the biggest television events of the year, the American Idol: Season 10 finale.

Known skull artist Igan D’Bayan opens the show with live art.

If there is anyone who knows how to throw a party, it is certainly no other than Back to Skull club party host and Swatch Philippines president Virgie Ramos. She outdid herself again. Not even the minutest detail went unnoticed. Invited guests came in their most fashionable black, white or skull-inspired styles and everyone was lavished with her special attention.

Fashion is back to skull. Once relegated to heavy metal and bikers, the skull has established itself as a chic yet edgy symbol in fashion. Today, Swatch is back to skull.

The latest Swatch Full-Blooded watches and Swatch Bijoux pendants are made for fashion independents and enthusiasts. Three of the new models feature sparkling crystal hour markers and flagrant colors, while the other two mirror the in-fashion fascination with skulls, presenting dials with haunting, silvery skull silhouettes. All models offer the classic look and feel of the Diaphane Chrono with its easily readable dials and lightweight, sporty and elegant design.

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Complementing these new watches is a striking new family of Swatch Bijoux. Three pendants showcase three skulls; each fashioned of stainless steel and hung from a black silk or black plastic necklace. Wear one in stainless steel with black PVD or the other in polished stainless steel with sparkling white crystals to add an of-the-moment detail to your look.

The fashion-forward set is back to skull. Define yourself with the bold and edgy Full-Blooded collection and new Swatch Bijoux. The skull motif is back with a vengeance. It’s in fashion and it will never die. Wear a Swatch Full-Blooded watch and you will surely look drop dead gorgeous.