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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Bienne

Montres-bracelets Swatchetables

Verified

Designed by the Austrian artist Alfred Hofkunst, the POP Swatchetables series comprises three models: a Gu(h)rke, a bonju(h)r and a Verdu(h)ra. All three watches are fitted with an electronic quartz movement powered by a No. 329 battery. In the Spring of 1991, these three watches were sold in vegetables markets in various countries.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH VII-90
Object type
Wristwatch
Place of production
Bienne
Dating
1991
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
Matière plastique, Pile
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions d'exposition: 25.5 x 17.0 x 2.0 cm; poids: 110.500 g
Inscriptions (catalogue)
POP Swatch Alfred Hofkunst (Cadran); Nicolas Hayek (Bracelet); Alfred Hofkunst (Bracelet)

Historical significance

  • Designed by the Austrian artist Alfred Hofkunst, the POP Swatchetables series comprises three models: a Gu(h)rke, a bonju(h)r and a Verdu(h)ra. All three watches are fitted with an electronic quartz movement powered by a No. 329 battery. In the Spring of 1991, these three watches were sold in vegetables markets in various countries.
  • Each watch represents one of Switzerland’s linguistic regions. The German word “Uhr” (“watch” or “clock”) is incorporated into the names of all three models as a multilingual play on words: Gu(h)rke, Bonju(h)r and Verdu(h)ra. Gu(h)rke is derived from the German word Gurke (“cucumber”). Bonju(h)r is based on the French word Bonjour, with Uhr inserted into it. Verdu(h)ra is derived from the Italian word verdura (“vegetables”), likewise incorporating Uhr. This multilingual wordplay was conceived by Alfred Hofkunst for the “POP Swatchetables” series.

Photographs

Montres-bracelets Swatchetables (MIH VII-90)
Montres-bracelets Swatchetables (MIH VII-90) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Montres-bracelets Swatchetables (MIH VII-90)
Montres-bracelets Swatchetables (MIH VII-90) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. VII-90: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/35424/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.