Most watches make it easy to read the time, but Swatch’s WINGS OF PEACE has other priorities. Colorful backwards numbers, an angel illustration, and a strap covered in artwork turn this special edition into something you wear for its design as much as its function. Created with French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, it brings his playful approach to fashion onto your wrist.
Price: €105 (About $116)
Where to Buy: Swatch
You get an unconventional dial with bright primary colors and a design that continues beyond the watch face. It is a bold choice for anyone who enjoys expressive accessories, though the unusual numbering will be less appealing if you prefer a straightforward watch.
An angel takes over the dial and strap
An angel is the central character in this collaboration, appearing across the strap and dial. Its profile is printed on the watch face, while the surrounding artwork carries Castelbajac’s signature use of primary colors.
Instead of treating the strap as a separate accessory, Swatch incorporates it into the overall design. The illustration continues beyond the dial, giving you a watch that looks like a complete piece of wearable artwork.
One of the most unusual details is the colorful Arabic numerals printed backwards. Traditional watch dials use familiar number arrangements to help you read the time quickly. Here, the reversed numerals give the design another playful element, turning something functional into part of the illustration.
The reversed numerals may take some getting used to if you prefer conventional hour markings. If you want familiar hour markers and a clean layout, this isn’t the direction to take. For someone who enjoys unusual watch designs, the backwards numbers are part of the appeal.
A message of peace runs through the design
Look beyond the dial and you’ll find another detail connecting the artwork to its name. The words “wings of peace” appear on the strap and packaging, carrying the theme beyond the angel illustration.
Castelbajac’s use of color and imaginative characters gives the watch a playful appearance, while the lettering introduces a more personal message. The angel and the words work together as part of the same visual idea.
Swatch also carries the message onto the packaging, making the presentation part of the overall design. That gives you something more distinctive than a standard watch box, particularly if you’re buying it as a gift for someone who appreciates fashion and illustration.
You don’t have to be familiar with Castelbajac’s work to understand the appeal. Bright colors, an angel illustration, and a message of peace are easy to recognize. The design has a clear personality, and it doesn’t depend on complicated details to communicate it.
If your wardrobe leans toward understated accessories, the artwork may be too prominent. For anyone who likes their watch to add color and character to an outfit, this collaboration delivers exactly that.
A creative partnership that goes back to the 1990s
Swatch and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac have a history together. Their partnership began in the 1990s and produced several distinctive watches, including SPACE PEOPLE, ENJOY IT, and the PASSPORT 93 set.
Those earlier creations help explain the direction of WINGS OF PEACE. Castelbajac brings his recognizable visual style to an everyday object, using illustration and color to give it an identity beyond its basic function.
This collaboration also connects to the designer’s festive creative takeover of Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris. The watch complements that larger project, translating its visual themes into something you can wear.
That connection gives collectors another reason to pay attention. Instead of being an isolated design, this piece continues a creative relationship that already has several Swatch models behind it.
You can appreciate the watch purely for its appearance, but the collaboration history adds another dimension if you follow designer watches. For someone who collects Swatch collaborations or enjoys Castelbajac’s artwork, the connection is a stronger selling point than the watch’s everyday utility.
Exclusive availability makes buying one less straightforward
Getting WINGS OF PEACE isn’t as simple as ordering a regular Swatch model from your local store. Swatch identifies Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris as the exclusive physical retail location during the initial sales period, followed by online availability in France through its official website.
That geographical restriction is important if you’re shopping from another country. Swatch hasn’t identified an international sales option in the supplied collection information, so the official buying route is limited to France.
The company also doesn’t provide a selling price on the collection page. That leaves one important part of the buying decision unanswered, particularly for anyone comparing this collaboration with other Swatch designs.
You also won’t find technical details such as case dimensions, movement specifications, or water resistance on the supplied page. The available information focuses on the artwork, designer collaboration, and distribution.
If you’re interested in the design and have access to the French sales channels, this is a distinctive addition to Swatch’s collaborative lineup. Buyers looking for an easily accessible everyday watch have more straightforward options.
A Swatch that puts artwork first
Castelbajac’s angel and backwards numerals make this a watch for people who want art on their wrist, not a conventional dial. Its long-running Swatch partnership adds to the appeal for collectors, though the announced buying options are limited to France.
Price: €105 (About $116)
Where to Buy: Swatch
Where to Buy
WINGS OF PEACE is available exclusively at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris from November 11 through December 7, 2026. Swatch lists the watch at €105 in France, with online sales through its website beginning December 8.
