SWATCH AND ITALIAN ARTIST LORENZO PETRANTONI COLLABORATE ON A SERIES OF DESIGNS

Swatch is excited to unveil a new collaboration with the internationally acclaimed artist, Lorenzo Petrantoni, whose work is known for combining a distinct graphic sensibility with an illustrative flourish.







This new series of five watch designs from Lorenzo Petrantoni confirms Swatch's long-standing quest to identify and work in conjunction with creative mavericks whose dedication to innovation and artistic excellence equals that of the famed Swiss brand. Previous Swatch collaborations, regularly unveiled since the mid-1980s onwards, have resulted in stunning time pieces from high profile visual artists including Keith Haring, Kiki Picasso, Alfred Hofkunst, Mimmo Rotella, Alesandro Mendini, Ivan Navarro and Jean-Michel Othoniel.

As part of The Graphic Designers Collection from Swatch, Lorenzo Petrantoni proposes five different designs. Using a stark palette of black and white, the artist's complex array of illustrative patterns and motifs - which he achieves by reassembling cut-outs from old books, almost like a contemporary form of patchwork - are intricately printed upon the sleek silicone and plastic surfaces of the various watch designs. The quality of this printing process is incredibly precise, ensuring that every single detail can be minutely scrutinized and fully appreciated. Furthermore, each watch features the well-known Swatch logo printed on the inside of the plastic glass, creating a pleasing 3-D effect.

Born in Genoa, in 1970, Lorenzo Petrantoni went on to study graphic design at college in Milan, prior to embarking upon a successful career as an art director in France. Following a move back to his native Italy - which remains his base to this day - he has also evolved his graphic talents into the territory of illustration. His delicate and intricate creations take inspiration from the 1800's and in particular from old dictionaries of that era, from which he retrieves long-forgotten images to reassemble and reinvent for an appreciative 21st century audience. Petrantoni's work has, not surprisingly, been exhibited internationally and utilised throughout a variety of popular global advertising campaigns, as well as iconic magazines and newspapers.

Lorenzo Petrantoni explains his design inspirations: “The old and the new come together. Past and present, united in a unique project. This collection of five watches is the offspring of this perfect union. They were designed with decorations, characters and letters and symbols that date back to the 19th century. For me it has been a fascinating, surprising and original project. The idea was to give life to characters and objects from our past once more, while they are often forgotten in dusty bookshops, and to make them modern and aesthetically beautiful by using them for a young and stylish brand. Truly, there was nothing like a Swatch to welcome them into our times.”