The SwatchVintage Journal · Columbus Day
Around the World in Swatches
From the 1492 voyage to a 34 mm plastic Gent. The story of the 1991 Swatch THE GLOBE, the ship on its strap, and why it still belongs on a wrist.
Some watches tell you the time. Others tell you where to go next. The Swatch Gent THE GLOBE (GB137) does both, in its own quiet way. It came out in 1991, it is light enough to forget you are wearing it, and it carries a ship on its strap.
This guide follows the watch from the 1492 voyage that inspired it to the day we mark every October, then walks through the dial, the strap, the size, the condition and the care. If you only want the watch, you can go straight to the GB137.
The voyage behind the watch
In 1492 Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer from Genoa leading a Spanish expedition, set out across the Atlantic with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María. The first voyage took about three months. He went ashore at Guanahaní, an island in the Bahamas, on 12 October 1492.
That date is from the Julian calendar. In the Gregorian calendar we use today it would be 21 October. In late December 1492 he built La Navidad on Hispaniola, the first European fort in the Americas, after the Santa María, his flagship, was lost off the island.
The voyage began the European colonisation of the Americas, and it has been remembered, debated and retold ever since. For Swatch in 1991, it was a story about ships, oceans and maps.
Key dates from 1492 to 2026
- 1492Landfall in the Bahamas on 12 October.
- 1792The first Columbus Day celebration, held in New York for the 300th anniversary.
- 1892For the 400th anniversary, President Benjamin Harrison declares a one-time national celebration.
- 1934Congress asks the US President to proclaim Columbus Day every year.
- 1971Columbus Day becomes a federal holiday, observed on the second Monday of October.
- 1983Swatch launches in Switzerland.
- 1991The GB137 THE GLOBE joins the Gent range.
- 1992The 500th anniversary of the voyage.
- 2026Columbus Day falls on Monday 12 October.
How a voyage became a holiday
The first Columbus Day celebration took place on 12 October 1792, when a New York society marked the 300th anniversary of the landing. Italian-American communities kept the tradition alive through the 1800s: New York celebrated in 1866, and San Francisco's parade, started in 1868, is described as the oldest continuous celebration. Colorado made it a statewide holiday in 1905.
The 400th anniversary in 1892 brought the first national celebration, and in 1934 Congress asked for an annual proclamation. A law signed in 1968 made Columbus Day a federal holiday from 1971, which is why it now falls on the second Monday of October: 12 October in 2026, 11 October in 2027 and 9 October in 2028.
One date, many names
Around the world, 12 October means different things. In Spain it is the Fiesta Nacional, the national day, which also coincides with the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar. In Italy it is the Giornata nazionale di Cristoforo Colombo, a celebratory day introduced in 2004 but not a public holiday. Many Italian Americans treat the day as a celebration of their heritage.
In parts of Latin America the day was long known as Día de la Raza. Several countries have since renamed it: Mexico now calls it the Day of the Pluricultural Nation, Peru marks Indigenous Peoples and Intercultural Dialogue Day, and Belize observes Indigenous Peoples' Resistance Day.
In the United States, many people question how the day treats the Indigenous peoples who already lived in the Americas. Berkeley, California, began celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day instead in 1992, and many states and cities have followed. We think the story is best told with all of this in view: the voyage as a piece of history, and the watch as a piece of design inspired by it.
Why 1991 mattered for Swatch
Swatch launched in 1983 with a simple idea: Swiss quartz accuracy in a plastic case built from just 51 parts. By 1991 it was telling stories on the wrist, and 1992 was coming: the 500th anniversary of the voyage, marked that year by events from the opening of the Columbus Lighthouse in Santo Domingo to new debates about how to remember 1492.
The GB137 THE GLOBE arrived in the lead-up. It sits comfortably among our Destination Specials and the wider Swatch Gent collection.
Meet the GB137
The Swatch Gent THE GLOBE is a 34 mm watch in glossy black plastic, with a Swiss quartz movement and a colourful strap. It is listed as new old stock: unworn, with its original Swatch case and original certificate.
Reading the dial
The first thing you see is the dial: black, with yellow elliptical details that sweep across it like orbit lines or meridians. Against that, the hands are blue. It is a bold mix of black, yellow and blue, and the time stays easy to read at a glance.
- Reference
- GB137
- Year
- 1991, Gent
- Case
- 34 mm, black plastic
- Movement
- Swiss quartz
- Water resistance
- 3 bar
- Battery
- Renata 390
A ship on the strap, a globe in the name, and a black dial that looks ready for a night crossing.
The Santa Maria strap
The original plastic strap is the storyteller. Its colourful print carries the Santa María, the ship tied to Columbus's voyage, so the theme runs from the dial down to the buckle.
If you wear the watch every day, you can keep the original strap safe and fit a spare.
Why travel themes work on a watch
A watch sits on your body all day and gets looked at again and again, which makes it a small canvas that rewards a strong idea. Maps, meridians and ships are ideas people already carry in their heads, so a dial can say a lot with very little. The GB137 does it with three colours.
If the theme appeals, there is plenty more to explore in the archive.
Size and wearing
At 34 mm, the GB137 follows the classic Gent proportions. It is slim and light, which makes it easy under a sleeve and comfortable all day. On a broader wrist it reads as a smaller, vintage-style watch, which many collectors prefer. The size guide on the product page shows the real dimensions before you order.
What new old stock means
New old stock means the watch was made decades ago, never worn, and stored away. Ours comes in its original Swatch case with its original certificate, which is the best condition a vintage Swatch can be in. Every watch we sell is guaranteed original, and any ageing is stated in the listing. You can read more in our quality promise.
Looking after it
A few small things keep a vintage Swatch happy. The watch uses a Renata 390 battery; we install a fresh one before shipping, and a spare is only $4. A little polyWatch glass polish lifts light scratches from the crystal. Keep the watch dry: 3 bar on a vintage piece means splashes and rain, not swimming. Store it in its case, away from direct sun.
How to start a travel-themed collection
- Pick a theme. Ships, cities, maps or a single year: one idea keeps a collection focused.
- Start with a story watch. A piece like the GB137 gives the collection its first chapter.
- Look for condition and papers. Original case and certificate add real value over time.
- Mix in a few neighbours. Browse Destination Specials, Olympic Specials or Art Journey for pieces that talk to each other.
- Wear some, keep some. A spare band lets you enjoy a watch without stressing the original.
A small collector's glossary
- Gent
- Swatch's classic 34 mm men's and unisex size, the original format from 1983.
- Reference
- The model code, such as GB137, that identifies a watch.
- New old stock (NOS)
- An old watch that was never sold or worn.
- Quartz
- A battery-powered movement that keeps time with a vibrating crystal.
- 3 bar
- A water-resistance rating; on a vintage watch, treat it as splash protection.
Wearing a voyage
The black dial keeps the GB137 easy to style. It works with a white shirt, a denim jacket or a plain knit, and the blue and yellow add a small spark of colour. For a quieter look, swap in a black strap and let the dial do the talking.
Who is it for?
Collectors of Destination Specials will want it for the theme. Gent fans will like the classic 34 mm size. History lovers get a watch with a real story, and it makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves maps, ships or travel.
One last thing
The GB137 is a small watch with a big horizon. If it caught your eye, it is waiting in the shop.
Historical details in this article are drawn from the Wikipedia article on Columbus Day.
Questions about the GB137
New old stock: unworn, in its original Swatch case, with the original certificate.
A Renata 390 (SR1130SW). We install a new one before shipping.
No. It is rated 3 bar, which on a vintage watch means splashes and rain only.
34 mm, the classic Gent size. The product page has a size guide.
The Santa María, the ship associated with Columbus's voyage.
Yes, with tracking. See the shipping policy.
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