Swatch Art
Mimmo Paladino Swatch: Oigol Oro (1989)
Oigol Oro by the Italian artist Mimmo Paladino is one of the rarest Swatches ever made. Only 140 pieces exist, and most were never on sale.
- Year
- 1989
- Artist
- Mimmo Paladino
- Brand
- Swatch
- Edition size
- 140 pieces
- Reference
- GZ113
Mimmo Paladino Swatch at a glance
In 1989 the Italian artist Mimmo Paladino created the minimalist Oigol Oro for Swatch. Swatch gives the edition as 140 pieces. The reference is GZ113, as listed in the Antiquorum sale results. Together with the Kiki Picasso, it is the Swatch Art Special that serious collectors chase most.
The artist
Mimmo Paladino is one of the best-known Italian artists of his generation and a leading figure of the Transavanguardia movement. His work in painting, sculpture and print uses archaic figures, symbols and masks. For Swatch he chose a reduced, minimal design instead of a busy pattern.
Design and details
- Swatch plastic case with quartz movement.
- Minimalist design, as Swatch describes it, with "Oro" (gold) in the name.
- Reference GZ113.
- Original packaging and any papers are a key part of the piece.
Edition size and release
According to Swatch, Oigol Oro was produced as a limited edition of 140 pieces. The first watch was the prize in a "Design your Swatch" contest with more than 1,000 entries, and 99 more were given to personalities. So most pieces went out as gifts, not through shops.
Mimmo Paladino Swatch on the secondary market
In the Antiquorum online Swatch sale of November 2001, an Oigol Oro (GZ113) sold for SFr. 9,430 including premium, second only to a Kiki Picasso. Paladino pieces were also part of the Blum collection (Phillips de Pury, Hong Kong, 2011) and the Italian collection offered by Finarte in Rome in 2020. Buyers want an unworn watch with documented provenance and the original packaging.
How to check a Mimmo Paladino Swatch
With so few pieces, provenance matters as much as the watch itself. Ask where it came from, check the reference GZ113 and compare with documented auction photos. Be careful with watches that are only "in the style of" Paladino, or later Paladino-related products. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers the basics, but a piece like this deserves an expert look.
What is your Mimmo Paladino Swatch worth?
Do not wear or open the watch. Take photos of every side, the packaging and any letter or certificate, and start with our free watch value estimate. Before you sell or insure it, a written appraisal gives you a solid basis.
Frequently asked questions
How many Oigol Oro Swatches exist?
Swatch gives the edition as 140 pieces.
Could you buy the Paladino Swatch in a shop?
No. According to Swatch, one was the prize in a design contest and 99 were given to personalities.
What did an Oigol Oro sell for at auction?
At Antiquorum's online Swatch sale in November 2001, a GZ113 Oigol Oro sold for SFr. 9,430 including premium.
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