Every Watch Enthusiast Goes Through a “Skeleton” Phase. If You’re There Now, the Swatch “Body & Soul” YAS100G is a Pretty Affordable Pick.
But is it any good? That’s the question we’re looking to answer today!
The other skeleton watch I’ve had serious wrist-time with is the Tissot Squelette (read the review if you’re wanting to see me gush for 1,500+ words). However, I’ve had plenty of wrist time with open hearts from a variety of brands- the Jazzmaster Open Heart, Bulova 97A121 and 96A101, and Stuhrling Acheron all come to mind. They offer a taste, but they aren’t true skeletons- that makes this Swatch the second I’ve had on my wrist (and behind my lens).
The MSRP on the Body and Soul is just north of $175, but astute Amazon shoppers will see it for around $150. For $150, you can get a lot of mechanical or automatic skeletons. So, is the Swatch better, and if so, why?
Let’s dig in.
Swatch “Body & Soul” YAS100G Technical Specifications
- Model Number: YAS100G
- MSRP: $185
- Case Diameter: 38mm
- Alternate Models: “Uncle Charly” YAS112G
- Movement: Automatic, ETA 2841
- Complications: None
- Power Reserve: Estimated 48 hours
- Water Resistance: 30m / 99 ft
- Crystal Material: Mineral
Swatch is a Major Player in the Industry
The Swatch Group is one of the largest conglomerates in the watchmaking world and owns brands that range from low-end to outright luxurious. Among them include Bruguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Omega, Longines, Rado, Tissot, Hamilton, Mido, Certina, and a few more.
They also produce watches under the Swatch brand. Commonly found in shopping malls and usually made from plastic or rubber, you wouldn’t be wrong to associate a Swatch watch with something that is more stylistically focused versus something that is horologically significant (or even relevant). Yet, here we are with an ETA-powered automatic that rings in under $150 on the street (or net, I guess).
It’s hard to find an automatic, made by a major brand, using a Swiss movement at the price that you can buy the Body & Soul for. Swatch is able to do it because they happen to also own ETA.
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Taking the Aesthetic Lead is the ETA 2841. Mmm…
When looking at a skeleton watch, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the details. Many brands – notably, Chinese brands – love to detail and decorate the movement. Stuhrling Original is famous for this. In my opinion, this can be easily overdone and instead of enhancing the aesthetic value of a timepiece, the overly-decorated movement devalues it.
Swatch makes no such mistake here, instead leaving the movement more or less undecorated front and back. Several gears and jewels are visible on the dial, and their color (gold for the gears, ruby for the… rubies) provide the color that the rest of the watch lacks.
As you can guess, I’m a big fan of that. In addition to making for some excellent photography, leaving the movement to speak for itself upscales the piece (even if the bezel and bracelet try to accomplish the opposite).
The rest of the watch – the bezel, case, and bracelet (with deployant clasp) is heavily branded. Were it not an ETA movement inside, such branding would relegate the YAS100G to “fashion watch” status. It brings down the piece holistically (in my humble opinion). However, it’s easy to overlook the Swatch everywhere motif because the branding is engraved in the stainless steel, and the majority of the time your eye will be on the dial… not the bezel.
The ETA 2841 Automatic Movement
The movement is an interesting thing. The source movement is an ETA-2824, but the 2841 has been modified to suit the needs of the YAS100G. Most notably, the date-wheel and hacking functions have been removed in order to reduce cost and show off the mainspring. The BPH has also been reduced from 28,800 to 21,600 (at 21,600 bph, the Body & Soul beats on par with other watches in this category – thanks to Claudiu for the correction).
There’s rampant speculation online that several of the parts have been switched from metal to plastic (the escape wheel and pallet are the two most commonly discussed). I can indeed see some plastic in there- notably, the blue escape wheel and pallet fork. Time will tell (ha) how these components hold up.
The seconds hand visibly “ticks” as opposed to sweeps, but it’s a smoother motion than the 7S26 (found inside the Seiko 5 series of watches) and lower-end Miyota automatics. Considering its entry-level price, it’s perfectly appropriate that it ticks along as it does.
Accuracy
Using my favorite app, Toolwatch.io, I’ve found that this particular YAS100G is running +17 seconds. That’s not wonderful, but I suppose it’s to be expected for a watch of this price.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure the back can be easily opened- the exhibition caseback looks pressed into place. If that is the case, getting it regulated to improve accuracy may prove to be too expensive to be worth it, or simply not possible at all.
Operation
- To adjust the time, pull the crown to the farthest position (position 2). Turn the crown clockwise to adjust the time.
- To manually wind the watch, leave the crown active (position 1) and turn the crown clockwise to wind the mainspring.
The Body & Soul Might be the Only Swatch Automatic I Review
When Swatch released the Sistem51 series of watches I was initially excited to get my hands on one to review and photograph. However, once I learned that the Sistem51 cannot be serviced, my enthusiasm for the piece waned considerably. In my opinion, creating a watch that cannot be repaired – only replaced – is wasteful. In today’s world, with an ever-increasing focus on sustainability, it seems wilfully ignorant to create a product that must be replaced when anything goes wrong.
Thankfully, the Body & Soul does not suffer the same lack of consideration in its design. Swatch Canada has confirmed that the YAS100G can indeed be serviced. Not by your local watchmaker, mind you, but by a Swatch service center. For me, this means shipping my watch across the country should something go wrong.
It’s important to note that Swatch provides a 2 year warranty should it require repair due to manufacturers defect.
Aside from the too-ambitious branding, and the stainless-steel bracelet that’s just okay, I have little in the way of complaints. The YAS100G is an otherwise fine watch with a Swiss movement and a wonderful view. It’s a watch that pleases both the 17 year old and 31 year old in me, and these days that’s pretty hard to do.
Swatch “Body & Soul” YAS100G Photo Gallery
Visit the Swatch Body & Soul gallery on WristWatch.Photography for more high-res photos.
Good point on the “Swatch everywhere” logos – this is the only reason I didn’t buy this watch. When Swatch loses the logos, I will buy the watch.
Btw, what modern watch movements have 18.000 vph? I thought old only ones did. The japenese mostly go with 21600 now and the Swiss with 28800. Modern Vostok’s go with 19800.
Also, the 7S26 also beats at 21600 vph.
While doing research for this one I came across a couple of articles that discussed 21,600 being the “new norm” as we migrated away from 18,000 bph. Now I’m trying to retrace my steps and can’t find either of them.
Thank you for pointing this inaccuracy out- I have edited the content to suit.
I was just wondering because I have one of these watches myself (in leather spec for the band because like you said, branding is slightly overt, especially with the metal band) when and how to reset the watch to get better accuracy? I’ve been using toolwatch.io as you’ve recommended; and it’s great. What I’m not sure to do is reset the watch to be more accurate, given that you can’t “hack” it. If you hav a suggestion, that’d be fantastic. I also duly appreciate the entire website as well as your reviews, because they’re honest and extremely well written, given I’ve only recently introduced myself to the watch world.
Thanks a bunch!
Hey Luc,
What kind of accuracy are you experiencing right now? These watches are tough because in order to regulate they need to be sent to a service center.
One thing I do for auto’s that don’t hack is get the time set to where I want it (say, 2-3 minutes from now) and try to sync the seconds hand with the seconds reading on my PC. However, if your watch deviates significantly, this won’t matter much =/
Hi Cameron, sorry for my late reply; exams are here! I’m experiencing an average accuracy of around +3 to +11 seconds on an average basis over the past two months. One day I managed to measure +0.0, and I was surprised.
Thank you for getting back to me!
Very cool- thanks for the update!
I bought this when I was in Switzerland in 2010 for a little under MSRP. I thought about going into one of these shops with fancy watches just to see what they would even have from low end to high end and sure enough, they had this and it was in my price range (I was 28 at the time). I wore this watch for about two years until my (then) fiance (now ex wife lol) got me a Citizen atomic. I just got this watch out, wound it up and it’s running like a champ 9 years later.
Glad I came across this nice little review.
Sorry to join this conversation so late but glad I found this thread. I’m actually an old style Bulova Accutron fan but like skeleton watches too – I have several auto and manual wind skeletons and amongst them the YAS100g irony. I love this watch, I’ve owned it for years and because it’s rugged I use it as a ‘work’ watch – outside, gardening, hiking & the like. It is however the reason I’ll NEVER EVER buy anything from Swatch again. I simply can’t get it fixed: I have contacted Swatch here in the UK and in Switzerland and they claim they can’t work on them. I need a crystal (mine is scratched) and have lost the press-fit crown. You claim they can be repaired but I fear my experience indicates they can’t – and they can’t even supply spare parts so I can do it myself (the crown).
In this day and age this is simply unacceptable, but still I like(d) it so much I continued to wear it. Until today (when the balance mechanism parted company with the pivot which prompted the search which revealed your article) it’s still continued despite abuse and lack of any attention or servicing in what must be close on 20 years.
Because I’m a glutton for punishment I have bought a second hand example from Ebay and will attempt to make 1 good watch out of two if I can release the crystal…..
I’m glad I found your comment too. I’m about to buy a Body and Soul as my first watch, but the crystal happens to be broke. I wanted to change it, a local “horloger” told me it was possible, but I’m trying to find a crystal of the good dimensions. Would you have any info, or tips… Thanks
As for accuracy: I took my old ETA 2824 caliber Swatch (Model “Last Week Next Week”) to a local watchmaker for maintenance, and now it runs consistently at +2sec/day. So with a little attention from an expert, this little gem runs on par with a “Superlative Chronometer” for a fraction of the price.
Back in the 90’s, I bought two of the Swiss Irony Skeleton watches from the Swatch store, one to wear, the other to keep as NOS. I opted for the black leather straps. I bought them because I thought I could get into watches and I had never seen a skeleton watch before. I wore one watch, perhaps three times, and never wore the other. I figured I wasn’t a watch kind-of guy. They are both in their original packaging with papers. Are these earlier Irony watches any different from the newer ones? I think that if I’m not going to use them I should sell them and let someone else get enjoyment from them.
Accuracy is hit and miss. I am lucky with one that is -1s face up, +3s crown down, +1 crown left. That’s bloody good and better than my Longines Spirit Chronometer. It is actually my second YAS100G. The first one was one of the very first ones made with the metal escape wheel and blue plastic pallet fork — I wore it for 13 years from 2003 to 2016. This one is a late production with the grey plastic escape wheel and grey plastic pallet fork. I am not aware of any YAS100G with the jeweled metal pallet fork like those non-skeletonized Irony Automatics from the early 1990s with the 2842 movement and the date wheel.
Nice review. I picked up this watch on Zurich airport 23 years back. Used and abused it. No service. Still runs very well. Inspite of cracked back which doesn’t allow any moisture to go thru. I rather love the watch now.
Interesting to see these still kicking around. I bought mine in Munich airport about 1999, I loved it and wore it daily for many years. I don’t wear it much these days, but it still runs. Mine is presumably the first version as it has the metal escapement and a jewel pallet fork. I was surprised to see they later spoiled a good skeleton watch with plastic components, seems to defeat the purpose?