The Unlikely Canvas: The Swatch Group and the Democratization of Art The story of The Swatch Group Ltd is, at first glance, a tale of horological innovation – a Swiss watchmaking giant revitalizing an industry. However, to view them solely through this lens overlooks a fascinating, often-underappreciated chapter in art history: their deliberate and highly successful foray into the world of collectible art as a vehicle for cultural engagement. Founded in 1983 from the merger of Ernst Thomke Industrie (ETI) and Société Suisse pour l'Exploitation de Brevets Horlogers (SSB), Swatch quickly becam…