Swatch says ‘rainbow’ Pride watches were seized only in Malaysia
Watches are displayed for sale at a Swatch store at Setia City Mall in Shah Alam on May 25, 2023.
KUALA LUMPUR — Swiss watchmaker Swatch confirmed on Thursday (May 25) that its Pride timepieces inspired by the rainbow flag of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement have been seized only in Malaysia.
In response to Malay Mail's queries on Wednesday, Swatch International said that there were no other raids or seizure of watches from Swatch’s Pride collection or similarly themed items in Swatch stores in other countries.
The firm declined to comment further on the Pride collection seizures in Malaysia.
Instead, it provided Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek’s previous statement on the raids and seizures in Malaysia, where he had disputed the idea that the company’s collection of watches “using rainbow colours and having a message of peace and love could be harmful” to anyone.
According to Swatch International, its 2023 Pride collection of watches was launched on May 4 this year, describing itself as welcoming all people and celebrating all love.
Swatch International’s promotional information on its 2023 rainbow flag-inspired collection said the watches in six individual colours represent the Pride flag’s six colours which “speaks for all genders and all races”.
It listed the meaning represented by the six seized watch models: “Proudly Red” for life and passion, “Proudly Orange” for healing and celebration, “Proudly Yellow” for sunlight and the flag’s radiant centre, “Proudly Green” for nature and growth, “Proudly Blue” for harmony, and “Proudly Violet” for spirit.
Malay Mail reported on Thursday morning that the Home Ministry seized 172 Swatch watches from 11 shopping malls in Malaysia from May 13 to May 15, with nine watch designs seized including the six designs mentioned above.
When contacted by Malay Mail on Wednesday, Swatch declined to comment on the case of the watch seizures, but said its “legal department is taking care of it".
Earlier on Thursday, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he did not have enough details to comment on the seizure of 172 Swatch watches and said he would leave it to the Home Ministry to explain.
“The only fact I know is that the confiscation was because the watches had LGBT symbols, not because of the colours,” Mr Anwar said. MALAY MAIL
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