Cool fusion: the Swatch XLite pop-up bar

If you walked into the snazzy Swatch & Swatch building last Thursday night, you would think the coolest bachelor in town was holding a house party in his sophisticated industrial pad. Lustrous red steel scaffolding greeted you at the entrance. Roomy black couches rested on black fur rugs, surrounding mini tables atop stacks of rubber wheels. Multi-geared bikes hung from the ceiling as adornments. It was so tastefully industrial, raw, modern, and incredibly cool.

In one end of the room, you’d find a ping-pong table, and on the opposite side, a pool table. The space was illuminated with bold red and amber hues. DJ Emel Rowe spun from an elevated booth, right behind a chic L-shaped bar serving artisanal cocktails. But the vogue event was no bachelor’s festivity—it was an ingenious pop-up bar envisioned by the ever-creative Swatch Philippines president Virgie Ramos, and award-winning artisan/designer Jerome Lorico. What’s the good news? You can take part in it too. The pop-up bar will be open to the public as the perfect pre-party place — Tuesdays to Saturdays, 6 p.m. to midnight, only until March 5.

The idea of the pop-up bar to launch the latest line, the Swatch Irony XLite, is another first in the country. It’s a collection of sporty sleek chronographs with a futuristic allure, fusing different mediums into one ultra-lightweight piece. Smooth aluminum is paired with bright plastics, and silicone is detailed with explosive color details. These bold bi-material watches are perfect casual accents for the cosmopolitan who is always on the go, a ticking innovation that doesn’t bog you down with weight, but delivers the same bold style.

These mechanical statement pieces are what inspired artist Jerome Lorico to design the lounge, allowing everyone not only to see the products, but to experience them as well. “The XLite collection is all about style, relevance, function and versatility, so I wanted to fill the space with elements that are directional to these concepts. The word ‘fusion’ is very prevalent in the nature of this watch, so we wanted to make the place interactive and stylish at the same time too,” says Jerome.

The space was transformed into an elegant hub. Creatives from different industries mingled, as they enjoyed spirits from the iconoclastic mixologists behind the bar. Christian Bautista, a former UP ping-pong varsity player himself, showed off his moves and played one game on the table. Swatch ambassadors Matteo Guidicelli, Billy Crawford, Luis Manzano, Martin Nievera and director Rowell Santiago were present, brandishing their own choices from the new 12 XLite watches. Raymond Gutierrez hosted the event, which doubled as a celebration and launch for Swatch’s 2015 Year of the Goat watch, which he welcomed with the help of celebrity Jake Cuenca.

Once again, Swatch continues to surprise and prove that they’re more than just a watch brand. With their pop-up lounge, Swatch becomes a canvas for different forms of art and talent to flourish and collaborate. “Swatch is a reflection of the energy and the spirit of this city and the people living in it today,” says Jerome. And if you can’t experience this brilliant pop-up bar while it’s there, you would really be missing out.

Drop by the Swatch & Swatch building along Arnaiz St. to check out Swatch’s pop-up bar and their new sleek Irony XLite watches. Grab some drinks with friends, play a few rounds of pool, and allow yourself to be transported into the world of Swatch’s world of dynamic fusion: lighthearted, fun, spiffy, and detailed with state-of-the-art elements. It’s certainly a one-of-a-kind experience.

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Swatch Irony XLite is available at Swatch shops in Swatch & Swatch, SM Megamall, Glorietta 1, Greenbelt 5, TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, Marquee Mall, Pampanga, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North Edsa, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Greenhills V-Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, Robinsons Place Manila, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Festival Mall, Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu.