Target: Swatch / The Swatch Group Ltd
Evidence date: 22 October 2026
Scope: Swatch brand, parent company, identified group companies, Israeli commercial intermediaries and controlling principals.
Corporate Communications & Public Stance
Official statements concerning Israel-Palestine
No public evidence identified of a verified Swatch Group corporate statement specifically endorsing Israeli military operations, Palestinian political organisations, Israeli settlement expansion, or a particular political resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
No public evidence identified of a formal Swatch Group announcement suspending Israeli commercial distribution because of the conflict.
Comparative international communications
On 4 March 2022, Jeweller Magazine reported that Swatch Group had suspended watch exports to Russia, reproducing a company statement that exports had been placed on hold while the group assessed the situation.1
On 3 March 2022, a Bloomberg report republished by AJOT described the initial policy as a halt to exports while Russian stores and the group’s Russian affiliate remained operational.2
On 8 March 2022, Swissinfo reported that Swatch Group had subsequently suspended Russian retail operations, citing a company spokesperson and noting earlier Bloomberg reporting.3
On 9 March 2022, Anadolu Agency reported a company statement confirming temporary suspension of Russian stores because of increasing operational complexity and difficulty.4
The March 2022 statements establish an operational response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and provide a documented comparison point for public corporate communications concerning geopolitical events.1, 4
Other public responses to international controversies
In August 2025, Reuters, in an article republished by The Business of Fashion, reported that Swatch apologised and withdrew advertising materials worldwide after criticism of an image considered racially offensive in China.5
The Guardian independently reported the advertising withdrawal and the company’s public apology on 18 August 2025.6
These August 2025 reports concern advertising and racial representation, without documenting Swatch involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict.5, 6
Regional market framing
Swatch’s international directory identifies Roltime Ltd, located at 7 Imber Street, Petah Tikva, as its Israeli contact.7
The directory presents the Israeli contact alongside commercial and service contacts for other countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Iran and Lebanon.7
The Swatch Group’s 2025 annual report describes a global system of distribution subsidiaries and local distributors, with the latter representing the group in countries without a dedicated distribution subsidiary.8
No public evidence identified of an exceptional geopolitical mandate in the documented Swatch-Roltime commercial relationship.
Operations in Occupied or Contested Territories
Documented Israeli commercial presence
Swatch’s current international directory identifies Roltime Ltd at 7 Imber Street, Petah Tikva, Israel, with an Israeli customer-service telephone number.7
Roltime’s official corporate website identifies its involvement in the Israeli luxury-watch and consumer-goods market and lists Swatch, Omega, Longines, Tissot and Breguet among its watch-related brands.9
Roltime’s service website confirms that the company operates watch-service and repair facilities in Israel.10
Roltime’s published location directory identifies retail boutiques, stores, headquarters and service facilities in Israeli cities.11
The directory identifies a Tissot boutique at Ayalon Mall in Ramat Gan, corroborating the presence of a Swatch Group brand in the Israeli retail market.11
An independent Israeli watch-retail directory lists Swatch outlets or retailers in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Petah Tikva, Modiin and additional Israeli locations.12
The independent retailer directory is evidence of advertised brand availability and does not establish that every outlet is directly owned by Swatch Group.12
Territorial classification
The independent Swatch retailer directory contains Jerusalem listings, but its city-level descriptions do not establish that those locations are in occupied East Jerusalem.12
No public evidence identified of a verified Swatch-owned factory, service installation, named dealership or authorised outlet situated inside an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank or Golan Heights.
No public evidence identified of a Swatch-specific supply, service or procurement contract supporting settlement construction, settlement security infrastructure or territorial administration.
Other group brands
Certina, a Swatch Group watch brand identified in the group’s annual report, maintains a dedicated Israeli store-directory page.8, 13
Roltime’s official corporate website identifies Omega, Tissot, Longines and Breguet among the watch brands associated with its commercial activities.9
These materials establish commercial connections involving named group brands, while the available outlet information does not verify a settlement-specific operation attributable to those brands.9, 11
UN settlement database and international scrutiny
The UN Human Rights Office reported that its September 2025 settlement-business database update contained 158 companies. Its published description identified activities including construction materials, settlement infrastructure, demolition, surveillance and exploitation of natural resources.14
Associated Press reported that the September 2026 update brought the database to 214 companies and that the UN described the exercise as identifying businesses linked to settlement-related activities.15
The September 2026 reporting also recorded the Israeli diplomatic mission’s objection to the database and the UN Human Rights Office’s position concerning corporate human-rights due diligence.15
No public evidence identified establishing that Swatch Group, Swatch Ltd, Roltime Ltd or the Hayek Pool was listed in the versions reviewed through accessible reporting.
No public evidence identified of a court ruling, regulatory sanction or OECD National Contact Point finding against Swatch concerning Israeli settlements.
Human-rights context
In February 2022, Amnesty International published a report examining Israeli policies concerning territorial fragmentation, segregation, displacement and Palestinians’ economic and social rights, concluding that the documented system amounted to apartheid.16
In April 2021, Human Rights Watch published a report concluding that the conduct of Israeli authorities toward Palestinians satisfied its assessment of the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution.17
These reports address Israeli state conduct and the relevant legal and human-rights context; neither cited report establishes a specific Swatch Group contract, settlement transaction or political donation.16, 17
Civil-society and boycott campaigns
No public evidence identified of a verified, named Israel-Palestine boycott campaign specifically designating Swatch Group or the Swatch consumer brand as a priority target.
No public evidence identified of a Swatch corporate response to such a campaign.
In August 2025, The Guardian separately documented boycott calls concerning Swatch’s advertisement in China; that campaign concerned alleged racist imagery and was unrelated to Israel-Palestine.6
Internal Governance, Content & Retail Policies
Employee relations and political expression
No public evidence identified of Swatch Group dismissing, disciplining, suspending or otherwise sanctioning an employee because of support for Palestine or opposition to Israeli military action.
No public evidence identified of litigation by Swatch against an employee or trade union concerning Palestinian solidarity activities.
No public evidence identified of a company policy specifically restricting Palestinian flags, keffiyehs, ceasefire advocacy or discussion of Israel-Palestine.
No public evidence identified of a special corporate policy subsidising military reservist salaries within Roltime’s Israeli operations.
Content moderation and editorial policy
Swatch’s documented business activities include watchmaking, distribution, retail and related manufacturing and services.8
No public evidence identified of an independent investigation, academic study or regulatory finding alleging that Swatch systematically suppressed Palestinian political expression through content moderation.
No public evidence identified of an Israel-Palestine-specific algorithmic ranking or editorial moderation controversy involving Swatch’s digital retail channels.
Retail and product policies
Swatch’s public international directory explicitly identifies Israel as a market served through Roltime.7
Swatch’s retail locator provides general geographic and retailer-search functions for its international store network.18
No public evidence identified of a verified Swatch policy mislabelling goods manufactured in occupied Palestinian territory as products of Israel.
No public evidence identified of Swatch watches being manufactured in Israeli settlements.
No public evidence identified of a regulatory action against Swatch concerning settlement-origin labelling.
Supply-chain due diligence
The group’s 2025 annual report describes an integrated watchmaking business with production companies, electronic-system activities, distribution entities and associated services.8
No public evidence identified of an Israel-Palestine-specific supply-chain due-diligence resolution, employee petition or regulatory enforcement action involving Swatch.
Brand Heritage & State Partnerships
Brand heritage
Swatch Group’s 2025 annual report identifies its principal activities as watches, jewellery, electronic systems, watch components and related manufacturing and distribution.8
The report identifies brands including Omega, Longines, Tissot, Breguet, Blancpain, Hamilton, Certina and Swatch.8
The group’s documented corporate structure and business activities concern watchmaking and associated commercial operations.8
No public evidence identified of a founding mandate requiring Swatch to advance Israeli state objectives or foreign military policy.
Military and state-security positioning
No public evidence identified of Swatch’s consumer-brand marketing explicitly invoking Israeli military service, IDF membership, Israeli intelligence units or settlement security organisations.
No public evidence identified of a corporate claim that Swatch’s commercial origin was connected to the Israeli defence or state-security sector.
Government and institutional partnerships
Roltime’s published Israeli commercial network includes authorised services and retail operations for watches and other consumer brands.9, 10
No public evidence identified of Swatch sponsoring an Israeli government public-diplomacy campaign relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
No public evidence identified of Swatch sponsoring an Israeli settlement organisation, settlement conference or settlement-promotion event.
No public evidence identified of a formal Swatch Group partnership with an Israeli military academy or military research institution for geopolitical advocacy.
No public evidence identified of a Swatch executive receiving an Israeli state honour specifically for support of Israeli military or settlement policy.
Lobbying, Advocacy, Financing & Logistics
Corporate lobbying and advocacy
No public evidence identified of Swatch Group lobbying the US Congress, UK Parliament or Swiss authorities specifically in support of Israeli settlement expansion, anti-BDS legislation or Israeli military operations.
No public evidence identified of a Swatch corporate political-action committee contribution specifically connected with Israel-Palestine policy.
No public evidence identified of corporate membership in an Israel-Palestine geopolitical lobbying organisation involving a documented advocacy or leadership role.
No public evidence identified of Swatch financing litigation designed to prohibit Palestinian-solidarity boycotts.
Financial contributions
No public evidence identified of a documented Swatch Group or Swatch-brand donation to the Israel Defense Forces, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Jewish National Fund/KKL, settlement organisations or Israeli military-welfare associations.
No public evidence identified of a Swatch donation to a named Israeli reservist-support fund.
No public evidence identified of a corporate charitable-matching programme confirming eligibility of organisations financing settlement expansion or military operations.
Commercial payments and military procurement
Swatch’s international directory establishes an official Israeli commercial-service contact through Roltime Ltd.7
Roltime’s business profile identifies commercial activity involving several international watch and consumer-goods brands.9
Neither disclosure specifies an Israeli Ministry of Defence procurement award, military-equipment contract or political donation.7, 9
No public evidence identified of a named Swatch Group contract with the IDF, Israeli Ministry of Defence or Israeli settlement administration.
Crisis asset mobilisation
No public evidence identified of Swatch supplying free watches, logistics, financial infrastructure, transport, communications equipment or dedicated corporate services to Israeli military operations following 7 October 2023.
No public evidence identified of Swatch directing corporate retail facilities or logistical resources toward Israeli military mobilisation.
Conduct after 19 July 2024 and November 2024
The 2025 annual report and current international distributor information establish continuing group distribution activities and a published Israeli commercial contact in the period following those dates.7, 8
The retrieved evidence does not establish a change in the political purpose of the commercial relationship after July or November 2024.7, 8
No public evidence identified of a new Israeli military donation, settlement sponsorship or anti-BDS lobbying activity by Swatch after either date.
Corporate Structure & Primary Mission
Legal and commercial structure
The Swatch Group Ltd is a Swiss-listed holding company whose registered and bearer shares are traded on Swiss exchanges, according to its 2025 annual report.8
The report identifies Swiss registered and administrative offices and a group structure covering manufacturing companies, watch brands, distribution subsidiaries and service functions.8
The group reported 116,919,500 registered shares and 28,936,000 bearer shares at 31 December 2025.8
The 2025 annual report records a substantial family-associated voting-control arrangement through the Hayek Pool.8
Controlling shareholders
At 31 December 2025, the Hayek Pool and associated parties controlled 44.5% of Swatch Group voting rights.8
Within that structure, the heirs of Marianne and Nicolas G. Hayek and associated persons or institutions controlled 43.8% of voting rights, according to the annual report.8
The disclosed shareholder structure names the Hayek heirs, Wat Holding AG, Ammann Group Holding AG and Swatch Group Pension Fund among the relevant pool participants.8
The 2025 compensation report independently records substantial shareholdings attributed to the Hayek heirs and holdings of individual directors and executives.19
No public evidence identified of an Israeli state-held golden share or Israeli government controlling interest in Swatch Group.
Subsidiaries and geographic organisation
The 2025 annual report distinguishes fully consolidated group companies from independent local distributors.8
The group’s UK subsidiary, The Swatch Group (UK) Limited, remains identifiable through UK Companies House records, including accounts filed during August 2026.20
Swatch’s own directory identifies Roltime Ltd as its Israeli contact.7
The evidence therefore establishes a commercial intermediary in Israel without establishing that Roltime is a fully owned Swatch Group subsidiary.7, 8
Foundational mandate
The group’s 2025 financial reporting describes the company’s business as watchmaking, related manufacturing, electronic systems and commercial distribution.8
No public evidence identified of a constitutional or foundational requirement that Swatch advance Israeli geopolitical objectives.
No public evidence identified of a special corporate mandate to finance settlement development or military operations.
Executive & Leadership Footprint
Identified principals
The Swatch Group’s 2025 annual report identifies Nayla Hayek as chair of the board and Nick Hayek as president of the Executive Group Management Board.8
The same report identifies Marc A. Hayek, Ernst Tanner, Daniela Aeschlimann, Claude Nicollier and Jean-Pierre Roth among the board members at 31 December 2025.8
The report identifies Raynald Aeschlimann and Sylvain Dolla among group executives.8
The Hayek family-associated voting pool remained the principal disclosed voting-control arrangement at the end of 2025.8
Personal philanthropy and financing
No public evidence identified of Nayla Hayek personally donating to the IDF, FIDF, JNF/KKL, Israeli settlement organisations or Israeli military-welfare bodies.
No public evidence identified of Nick Hayek personally financing Israeli military operations, settlement development or Israel-Palestine political advocacy.
No public evidence identified of Marc A. Hayek directing personal or family-office funds to those organisations.
No public evidence identified of such contributions by the identified Hayek Pool-associated companies or foundations.
Executive public statements
Nick Hayek’s public-facing participation in the company’s March 2022 reporting concerned the commercial consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the company’s Russian operations.3
No public evidence identified of a verified public endorsement of Israeli military operations or settlement expansion by Nayla Hayek, Nick Hayek or Marc A. Hayek.
No public evidence identified of a verified public statement by those executives advocating the removal of Palestinian residents from occupied territory.
No public evidence identified of an executive-authored Israel-Palestine political letter or opinion article.
Board memberships and external affiliations
The 2025 annual report identifies Ernst Tanner as vice-chair and names additional directors, including Daniela Aeschlimann, Claude Nicollier and Jean-Pierre Roth.8
No public evidence identified establishing that the named directors held leadership positions in AIPAC, FIDF, CFI, Regavim, Im Tirtzu or other named Israel-Palestine lobbying organisations.
No public evidence identified of a named Swatch director serving on the governing board of an Israeli settlement organisation.
No public evidence identified of a disclosed directorship by a controlling principal in an Israeli military or surveillance company specifically connected to Palestinian territorial administration.
Executive-linked entities
The 2025 annual report identifies Wat Holding AG and Hayek Holding AG within the broader disclosed Hayek-associated ownership structure.8
The report’s ownership disclosure identifies shareholder relationships but does not specify Israel-Palestine political grants or military-welfare funding by those entities.8
No public evidence identified of a confirmed political-financing transaction by those entities concerning Israeli settlements or military operations.
Footnotes
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Jeweller Magazine, 4 March 2022, Richard Chiu, “Swatch Group halts exports to Russia,” reporting the export suspension and reproducing the Swatch Group statement originally given to WATCHPRO. https://www.jewellermagazine.com/Article/10434/Swatch-Group-halts-exports-to-Russia ↩ ↩2
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American Journal of Transportation, 3 March 2022, Bloomberg report, “Swatch group halts exports to Russia but keeps stores open.” https://www.ajot.com/news/swatch-group-halts-exports-to-russia-but-keeps-stores-open ↩
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Swissinfo / Keystone-SDA, 8 March 2022, “Swatch-Marken schliessen ihre Shops in Russland,” reporting the closure of Swatch Group’s Russian stores and citing a company spokesperson. https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/swatch-marken-schliessen-ihre-shops-in-russland/47413816 ↩ ↩2
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Anadolu Agency, 9 March 2022, “Swatch Group suspends retail operations in Russia.” https://www.aa.com.tr/en/economy/swatch-group-suspends-retail-operations-in-russia/2529181 ↩ ↩2
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Reuters, 18 August 2025, “Watchmaker Swatch Apologises for ‘Slanted Eye’ Ad after Online Backlash in China,” by Casey Hall, republished by The Business of Fashion. https://businessoffashion-businessoffashion-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/news/luxury/watchmaker-swatch-apologises-for-slanted-eye-ad-after-online-backlash-in-china/ ↩ ↩2
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The Guardian, 18 August 2025, “Swatch pulls ‘slanted eye’ ad after backlash in China.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/18/swatch-slanted-eye-ad-backlash-china ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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Swatch, international regional directory, “Asia,” identifying Roltime Ltd as its Israel contact; accessed 22 October 2026. https://www.swatch.com/en-us/pacific-and-asia.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10
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The Swatch Group Ltd, Annual Report 2025, official corporate report covering governance, ownership, organisation, distribution, financial statements and subsidiary disclosures; published in 2026 and reproduced in full text by MarketScreener. https://uk.marketscreener.com/news/swatch-annual-report-2025download-pdf-5-53-mb-ce7e5ed9db80f427 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26
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Roltime Group, official corporate website, company description and international brand portfolio, including watch brands and Israeli distribution, retail and service activities; accessed 22 October 2026. https://www.roltime.co.il/en/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6
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Roltime Group, “After-Sales Service & Repair,” accessed 22 October 2026. https://www.roltime.co.il/en/service-and-repairs/ ↩ ↩2
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Roltime Group, Israeli retail and service locations, accessed 22 October 2026. https://www.roltime.co.il/he/locations/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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WatchGuru Israel, directory of Swatch retailers, accessed 22 October 2026. https://watchguru.co.il/shops-brand/swatch/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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Certina, Israeli store-directory page, accessed 22 October 2026. https://www.certina.com/en/stores/israel ↩
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UN Human Rights Office / OHCHR, 26 September 2025, “UN Human Rights Office updates database of businesses involved in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank,” official press release reproduced by GlobalSecurity.org. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2025/09/mil-250926-ohchr02.htm ↩
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Associated Press, 26 September 2026, “UN adds 61 firms to settlements blacklist over alleged human rights violations against Palestinians,” republished by The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/26/un-companies-israeli-settlements-blacklist-alleged-palestinian-rights-violations ↩ ↩2
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Amnesty International, 1 February 2022, “Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel system of domination and crime against humanity.” https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/5141/2022/en/ ↩ ↩2
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Human Rights Watch, 27 April 2021, “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution.” https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution ↩ ↩2
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Swatch, international store locator, accessed 22 October 2026. https://www.swatch.com/en-us/stores/ ↩
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Swatch Group, Compensation Report 2025, shareholdings and compensation disclosures, reproduced by MarketScreener in 2026. https://uk.marketscreener.com/news/swatch-compensation-report-2025download-pdf-1-40-mb-ce7e5ed9db80f523 ↩
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UK Companies House, The Swatch Group (UK) Limited, company number 00177501, filing history, accessed 22 October 2026. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00177501/filing-history ↩