Swatch Time Converter
Convert standard time to Swatch Internet Time .beats and back — the quirky 1990s universal time format.
This swatch time converter instantly translates any standard time into Swatch Internet Time — better known as .beats — the delightfully odd universal time format Swatch invented in 1998 to give the internet a single global clock with no time zones at all. The idea was simple: divide the entire day into 1000 equal .beats, so @500 always means the same moment everywhere on Earth, whether you're in Tokyo or Toronto. Use this swatch internet time converter to translate your local clock into swatch beat time, explore what internet time looked like at any past moment, and relive one of the most charmingly ambitious relics of 90s tech culture.
How to Convert Swatch Internet Time
- Enter your standard time (hours and minutes).
- Select your local time zone so the converter can align it against Biel Mean Time (BMT), the Swatch reference zone at UTC+1.
- Read your .beat equivalent instantly, calculated as @beats = (seconds since midnight BMT ÷ 86.4).
What Is Swatch Internet Time?
Swatch Internet Time was invented by the Swiss watchmaker Swatch in 1998 as a proposed universal time standard for the early internet era. Rather than hours, minutes, and time zones, the entire day is divided into exactly 1000 .beats, with no time zones whatsoever — the same .beat value represents the same instant no matter where you are in the world. The reference point is Biel Mean Time (BMT), fixed at UTC+1 in honor of Swatch's headquarters in Biel, Switzerland: @000 beats marks midnight in Biel, and @500 beats marks noon in Biel, which is simultaneously @500 for someone in New York, Sydney, or anywhere else, even though their local clock reads a completely different hour. Swatch marketed .beats as the ideal system for coordinating online meetups, multiplayer game sessions, and global chat rooms without anyone needing to calculate time zone offsets. It never achieved mainstream adoption, but it remains a beloved curiosity among retro tech enthusiasts, and some Swatch watch models still display .beat time alongside standard hours to this day.
For related calculations, check out other utility widgets such as Zulu Time Converter, Unix Timestamp Converter, and World Time Zone Converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Swatch Internet Time?
Swatch Internet Time is a decimal timekeeping system invented by Swatch in 1998. It divides the day into 1000 .beats with no time zones — @000 is midnight in Biel, Switzerland (UTC+1) and the same .beat time applies simultaneously everywhere in the world. @500 beats is noon in Biel regardless of your location.
How do I convert Swatch time to standard time?
Multiply the .beat value by 86.4 to get seconds from midnight Biel Mean Time (UTC+1), then convert to your local time zone. For example, @500 = 500 × 86.4 = 43,200 seconds = 12:00 noon BMT = 11:00 AM UTC = 6:00 AM EST. The converter does this calculation instantly for any time zone.
Can I use Swatch time for scheduling?
In theory yes — Swatch's original vision was that online meetings could be arranged at a specific .beat time without needing to specify time zones. In practice it never became standard. It remains a curiosity and is still displayed on some Swatch watch models.
What is the difference between Swatch time and UTC?
UTC divides the day into 24 hours of 3,600 seconds each. Swatch time divides the day into 1,000 .beats of 86.4 seconds each. Both are measured from a fixed reference point (UTC from Greenwich, Swatch from Biel Switzerland at UTC+1), but they use completely different units.
How do I adjust my Swatch watch for daylight saving time?
Swatch Internet Time does not observe daylight saving time — it is a fixed offset from UTC+1 year-round. Only the local time conversion changes for DST. If your Swatch displays .beats, no adjustment is needed when clocks change.