Is this set to be the next Internet-breaking MoonSwatch? After all, Swatch has just announced another luxury tie-up, this time with Swiss watchmaking brand, Blancpain, to unveil five new models of the iconic Fifty Fathoms timepiece. This collaboration marks the 70th anniversary of the beloved, and world’s first, true diver’s watch, one that has served diving pioneers, elite marine corps, and those seeking underwater exploration.
For the Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection, this will be Swatch’s take on the Blancpain signature, and references their own SCUBA series of diver’s watches while sticking to the recognised hallmarks of the original Fifty Fathoms. That is, the watch’s case, its superior water resistance, outstanding legibility, mechanical movement, unidirectional rotating bezel to measure the duration of a dive, and Blancpain’s patented anti-magnetic protection. Similarly, this new model is water resistant in deep water, up to a depth of 91 metres.
What’s new though is that each of the five watches come equipped with Swatch’s revolutionary SISTEM51 mechanical movement, the first and only mechanical movement whose production is entirely automated. The Blancpain X Swatch collection also see exclusive colours specifically developed for this collaboration.
Swatch’s bioceramic material is also featured here, alongside another sustainable component: NATO straps made from recycled fishing nets removed from the ocean floor, as a thoughtful nod to ocean conservation.
After all, the watches are an ode to the deep seas, and each named after the Earth’s five oceans: the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Antarctic oceans. In line with this inspiration, you’ll notice a transparent display back of a corresponding depiction of these magnificent oceans, as well as illustrations of nudibranchs as a digital print on the movement’s rotor, each as mesmerising and colourful as the vibrant creatures they represent.
Each watch will cost $565, a fraction of the Fifty Fathoms’ usual price tag surely, though take note that this is a non-limited collection, so you don’t necessarily have to run to your nearest Swatch outlet to get your hands on one!
Left to right:
- ARCTIC OCEAN: $565
- PACIFIC OCEAN: $565
- ATLANTIC OCEAN: $565
- INDIAN OCEAN: $565
- ANTARCTIC OCEAN: $565
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The Blancpain X Swatch collection, $565 each. Available from 9 September 2023 at selected Swatch stores; purchases are limited to one watch per person per day.Â
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