The Swatch watch group has announced a new collaboration with its high-end brand, Blancpain, to unveil a brand-new watch collection called Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms. This initiative marks a return to the previous success achieved by Swatch with the Moonswatch, a result of its collaboration with Omega.
Led by Nick Hayek, the Swiss watch brand Swatch has unveiled the details of this new collaboration with Blancpain on its website. The unique collection consists of five watches, each named after one of the five oceans on our planet.
Founded in 1735, Blancpain is part of the brand portfolio of the Swatch Group. This Maison horlogère, reputed to be the world’s oldest watchmaking house, is particularly famous for its Fifty Fathoms diving watches.
These new Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms watches are mechanical and water-resistant, with a price expected to be around (only) 400 euros. This non-limited collection will be available starting Saturday in select Swatch boutiques.
Aesthetics and Technical Precision
The Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms watches stay true to the original design of the watch, drawing inspiration from the first edition unveiled to celebrate the model’s 70th anniversary. Two of them even pay subtle homage to their history, with the common Blancpain X Swatch logos present on both the dial and the crown.
These watches are designed to be waterproof to a depth of 91 meters, with the name “Fifty Fathoms” referencing a historic nautical measurement equivalent to the length of one fathom underwater. This measurement translates to 91 meters (or 300 feet) in the English system. Another remarkable feature of these models is the unidirectional rotating bezel, also made of bioceramic.
These five watches display five distinct colors, each corresponding to one of the world’s oceans. They are powered by the in-house SISTEM51 automatic mechanical movement, which was introduced in 2013. It is the very first fully automated movement, composed of only 51 components, resistant to magnetic fields thanks to the Nivachron hairspring, and offering a power reserve of 90 hours.
Finally, the NATO straps of these watches are made from recycled fishing nets sourced from the seas and oceans. On the back of each watch, there is a colorful illustration of a marine animal representing the inhabitants of the five oceans, the Nudibranches.
Mysterious Teaser
A few days ago, the group sparked excitement on social media by posting an image depicting the five oceans of the Earth, accompanied by the concise message “Blancpain X Swatch” followed by the date “09.09.2023,” which coincides with the launch of this new collection.
Two prevailing theories were circulating at that time. The first one highlighted the iconic OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M, a watch that holds a special place in the hearts of many enthusiasts, particularly due to its status as James Bond’s favorite timepiece.
[arm_restrict_content plan=”1,” type=”show”]
The second hypothesis brought up the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, especially since it is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Its history traces back to the request of the very first French combat swimmers. Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier and Lieutenant de vaisseau Claude Riffaud conceived a watch intended to revolutionize diving standards. Their vision materialized with the creation of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, a timepiece that commands respect and admiration among both divers and watch enthusiasts.
Recollections of Collaboration
This partnership recalls the one established in March 2022 between Omega and the Swatch brand. In March 2022, Swatch orchestrated a media sensation just before the opening of Watches and Wonders Geneva 2022, gathering some of the most prestigious watchmaking houses in the world, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and IWC.
Indeed, at a time when Swatch watch sales had been declining sharply for several years, the company had the brilliant idea to collaborate with the Omega watch brand, or perhaps it was the other way around, to create what would become a global success: the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch. This watch, derived from the iconic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, the first watch to set foot on the surface of the Moon, sparked a collective frenzy and became the emblem of an era marked by all forms of excess.
The highly coveted Moonswatch was then sold for 250 Swiss francs each, which was much cheaper than the original Omega model starting at 6,000 Swiss francs.
[/arm_restrict_content] [arm_restrict_content plan=”1,” type=”hide”] [elementor-template id=”101048″] [/arm_restrict_content]
Read also>
Featured photo : ©Swatch
