After the polarising launch of the Swatch MoonSwatch partnership with Omega, the world’s largest watch firm is again at it once more with one more collaboration with a Swatch sister model, this time with Blancpain. Dubbed the Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms, each manufacturers come collectively to have a good time the seventieth anniversary of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms — the world’s first true diver’s watch which made watchmaking historical past with its launch in 1953. Rumours first surfaced at the beginning of September with a video on Hodinkee giving clues to the launch earlier than one other official teaser confirmed the Swatch-Blancpain partnership only some days later.
Referencing the Swatch Scuba lineup, the non-limited assortment faithfully captures the hallmarks of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms: superior water resistance, excellent legibility, mechanical motion, secured rotating bezel and anti-magnetic safety. As with the Swatch MoonSwatch, the gathering’s case, bezel and crown are constituted of Swatch’s proprietary Bioceramic materials, all coming collectively to deal with the automated Sistem51 calibre. The particular assortment options one other nod to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms with fifty fathoms (91m or 300ft) of water resistance.
As an ode to the dive watch’s symbiotic relationship with the ocean, 5 iterations of the Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms have been introduced, every impressed by one among Earth’s 5 oceans. Flipping the watch over reveals an illustration of a species of the nudibranch, a powerful, vibrant animal, on the Sistem51 parts. Every watch is paired with a NATO strap constituted of recycled fishing nets faraway from the ocean.
Arctic Ocean
Maybe the standout piece from the gathering, the Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Arctic Ocean options the purple trefoil, yellow background “NO RADIATION” emblem on the dial, referencing the extremely coveted Blancpain Fifty Fathoms No Rad. The watch encompasses a beige case, crown and dial, accented with an orange bezel and NATO strap with an illustration of the Arctic Ocean and the Dendronotus Frondosus nudibranch on the case again.
Pacific Ocean
The Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Pacific Ocean options probably the most graphic color approach of the lot with its yellow-orange case and crown contrasted by a black bezel insert and NATO strap that’s offset with a gradient white dial with black parts. Flipping the watch over reveals an illustration of the Pacific Ocean and the Chromodoris Kuiteri nudibranch on the case again.
Atlantic Ocean
Varied shades of blue come collectively for the Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Atlantic Ocean. Followers of the Swatch MoonSwatch might be fast to notice the uncanny resemblance to the ultra-popular Swatch MoonSwatch Neptune. Flipping the watch over reveals an illustration of the Atlantic Ocean and the Glaucus Atlanticus nudibranch.
Indian Ocean
Tints of inexperienced paying homage to the Indian Ocean are captured within the case of the Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Indian Ocean. Hints of orange along with a black bezel insert balances the unconventional colourway. Flipping the watch over reveals an illustration of the Indian Ocean and the Nembrotha Kubaryana nudibranch.
Antarctic Ocean
Noteworthy as effectively is the “MIL-SPEC” therapy given to the Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Antarctic Ocean with the bi-colour emblem on the dial. This specific characteristic first appeared in 1954 when Blancpain used it to detect moisture seeping into the watch which prompted the sensor to alter color. The watch encompasses a tonal ice white case and crown complemented by a gray dial and bezel. Flipping the watch over reveals an illustration of the Antarctic Ocean and the Tritoniella Belli nudibranch.
This story was first printed on MENS’ FOLIO Singapore.
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