Swatch are known for their colorful – and not to mention affordable – quartz watches. Hot on the heels of their successful collection with Omega, there’s been no time wasted lining up the next partnership, this time with Blancpain.
Swatch X Blancpain: Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Collection
So what exactly do this pair have in store for us? Well, after exploring outer space, Swatch have turned their attention to our oceans. The new collection pays tribute to the first real diving watch, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. The muse is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and its status as a revolutionary timepiece that satisfied all the requirements of underwater research.
The Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection has five mechanical watches on offer. Each is dedicated to one of the five oceans of the world, taking their color pallet from a native nudibranch, a slug-like sea creature. The models merge the essence of the first diving watch with references to Swatch’s own diving line, the Scuba.
Caliber and Material
The Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms uses Swatch’s SISTEM51 caliber. Interestingly, the SISTEM51 is the first and only movement with 100% automated production. The caliber is made of 51 parts and offers a healthy 90-hour power reserve. Accuracy is of no concern, as the Nivachron hairspring wards off any interference from magnetic fields.
Flip the watch over, and you’ll be able to see the SISTEM51 movement, along with a depiction of the nudibranch allocated to that model. The slugs, or nudibranchs, are printed on the movement’s rotor, which uses each wrist movement to automatically wind the watch.
Bioceramic, Swatch’s proprietary material, is a blend of two parts ceramic and one part caster oil. The case, bezel, crown, pin buckle, and loops are made of this robust, scratch-resistant material.
Now let’s dive into the five models themselves.
Arctic Ocean/SO35N100
The ARCTIC OCEAN has a beige dial featuring a red trefoil on a yellow background, sectioned by white crosshairs. The “NO RADIATIONS” inscription alludes to the legacy of the Fifty Fathoms and the lore of 1960s diving watches; Blancpain incorporated this detail when launching the world’s first radium-free diver. The fiery red of the Dendronotus frondosus nudibranch is reflected in the NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets, the Bioceramic case, and the color gradient on the dial.
| Case material | beige Bioceramic case and crown |
| Case diameter | 42.3 mm |
| Case thickness | 14.4 mm |
| Lug-to-lug distance | 48.0 mm |
| Movement | SISTEM51 mechanical movement (self-winding) with 90-hour power reserve. Illustration of the Arctic Ocean and the Dendronotus Frondosus nudibranch in digital print |
| Water resistance | 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) |
| Glass | biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating |
| Dial | warm beige with gradient printing, “NO RADIATION” logo at 6 o’clock |
| Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale | Grade A Super-LumiNova® |
| Bezel | one-direction rotating bezel in beige Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in orange |
| Strap | NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea. Bioceramic pin buckle and loops |
Pacific Ocean/SO35P100
The PACIFIC OCEAN nods to the largest of the five oceans and its resident nudibranch, the Chromodoris kuiteri. The black, white, and bright yellow of this sea creature create a stark contrast on the watch. There’s a date window nestled subtly between 4 and 5 o’clock.
| Case material | yellow-orange Bioceramic case and crown |
| Case diameter | 42.3 mm |
| Case thickness | 14.4 mm |
| Lug-to-lug distance | 48.0 mm |
| Movement | SISTEM51 mechanical movement (self-winding) with 90-hour power reserve. Illustration of the Pacific Ocean and the Chromodoris Kuiteri nudibranch in digital print |
| Water resistance | 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) |
| Glass | biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating |
| Dial | white with gradient black printing, date indicator between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock |
| Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale | Grade A Super-LumiNova® |
| Bezel | one-direction rotating bezel in warm yellow Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in black |
| Strap | NATO strap, made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea. Bioceramic pin buckle and loops |
Atlantic Ocean/SO35A100
The ATLANTIC OCEAN evokes the profound depths and crashing waves with rich blue tones. These are also the colors of the Glaucus atlanticus, which can be found on the back of the Bioceramic case. This model also has a date display between 4 and 5 o’clock. Like the other models in the Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection, this watch is paired with a NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets and powered by the SISTEM51.
| Case material | blue Bioceramic case and crown |
| Case diameter | 42.3 mm |
| Case thickness | 14.4 mm |
| Lug-to-lug distance | 48.0 mm |
| Movement | SISTEM51 mechanical movement (self-winding) with 90-hour power reserve. Illustration of the Atlantic Ocean and the Glaucus Atlanticus nudibranch in digital print |
| Water resistance | 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) |
| Glass | biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating |
| Dial | gradient light blue to ocean blue printing, date indicator between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock |
| Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale | Grade A Super-LumiNova® |
| Bezel | one-direction rotating bezel in ocean blue Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in black |
| Strap | NATO strap, made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea. Bioceramic pin buckle and loops |
Indian Ocean/SO35I100
The INDIAN OCEAN uses a bright green to represent the life in these deep waters, most notably the Nembrotha kubaryana nudibranch. This model was also given a date display between 4 and 5 o’clock. All watches in the collection have a diameter of 42.3 mm, a thickness of 14.4 mm, and use Super-LumiNova for the handset.
| Case material | green Bioceramic case and crown |
| Case diameter | 42.3 mm |
| Case thickness | 14.4 mm |
| Lug-to-lug distance | 48.0 mm |
| Movement | SISTEM51 mechanical movement (self-winding) with 90-hour power reserve. Illustration of the Indian Ocean and the Nembrotha Kubaryana nudibranch in digital print |
| Water resistance | 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) |
| Glass | biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating |
| Dial | deep green with gradient black printing, date indicator between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock |
| Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale | Grade A Super-LumiNova® |
| Bezel | one-direction rotating bezel in green Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in black |
| Strap | NATO strap, made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea. Bioceramic pin buckle and loops |
Antarctic Ocean/SO35S100
The ANTARCTIC OCEAN leans on a white, gray, and blue color scheme. This model doesn’t have a date complication, instead offering a two-tone moisture indicator at 6 o’clock. This indicator is an important feature for military diving watches and a treasured detail among watch collectors. The honorary nudibranch is the Tritoniella belli, again found on the back of the case.
| Case material | ice white Bioceramic case and crown |
| Case diameter | 42.3 mm |
| Case thickness | 14.4 mm |
| Lug-to-lug distance | 48.0 mm |
| Movement | SISTEM51 mechanical movement (self-winding) with 90-hour power reserve. Illustration of the Antarctic Ocean and the Tritoniella Belli nudibranch in digital print |
| Water resistance | 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) |
| Glass | biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating |
| Dial | cool gray with gradient printing and bi-color water contact indicator at 6 o’clock |
| Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale | Grade A Super-LumiNova® |
| Bezel | one-direction rotating bezel in ice white Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in dark gray |
| Strap | NATO strap, made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea. Bioceramic pin buckle and loops |
This collection is not limited and will be available in select Swatch stores from September 9, 2023, for a price of $ 400. As with the MoonSwatches, only one watch per person and per day.
