Cover Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms (left) and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms
Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms (left) and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms
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Swatch and Blancpain unveil five new bioceramic watches celebrating the 70th anniversary of the iconic Fifty Fathoms dive watch
After days of teasing on social media, Swatch and Blancpain finally unveiled their first collaborative project: a collection of five Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms watches, each named after the five oceans. It is modelled after Blancpain's iconic dive watch, Fifty Fathoms, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. True to its namesake, the watch is water-resistant up to 91m, which is equivalent to 50 fathoms in maritime speak.
The Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms is powered by the automatic Sistem51 developed and introduced by Swatch in 2013. Composed of 51 parts with a central screw, it is fitted with Nivachron hairspring which is resistant to magnetic interferences, and it possesses 90 hours of power reserve. On the caseback, the rotor features a digital print of the ocean the watch represents as well as the colourful marine life, Nudibranchia, that inhabits it. This is the first Swatch Scuba with Sistem51 since its launch in 1990.
Read more: What you may not know about the origins of these iconic dive watches
Artic Ocean Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms
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Ardent collectors may want to look out for the Artic Ocean Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms with a dial that features a red trefoil on a yellow background with a white cross and the words “No Radiations” above it. The same logo adorns the dive watches in the 1960s to show that they do not contain radioactive radium.
See also: The new MoonSwatch features Omega's signature Moonshine Gold
Above No Radiation logo on the dial of the Artic Ocean Swatch x Blancpain watch
No Radiation logo on the dial of the Artic Ocean Swatch x Blancpain watch
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Then there is the Antarctic Ocean Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms that has a sensor at 6 o'clock that can detect if the water resistance of the watch has been compromised. This is a callback to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms models with a two-toned sensor bearing the name “MIL-SPEC”, in accordance with US Navy specifications.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and Swatch logos are also featured on the dial.
Above The water sensor on the dial of the Antarctic Ocean Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms
The water sensor on the dial of the Antarctic Ocean Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms
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The Swatch x Blancpain collection comes on the heels of the wildly successful Swatch collab with Omega on the MoonSwatch. It is not a limited edition, but purchase is limited to one watch per person per day. It will be available at selected Swatch stores worldwide on September 9, 2023, and retails in Malaysia at RM1,700, Singapore at S$565, and Hong Kong at HK$3,150.
Above The caseback featuring a rotor with a digital print of the Indian Ocean
The caseback featuring a rotor with a digital print of the Indian Ocean
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Above The crown with the Blancpain and Swatch initials
The crown with the Blancpain and Swatch initials
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
