Swatch x Blancpain: An ode to the Oceans (5 new models)

Saturday 26 March 2023 will, without a doubt, be a day to remember in the world of watch collecting: 11 timepieces as playful tributes to the planets were launched in order to celebrate the collaboration between the plucky company that saved the Swiss Watchmaking industry (Swatch) and the iconic maker of the Speedmaster Moonwatch (Omega).

This surprising and revolutionary collection went into orbit because of the fusion of the most innovative Swatch bioceramic material with the key Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch design elements.

The collaboration reached unparalleled success: From day 1 huge queues formed outside Swatch stores all over the world and the unexpected demand translated into non-available stock of the Bioceramic MoonSwatch Collection.

Swatch X Blancpain: An ode to the Oceans

Roughly one year and a half after this game-changing and controversial partnership, and after a week filled with anticipation, the watchmaking titan has unveiled their newest collaboration within the group: Swatch and Blancpain, one of the planet's most ancient watchmaker.

Drawing inspiration from Blancpain's renowned 1953 diver watch, the Fifty-Fathoms (similar to how the Omega x Swatch partnership was influenced by the Speedmaster), this recent collaboration presents a fresh, colourful, bio-ceramic Swatch watch design named "Scuba", a modern take on the seven-decade-old dive watch

The "Scuba" derives its visual appeal from the five oceans. It showcases a spectrum of bio-ceramic case colors, from hues of orange-gold and green to shades of blue, beige, and even pristine ice-white.

These are complemented with a variety of dial colors. Boasting dimensions of 42.3mm in diameter, 14.4mm in thickness, and 48mm lug-to-lug, the Scuba mirrors the exact dimensions of the Fifty-Fathoms. However, it carries the signature lightness of a bio-ceramic Swatch.

Movement

As famously articulated by Jean-Claude Biver: "Blancpain has never, and will never, produce a quartz watch". True to this commitment, the Scuba differs from its quartz-powered MoonSwatch counterpart. Instead, it harnesses Swatch's Sistem51 automatic mechanism. With a mere 51 components, the Sistem51 offers an impressive 90-hour power reserve and maintains an accuracy range of -5/+15 seconds daily, a performance that is quite commendable for a what this price.

The new models display a colourful open case back

Variants, availability & price

Available in a collection of five distinct designs and priced at €390, the watches inspired by the seas are:

Pacific Ocean: Boasts an orange-gold Bioceramic casing, accompanied by a black bezel. Its dial transitions from white to black and features a date indication at 4:30, rounded off with a black and orange NATO wristband.

Atlantic Ocean: Adorns a blue Bioceramic shell, paired with a matching blue bezel. The dial showcases a blue to navy color shift and includes a date window at 4:30, complemented by a blue NATO band.

Indian Ocean: Sports a green Bioceramic exterior, contrasted with a black bezel. The dial presents a green gradient, and like the others, a date indicator sits at 4:30. It's coupled with a harmonious black and green NATO strap.

Arctic Ocean: Presents a beige Bioceramic frame, juxtaposed with an orange bezel. Its dial subtly shifts in beige shades, with a distinct "No-Radiations" emblem at the 6 o'clock position. Unlike the others, it lacks a date feature and is finished with an orange NATO strap.

Antarctic Ocean: Shines with an ice-white Bioceramic build, offset by a grey bezel. Its dial gradients in grey tones and features a Mil-Spec moisture notifier at the 6 o'clock mark, devoid of a date function. It's paired with a chic grey and blue NATO band.

The new 5 models

Given the anticipated success of this launch, with people queuing up to 15 hours in their release day, we wonder:

What's the next collaboration for Swatch within its group?

Longines? Breguet maybe? Will they go through all the brands' and collections under the Swatch Group's umbrella?

Will we soon see a Bioceramic Swatch x Breguet Type 20 or a Bioceramic Swatch x Hamilton Khaki Field, maybe even a Swatch x Omega Seamaster?

Can this somehow jeopardize the allure and exclusivity of the Group's top tier brands?

Time will tell but something seem certain: This Blancpain X Swatch won´t probably be the final chapter of Swatch's Bioceramic-driven team-ups given how well it has worked so far.