Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Full-Black Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty-Fathoms Ocean Of Storms
Perhaps the best-looking 'Scuba' to date, the inspiration from the Ocean of Storms comes from our neighbouring Moon.
A couple of months ago, Blancpain & Swatch caused quite a storm by presenting their collaboration based on the iconic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Following the success of the Moonswatch with Omega, the Scuba Fifty Fathoms captured the spirit of the legendary dive watch in bioceramic, a lightweight material that came in five different colours. Now, there’s a sixth one added to the line-up, called the Ocean of Storms. Inspired by the Oceanus Procellarum, a vast mare or sea on our neighbouring Moon, which covers more than 10% of the lunar surface. This one comes in a deep black colour all around. And just as before, it’s mechanical, of course. Let’s dive straight in.
The case is similar to the others in the range but now crafted in black bioceramic. It measures 42.3mm in diameter and tops out at 14.4mm in height. The side of the case is imprinted with “Swatch”, where usually it would show “Blancpain”. The lugs are drilled, adding a retro touch to the case. With 91 meters of water resistance, it lives up to its Fifty Fathoms designation. On top, there is a unidirectional rotating bezel in black with a glossy insert and a 60-minute graduation. A bio-sourced crystal on top and a second one around the back cover the dial and movement.
The dial for this latest Blancpain x Swatch edition comes in stark black with a sunray-brushed finish. The indices and hands, styled to replicate the dial of the iconic Fifty Fathoms, are finished with luminous material to aid night-time visibility. The central seconds hand has a coloured tip, matching the printed “91m / 300ft” in reference to the watch’s water resistance. This one also has a date window, positioned between 4 and 5 ‘clock, just like many of the Fifty Fathoms Blancpain has produced over the years.
Underneath the rear crystal, we once again find the mechanical Sistem51 movement, upholding Blancpain’s ethos of never using a quartz movement. We’ve addressed the movement’s serviceability/replaceability in our in-depth story, so we’re not going to repeat ourselves. The fact of the matter is that this mechanical movement gives some extra charm to the Scuba in our book. It beats at a rate of 21,600vph and delivers a very respectable 90h of power reserve. The full-sized rotor is decorated with a nudibranch, a shell-less type of Gastropod, and this time, they’ve gone for the fittingly named Okenia Luna nudibranch.
Like the five that came before it, the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms, reference number SO35B400, comes on a NATO-style strap made of recycled fishing nets removed from our oceans. The price is the same, at EUR 390 / USD 400 / GBP 340, and it’s available in Swatch stores only at a rate of one per person per day.
For more information, please visit Blancpain.com or Swatch.com.
6 responses
The watch lover communitiy want a non-limited sub-42mm stainless steel Fifty-Fathoms, not this difficult-to-purchase plastic trash.
Hoe can i buy it ?
@Lado – as with all Swatch x Blancpain watches, this one is only available in selected Swatch stores (not online), which are listed on the brand’s website.
I really want to dislike the whole Swatch x BP shop-exclusive thing, but this version makes it a lot harder for me. Is there some experience with the expectable shelf life of that „single use“ movement?
I’ve given up on Blancpain. They have one of the best watch designs and instead of making a 42mm watch they release this kind of plastic trash. It’s embarrassing.
Elites hate this watch but being a diver, I love it. Elitessuck.