Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Predictions for the Upcoming Swatch x Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Collaboration
The Swatch x Blancpain collaboration is certain, the Fifty Fathoms theme almost sure... but what about the rest?
We certainly can’t hide the fact that the Swatch x Omega Moonswatch, a collaboration bringing the style of the Speedmaster Moonwatch into a far more accessible segment of the watch industry, caused a blast. Seeing the success of this collaboration, with over 1 million examples sold in 2022, despite some issues regarding availability, it was somehow expected to see a new chapter coming. And it is just around the corner. On September 9th, 2023, we will see the Swatch x Blancpain collaboration. This part is 100% certain, as confirmed by both brands on Instagram. The model to be used as a base makes almost no doubt either; it will almost certainly be a Fifty Fathoms. What will be the beating heart and what it’ll look like are the real questions. So we’ve decided to create the Swatch x Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watches we’d love to see coming on the market. And yes, these are mechanical.
Above are the teasers released by Swatch and Blancpain. The first one reveals the date – 9 September 2023 – as well as the aquatic theme, and the shape of the crown that is, without a doubt, that of a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. The second teaser, which was posted yesterday on both Swatch and Blancpain’s Instagram pages, not only confirmed the parties to be involved in this new collaboration, which follows the Swatch x Omega Moonswatch, but it could also reveal the name of future editions. In the same vein as the Moonswatch editions based on the Solar System’s planets, the Swatch x Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watches could well be inspired and named after our oceans – Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Antarctic Ocean. But then again, these are guesses based on a teaser and the reality will only be confirmed this coming Saturday.
However, we can surely admit that Blancpain and Swatch have revealed enough details to catch our attention and tickle our creativity. As we’ve done on multiple occasions prior to main watch fairs, when predicting possible new Rolex models, we’ve decided to imagine what could be our own version of the Swatch x Blancpain collaboration, which could be named the Fifty-One Fathoms. Indeed, contrary to the Moonswatch which is powered by a quartz chronograph movement, the Swatch x Blancpain will most probably be a time-only or time-and-date watch. And that opens the door to a possible automatic movement… Something that Swatch has in stock with the Sistem51. Now you know why we’ve chosen Fifty-One Fathoms as a name.
In the same vein as the Moonswatch, which is closely related to the Speedmaster Moonwatch in terms of design and case shape, we’ve designed a watch that retains most of the design cues found on a classic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Of course, don’t expect high-end materials such as a sapphire crystal bezel, titanium or precious metal cases and a robust water-resistance of 500m. But nevertheless, we could expect classic dive watch features such as a screw-down crown, a rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale and a case that has all the attributes of an FF watch, only made of bioceramic. Or maybe in steel, as Swatch, with the Irony collection, has already done metal-based watches (something that would make sense to provide better water-resistance).
Because you’re reading MONOCHROME, and you know our passion for mechanical watches, we’ve decided to give this Swatch x Blancpain Fifty-One Fathoms something a bit more refined, with an automatic Sistem51 movement inside. Composed of only 51 parts, this self-winding entry-level calibre has made it possible to offer mechanical power at an accessible price, thanks to several clever elements in its architecture, assembly and conception. You can read all the details about this movement here.
The final touch could come from a NATO-like strap with both brands’ logos – like the Moonswatch – and some coloured cases, in the case of bioceramic. Now, we don’t know much about what to expect, but this is what we’d love to see released as a Swatch x Blancpain Fifty Fathoms collaboration. What would you like? What do you think of this upcoming release? Let us know in the comments below.
Note: This Swatch x Blancpain article is based on our own Photoshop mock-ups; brands have provided nothing officially. These are predictions based on our imagination and expectations. All images are under the license of MONOCHROME and should not be used without agreement or copyright (©Monochrome-Watches, 2023).
20 responses
I think this is a great collaboration and just in time for the Fifty Fathom’s 70th anniversary. I wish Swatch Group and Blancpain will use this release to educate the market that the Fifty Fathoms was the first modern dive watch. They should also mention that Blancpain‘s CEO was accompanied by an employee of Rolex while he was testing a Fifty Fathoms prototype.
Even if it is a fun watch, i hope it will be a little bit better made that the moonswatch 😬
Well done for the prospective exercise Monochrome !
Swatchpain Filthy Fathoms??
My guess is MİL-SPEC version with 5 different color of moisture indicator according to 5 oceans
Call it the sistem 51 fathoms
Given swatch marketing strategy, when trust is broken, I’m reluctant to get excited as it becomes more an exercise of frustration rather than fulfillment.
I’ll bet these mockups are better looking than the actual watches that get released. This is too close to the Fifty Fathoms and it does not present a lot of Swatch DNA.
I think I could literally put together a Bingo card in the ways the Swatch x Blancpain release will manage to surprise, delight and obviously disappoint. 🙂
You heard it here first: Thrifty Fathoms
Next year please bring the Breguet Type XX/20 as a Swatch version. Hopefully that will put also Breguet in people’s focus, as hopefully this year the focus of the public will go to Blancpain‘s Fifty Fathoms. I think this is a playful way of the Swatch Group to remind the world that there are brands other than Rolex out there.
Would love to see any one of the mock ups you’ve put together (love the blue, and orange ones) available in numbers at an accessible price point! Bring them on, would make an awesome summer/beach/snorkeling watch I think 🙂
Fifty one Fathoms
Can’t wait really
Hi Monochrome,
Just genuinely wondering why you never wrote any article about the MoonSwatch and decided to create moke-ups for a Blancpain x Swatch collaboration.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the fact you never wrote a review of this plastic thing, but is it because Blancpain is “higher ranked” in the watch industry ?
@Tonio – thanks for your question. And it’s indeed a justified one. The reason is simple. We, at MONOCHROME, write mostly about “fine watches” (that’s something you can see under our logo) which can be translated by a choice of focusing almost entirely on mechanical watches. This is the reason why we never spoke about the MoonSwatch, which is quartz. Now, we somehow hope this BLancpain x Swatch collaboration to be mechanical (Blancpain once said “there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be”) which gave us the idea of these mockups… which is a fun thing we like to do from time to time… And no, it has nothing to do with Blancpain being higher-ranked. We love the Speedmaster too!
All of them look absolutely amazing, thanks for the eye candy… 👌🏻👍🏻👌🏻
Blancpain was born to be an exclusive brand and that is what all watch lovers and acquirers of its watches expected from it. The Swatch Group should do whatever it wants with a popular brand like Omega but not with Blancpain. Deception and betrayal would be good words to describe this way to make money.
Blancpain was born to be extremely exclusive. Why Blancpain?
I really hope they will release this one! I didn’t and wouldn’t wait in line for the moonswatch, but for this one, I probably will, if and when it is released
I have to admit that you got really close. If this has been purely out of your imagination, it is a great catch (provided that you did not get any inside info). Especially the sistem51 prediction was 100% spot on. Kudos
@Petros – Nope, we didn’t get any insider infos neither we got to see it under embargo… Pure imagination 🙂