The Swatch x Blancpain collaboration "Fifty Fathoms" is a watch that will lift your spirits [Hands-on Review]

This is a review of the Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms. This watch, released to mark the 70th anniversary of Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms, is not only lightweight thanks to its bioceramic material, but also makes you feel lighter when you wear it.

Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Watch Review

　webChronos sent me the watch I'm reviewing today. When I opened the cardboard box labeled "Precision Instrument," a black box measuring 20cm square emerged from inside the many layers of cushioning material.
　There in bright yellow color
PACIFIC OCEAN
BIOCERAMIC
SUCUBA Fifty Fathoms COLLECTION
Was written.

"Wow!" he exclaimed, getting excited like a child who had just received a present.
　That's the Fifty Fathoms.

　As you may know, the Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms was created through a collaboration between Swatch and Blancpain, a subsidiary of the Swatch Group. It is a casual watch released in 2023 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Blancpain's most iconic diver's watch, the Fifty Fathoms.

　This is the second time Swatch has collaborated with a major brand from the same group, the first of which, the Omega x Swatch "Moon Swatch", was a great success.
　Now, Swatch has chosen Blancpain as its next partner. It will be interesting to see whether this collaboration is an attempt to recapture the same fate, a broader promotional opportunity for Blancpain, or whether it contains a deeper message.

Wear the Fifty Fathoms design casually

　So I quickly opened the packaging, being careful not to damage the outer box, and took out the watch. This was a little different from the caution you'd expect with a luxury watch, like touching a sore spot.
　Just like opening the box of a toy car that has finally arrived, I open it with excitement, never tearing it open (because the box is also part of the collection).
　This premium Swatch series offers such enjoyment.

　Opening the box reveals a sporty, flat, circular watch case. Unzipping the case reveals a yellow and black trimmed bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms "Pacific Ocean" watch.

　I'm ashamed to say that I've never held a genuine Fifty Fathoms watch, but that's why I was so pleased to see its raised bezel.
　The dial is completely printed, including the gradient, but the gray surface, with the minute markers on the outer edge of the dial being a darker color, is quite stylish.
　Arabic numerals are used at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, and the other hour markers are triangular, just like the original. The hands are a little softer in terms of edge, but all three hands capture the characteristics of the Fifty Fathoms well.

　Turn the anti-reverse bezel with a click.
　The bezel, which is made of bioceramic, is extremely light and does not have the same solid feel as stainless steel. Also, since it does not have the sharp cut edges of stainless steel, the corners look rather rough.
　However, I felt that the "lightness of presence" created by this lightness was the greatest feature of this watch. This lightness enhances the luxurious feeling of wearing the Fifty Fathoms casually. For example, it would be the perfect watch to wear at a summer resort. It feels similar to wearing premium brand sneakers or leather sandals.
　By the way, this diver's watch is waterproof to 91m/300ft, which is expressed in English as "50 Fathoms".

　The body, buckle, crown, and strap clasp are all made of two-thirds ceramic and one-third bioceramic, a bio-derived material made from castor oil.
　The case diameter is a little large at 42.3mm, but the weight including the band is only 43g (actual measurement), so it's not at all inconvenient. It may be too big for a woman's thin wrist, but it's a good idea to aim for that gap.
　The straps are made from recycled fishing nets.

There are some concerns about operability

　The only disappointing thing about this game is the controls, as it's a little difficult to set the time because the hands tend to jump. To prevent this, you can move the minute hand slightly forward and then back from the desired time, but it was difficult to aim properly until you got the hang of it.

　The lack of a hacking function isn't a bad thing. Although you have to apply torque to the crown in the opposite direction to the rotation of the gear train with a gentler force, this is often easier to time than waiting at 12 o'clock, and it puts less strain on the watch.
　The crown is not something that can be used to talk about the winding feel, and even though it is an automatic watch, I felt that it would be better if it had a winding feel similar to Seiko's Cal. 4R36.

　However, this is the feel of the Swatch "SISTEM 51" movement, and that is why it has been able to achieve a price of 60,500 yen while still retaining the name and design of the Fifty Fathoms.
　Also, if you consider that this complete and thorough compromise is the foundation and history of Swatch, there is no need to get upset.
　It is not possible to comment on the durability of this movement at this point, but for now we will trust in the toughness that comes from what they say is the precision of the welded module, its high sealing and rust resistance, and the simplicity of its 51 parts.
　To be honest, I wish this Cal. SISTEM 51 could be overhauled, because then, along with the body and strap, it would become a truly ethical casual watch.

A watch that makes you feel lighter

　Overall, the Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms "Pacific Ocean" is a watch that will make you feel lighter than its weight suggests.
　In fact, I took this watch out to test drives and test drives every now and then, claiming that it was just for my impressions.
　The sense of exhilaration I felt wearing the Fifty Fathoms was no less than that of a Porsche Cayenne S, a BMW X6M, or a Mercedes C63 S. In fact, it even softened the pretentious atmosphere.

　When I got home, I took off my watch in a fit of tiredness, wiped it down, and loosened the NATO strap a little. Through the see-through caseback, I could see the rotor, shaped like a sea slug, spinning around and around.
　This watch certainly makes me want to go see the original Fifty Fathoms and add another piece to my bioceramic collection.