The black model of the Blancpain and Swatch collaboration "Scuba Fifty Fathoms" is the "Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms." While it may seem like just another color variation, it's actually a great piece with many interesting details. It also features a "gimmick" that's unique to collaboration Swatches.
Automatic movement (Cal. SISTEM51). 19 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve approximately 90 hours. Bio-ceramic case (diameter 42.30 mm, thickness 14.40 mm). Water resistant to 9 bar. Price: 61,600 yen (tax included).
It's not just black! It's full of playful details.
Swatch's Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms is a model added in 2024 to the Scuba Fifty Fathoms, a five-ocean-themed watch that was first created in 2023 in collaboration with Blancpain.
In addition to the colorful previous model, this model uses a black case color. While it may seem like a simple toned-down version, when you look at the details, you can see some unexpected changes. One of them may be one of the themes of this model, which is the "moon."
The release day was quiet
At exactly 10:30 AM on January 11, 2024, the first Swatch in Switzerland, the Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms (Ref. SO35B400), went on sale at the Zurich Swatch store. As usual, purchases were limited to one per person per day. In Hong Kong, seven hours ahead of Zurich, several people were already posting pictures of their newly acquired watches online.
Luckily, the line for this new release was very small, so there was no need to brave the freezing cold. Furthermore, there were no resellers in sight; most were die-hard Swatch collectors and watch enthusiasts. And, in fact, everyone who lined up that day was able to buy a pair of all-black Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms watches.
The origin of the name and its connection to the moon
A few days earlier, a teaser newspaper advert for the "Ocean of Storms" (in Latin, Oceanus Procellarum, or in Japanese, the Sea of Storms) had been released, suggesting it might refer to a new "Moon Swatch," since the name is taken from a lunar sea on the western side of the moon. The lunar theme is undoubtedly a staple symbol in the creation of wristwatches.
The release date and teaser method were almost identical to those of the first Scuba Fifty Fathoms, which was released in September 2023. Swatch officially announced its first major release of 2024 the day before its release. Despite its space-inspired name, it was revealed to be the Scuba Fifty Fathoms. Blancpain President and CEO Marc A. Hayek explained:
"A poetic complication emblematic of the Manufacture, the moon phase is not only the face of Blancpain, but also embodies the resurgence of traditional watchmaking after the quartz crisis."
The close relationship between the sea and the moon
But the name's origins aren't just inspired by the history of watchmaking (perhaps symbolizing mechanical watches surviving the stormy seas of the quartz crisis). The phases of the moon also affect the underwater world, which is Fifty Fathoms' home. Tides have a profound effect on marine life, and the phases of the moon and the intensity of light affect the behavior of marine animals and ecosystems.
Many marine species have biological clocks that adapt to environmental factors such as the phases of the moon and moonlight, and perhaps with this in mind, the movement visible through the case back features a small, hidden illustration of a moon with a face, a familiar sight from Blancpain's moon phase watches, which becomes visible when illuminated with UV light.
Carefully designed details
Like its colorful predecessor, this model is not limited edition. This time, the case is completely black, which Blancpain says was inspired by the new moon (also known as the "black moon"), which is completely hidden in the Earth's shadow. This creates a subdued color scheme. Furthermore, the dial is elegantly finished with a sunray finish, and the "Swiss Made" inscription at 6 o'clock has been moved, almost completely hiding the "Swatch AG 2023" inscription.
The shared Blancpain x Swatch logo appears on the black sunray dial and crown, and the indexes are applied. The case is engraved with "Swatch" and the buckle is engraved with "Blancpain."
This model features a System 51 with Okenia Luna printed on it.
The sea slug used in this project is scientifically named Oceania luna, a species found from Ancon, Peru to Coliumo, Chile. A digital print of the sea slug is applied to the movement, and the lunar surface pattern is also engraved on the movement. The case is water resistant to 91 meters, and the "fathom" in the name Fifty Fathoms comes from the unit of depth used in English-speaking countries (50 fathoms = 91 meters = 300 feet).
Like the other five bio-ceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms watches, this one is powered by the Sistem 51 mechanical movement, a fully automated production process that, like the original Swatch from 1983, consists of just 51 parts (including one central screw). It features a Nivachron balance spring for anti-magnetic properties and boasts an impressive 90-hour power reserve.
This movement uses a transparent disc rotor instead of a conventional rotor. Rate and accuracy are adjusted at the factory using laser technology (±0.04 seconds per day). It is fully sealed and designed for a long service life without maintenance. The Sistem 51 can be wound counterclockwise, but the second hand tends to jump when the crown is turned to set the time.
It's practical and not cheap, but its appeal outweighs that.
Returning to the overall impression of the watch, the dial of this model has more depth than the first model, and its restrained design makes it suitable for everyday use. At 61,600 yen (including tax), it is by no means cheap from a general perspective. However, it is a model that offers excellent value and is a joy to wear on the wrist.
Currently, the Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms is only available at select Swatch stores.
