Swatch’s New Blockbuster Collaboration Is Here
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Swatch has released its latest collaboration with Omega, and it's generating a lot of buzz. The Swiss watchmaker has now joined forces with Blancpain, a renowned brand famous for its simplistic and practical dive watches. Watch enthusiasts have been engaging in spirited discussions and making their own speculations ever since the announcement was made. Finally, all the predictions and guessing can come to an end, as the Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection has been officially revealed.
The joint effort between Blancpain and Swatch introduces a series of five timepieces which are titled after the different oceans: the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Antarctic Ocean. As with the previous MoonSwatches, these Scuba Fifty Fathoms watches come in a variety of striking hues. Notably, the color scheme draws inspiration from nudibranchs, a species of marine gastropod mollusks, as stated in a press announcement.
In my expert opinion, the watches are absolutely incredible. The Fifty Fathoms has never looked so ready to have a great time. My initial thought is that everyone will love the Arctic Ocean watch in tangerine. What makes this piece special is the "NO RADIATION" symbol at the 6 o'clock position. This unique feature is highly desired on vintage Fifty Fathoms watches, which were made with radium (a highly toxic substance) during a time long ago. However, the Arctic version will face tough competition for the most sought-after watch in the collection. The Pacific Ocean model is a bright yellow, like a ripe banana; the Indian Ocean model is a playful green; and the Atlantic Ocean model, in navy blue, is the most serious of them all. Another highly popular watch in the collection will likely be the Antarctic Ocean model, with its two-tone circle at the bottom of the dial, inspired by the coveted Mil-Spec Fifty Fathoms watch.
The collection is packed with clever details. Each watch is waterproof up to 91 meters, which is equivalent to fifty fathoms. Another nod to the aquatic theme? The straps are crafted from recycled fishing nets. The back of the watch showcases an image of the creature that inspired its design: the Arctic watch draws its orange color from the graceful Dendronotus Frondosus; the Pacific watch features the vibrant Chromodoris Kuiteri; the Atlantic watch showcases the poisonous Glaucus Atlanticus, also known as the Blue Dragon (!); the Indian Ocean watch takes its green hue from the Nembrotha Kubaryana; and the back of the Antarctic watch features the Tritoniella Belli. The caseback also includes inspiring phrases like "PASSION FOR DIVING", "LICENSE TO EXPLORE", "OCEAN BREATH", "PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE", and "IMMERSE YOURSELF." Watches are truly embracing their vibes era.
Ever since the collaboration was made public, enthusiasts have been curious about whether Blancpain would uphold their steadfast commitment to refrain from producing any quartz timepieces. Fortunately, they have stayed true to their word as the latest collection showcases the Swatch SISTEM51, a mechanical movement that is meticulously created using an entirely automated procedure.
The full range of BlancSwatches will be launching at certain Swatch stores this Saturday, September 9th. The initial Moonswatch release caused a lot of chaos, so make sure to arrive even earlier if you want to secure one for yourself.
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