Swatch dropped a surprise on us with this one. In the wake of the highly acclaimed Swatch and Blancpain Scuba Fifty collaboration not even a year ago, these watch masters unveiled the latest gem in their joint venture: the Ocean of Storms. The sixth variation in the Blancpain X Swatch Scuba Fifty collection, promises a cosmic twist, drawing inspiration from the Earth’s moon.
Created seven decades ago by an avid scuba enthusiast, the Fifty Fathoms was the talk of the watchmaking sphere as the inaugural timepiece to seamlessly cater to the demands of underwater exploration. The preceding Blancpain X Swatch Scuba Fifty collection paid homage to Earth’s oceans with each model named after an ocean on Earth. However, the Ocean of Storms diverges from convention by looking into the “sixth ocean”—residing not beneath the waves but on the moon’s surface—the vast lunar sea known as Oceanus Procellarum, spanning two million square kilometres.
With a beautiful deep black hue, the watch is encased in black bioceramic while the dial exudes a brushed, satin-finished allure with subtle orange accents on the depth rating and the seconds-hand tip. Just like its predecessors, this piece is housed with a Sistem51 movement with Grade A Super-LumiNova® for optimal visibility for night adventures. A nod to sustainability, the watch is accompanied by a striped NATO-style strap crafted from recycled fishing nets, salvaged from our oceans.
Venturing beyond the surface, the watch imparts five inspirational inscriptions on the back: Passion for Diving, License to Explore, Ocean Breath, Protect What You Love, and Immerse Yourself, encapsulating the ethos of exploration and conservation. The 42.3mm x 14.4mm x 48mm lug-to-lug timepiece is artful akin to its predecessors and features a unique touch—a nudibranch named Okenia Luna, intricately printed atop the movement itself.