Watchmakers Blancpain and Swatch release new dive watches

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When the Swatch Group first announced the Moonswatch–a clone of the Omega Speedmaster that came in colors coded to the planets of our solar system–it looked like they were done dabbling in disposable plastic watches.

Now, however, another brand under the Swatch Group umbrella, Blancpain, has released its own homage to the first dive watch, the Blancpain 50 Fathoms.

The new watch is nicknamed the Sistem51 Fathoms and uses a simplified mechanical movement to recreate the smooth-running hands of the Blancpain original.

The watches will be available in multiple colors, each one associated with an Ocean – the Arctic Ocean is a rich burnt umber, while the Atlantic is a cool blue.

Blancpain is hoping the Swatch name will help sales

The Moonswatch launched to much hype and excitement.

Swatch, long purveyors of cheap fashion watches, hadn’t had a real hit in decades, and the collab turned sleepy Swatch stores into must-visit locations worldwide.

Tiny stores in major cities that saw a modicum of foot traffic were suddenly managing massive lines.

These watches are made of what the Swatch Group calls bioceramic, aka plastic, and the movement is entirely mechanical, which means the second’s hand moves smoothly around the face.

The watches hearken back to the original 50 Fathoms watch, which is known as the first dive watch. Each will cost $400 and will be sold only in Swatch stores.

A watch manufacturer like Blancpain needs a bit of brand recognition, and this is a great way to achieve it. Before the Swatch collab, most people couldn’t name a single Omega watch.

Now, the Speedmaster is considered a must-have in hypebeast circles.

Whether or not Blancpain–a less popular name worldwide–gets a boost from this collaboration remains to be seen, but these are some very cool, very tech-infused watches for folks looking for something a little different than their Apple Watch.

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