I think you’re right about the hype dying down. BUT I will say I have learned much more about the 50 Fathoms than I’ve ever known before since this release. So maybe a successful campaign ?
Not one single watch on the market is ‘worth’ the money. This is even more true of luxury watches. Not a single Rolex, Omega, Patek, whatever - they are all massively overpriced. People pay for the brand, the design perhaps, and the quality. All of these things are valuable. But comfortably the one single element that defines the price is the brand cache. Why can’t people see this is the case? This swatch is more expensive than other swatches, than Seiko 5s, than orients, than Timex, than a bunch of micros - BECAUSE IT IS ALSO A BLANCPAIN! It had the branding and the design, yes not the quality, but 2 outta 3 is decent and you pay a mark up for that. Why is it not ok here but is ok on all other luxury branded watches??? Honestly I think people annoyed at the price either 1. Don’t get it, or 2. Are snobs. If you want a decent quality watch only then yes buy an Orient for similar money. But ppl aren’t buying this for the quality - they are buying for the branding and the iconic design. So where Else can I get such a brand name and design for under $400 - ummm oh yeah the moonswatch!! Nice review btw - was well researched and pretty fair overall.
Spot on. If you want an ultra rugged watch with excellent timekeeping, you get a G-Shock. Automatic watches are a choice watch lovers make because that's the type of jewelry they're into. Outside of the fact that you don't need a battery to power them, there is absolutely nothing pragmatic about autos.
Picked an Arctic up with no queue at the Covent Garden store earlier this week. It’s really fun! Looks great in person and feels better executed than the MoonSwatch.
The drilled lugs open to a small Allen key spring bar. Granted to remove them you'd need two small Allen keys to loosen it, but it is technically removable. Thanks for the review!
I think the big difference between the two marketing campaigns is that you can go almost anywhere in the uk and there will be an Omega boutique or an Omega section within a watch store. However I’ve never seen a Blancpain in person as I never see them in stores. So if I was interested in the real thing there is no way to easily access it, try it on and then purchase. With the moonwatch I can go to 2 or 3 places within 5 miles tomorrow and pick one up immediately.
If you would rather have a Seiko, that’s fair, the Seiko will most likely last you longer. You can service a Seiko but I don’t know to many guys that would service one. This watch is for guys that buy Luxury watches and $400 is the same cost of their straps. It’s a bit of fun for them. If you like more affordable watches just buy a Seiko and wear it and buy an Omega or something in time.
I got one in Geneva yesterday. And it makes me smile every time I look at it. Don’t ask me what time it is though, I really don’t care. Maybe I’ll use the watch for that function at a later time.
Great, thorough video. Good info on the counterclockwise winding, and that it is non-hacking. Thought mine was broke at first. Which btw I found in ebay for 125 over retail. Which is well worth it to me, as someone who spent time and gas money, to travel 250 miles, and wait in line over night in the cold, to leave empty handed at number 89 in line for the MoonSwatch.
Good Review on this watch, moisture indicator works, bars are removable, but you need some seriously small Allen keys to do so, and be very careful how you remove them as the wear down very easily (cheaply made?) If you buy a strap, it usually comes with tools and replacement bars, so it's worth paying extra. As for the watch. I have the one shown here, spend $900 AUD on getting it from a scalper from Ebay, but I liked the watch more than moon versions, including Snoopy? I hate that Swatch is still not selling these online, but I live in hope, will someone see the light? Though, if I had my time over again, I'd choose the black one as dirt tends to follow this one around. A screen protector on this is a must, as the Chrystal does sit above the bezel. Movement is good though, not perfect. Would love to see an automatic moon version with a moon phase, but hey, that's just me?
The bezel is way better than a Seiko. I have a turtle. The bezel actually springs back into its position, with the turtle you have to most of the time manipulate the marker to get it just right.
I think the idea that swatch is making these as a marketing tool to buy Blancpain is not the main reason they sell this. It's to make money from a name that they own. People buying a £340 watch will mostly never buy a 10k blancpain.
Nice review. Seiko 5 watches are great, their quality are much better than the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms, but when you buy a watch it's about the design and the emotion. And Swatch with Omega, and now with Blancpain, have created some watches that you want to buy, because you think you have a kind of Omega Speedmaster, or a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, for an affordable price. It's an introduction to luxury watches.
Blancpain was the second choice for this project. Omega was the first. Now that they had exhausted the MoonSwatch with the funny chrono hands, they probably thought: and now let’s try the Blancpain too, we were thinking about that anyway. - With this one you are really paying for the name on the dial. If you want a watch with that name and only spend very little, then this one is for you.
It actually looks okay and I think you've picked the best version. Even if you like it though and you love the history the price of a " fifty fathoms " is for most people a bridge too far. Though if it generates interest in watches it can't be bad. Your reference for John claude Biver. Hope you get your money back and thanks for the review.
I have the speedmaster pro, and bought the moonswatch out of curiosity once the hype had died down. In free advertising alone I guess the moonswatch worked. And the trade up to the real thing kinda of affordable if you buy interest free on monthly payments, similar to buying latest iphone on contract, so maybe some up selling occurred. Challenge with this collaboration, initial outlay is getting past fun. And the real 50 fathoms costs 3 times the price of a speedy. And it's big on the wrist. And the 50 fathoms looks like an old mans watch. Just isn't desirable. I can't see upgrade happening. I don't think hype will last long, but maybe for blancpain, the advertising is enough. I guess swatch will get a short term hit. I guess we will just have to wait for James Bond Swatch 300m seamaster, maybe with Snoopy in the back?
Was just walking around Old Town Lucerne and the Swatch store there has all the models in stock! The person there said it’s new so they’ll have a lot in stock, so I got myself an Antarctic Ocean!
your point about ghost position seems weird and wrong? the watch in your hand has a ghost position? I bought the same one (after researching this topic and they actually removed the ghost position for these models without date)
I would buy a Fifty Fathoms (Mil-Spec) like Hodinkee was selling, but they only want to make 250. Now, that watch is for sale around 3x MSRP. No way in hell am I paying what the flippers want. So, the only way I’m getting one is if Blancpain will make some more. If they don’t we all loose. 😅 I would have like to see this watch made out of a metal. Black dial too.
Kinda sad that you feel the way that I do, though I didn't buy it due to my bad experience with sistem51 ha ha. Well, it's a beautiful design I can't lie but the price makes the homage is way better
Im obsessed with this collection but I would never buy it for that price, hopefully some other manufacturers produce something similar for a fraction, I could see seiko 5's made outta plastic for around 180usd 120 on the gray market. I think Swatch has been very very creative and know how to stand out but at that price point you're competing with serious options.
The claim of a ceramic case is false. It's a injection moulded, or pressed case, using a plasticized resin, and a ceramic powder bulking medium. A real ceramic case would be formed from very high grade compound, and would then be fired, at exceptionally high temperature. The case shrinks during this process. It's very difficult to do, with a high error rate, and is very expensive. So this is a plastic cased watch, that's glued together, so it's disposable. The movement is mainly plastic. BUT the cost is $400! Do you remember the plastic crisis last year? People: what are your values?
I couldn't agree more. You buy this for the Blancpain name and that's it. Aesthetically, the collection had something for everyone, but when you can pay $200 more and get a truly great watch from Baltic with the same aesthetics, it's just a no brainer to save a little more money and do that instead.
Joining the crowd calling BS on the whole “moonswatch drastically increased moonwatch sales” narrative. Like OO’M has said - without seeing the pre and post sales data, it’s just makes-sense-to-me-so-must-be-true. More numbers; less sophistry.
I like the 50 Fathoms a lot, but... 45mm and what, 14mm thickness? Too chunky. I LOVE their LE versions: No Date Mil-Spec, No Date Barakuda. Both no-date, 40mm. Will I pay $15K aftermarket for them? Absolutely not! If they made the Antarctic Ocean in 40mm, priced at roughly Submariner level, $9500-$10K, they would go from having my attention to having my interest. Until that day, they can keep their $400, unservicable McDonalds toy watch.
$400 for a disposable plastic toy watch with a non-serviceable movement = cash grab from Swatch, just like the Moonswatch. But this won't have the hype of the Moonswatch, as 99.9% of non-watch nerds have never heard of Blancpain.
@jw.2507 really man? Grammar checking? Answer the question and get over yourself honestly. I see bad grammar every day, but I still know what the person is trying to say. You Tube is not the place for grammar, I'm sure you know. Save it for a formal document. Real nice, man🫡
These watches suck. They couldn’t even do aluminum keepers on the strap? Lmao. All of these collabs are garbage. But this one is far worse than the Speedmasters. The color ways are terrible on each one. And I’m not a snob. I wear my explorer 1, along with my khaki field, a $30 Casio, and a seiko sports 5 gmt. I would never spend $150 on this let alone $400. Tbh, I’m not even sure I would spend $150 on this. (If that was the price).
You can get a Helson Skindiver for $750 - a great replica of the first Blancpain dive watch - better movement, no plastic, serviceable, better all round.
I think you’re right about the hype dying down. BUT I will say I have learned much more about the 50 Fathoms than I’ve ever known before since this release. So maybe a successful campaign ?
Not one single watch on the market is ‘worth’ the money. This is even more true of luxury watches. Not a single Rolex, Omega, Patek, whatever - they are all massively overpriced. People pay for the brand, the design perhaps, and the quality. All of these things are valuable. But comfortably the one single element that defines the price is the brand cache.
Why can’t people see this is the case? This swatch is more expensive than other swatches, than Seiko 5s, than orients, than Timex, than a bunch of micros - BECAUSE IT IS ALSO A BLANCPAIN! It had the branding and the design, yes not the quality, but 2 outta 3 is decent and you pay a mark up for that. Why is it not ok here but is ok on all other luxury branded watches??? Honestly I think people annoyed at the price either 1. Don’t get it, or 2. Are snobs.
If you want a decent quality watch only then yes buy an Orient for similar money. But ppl aren’t buying this for the quality - they are buying for the branding and the iconic design. So where Else can I get such a brand name and design for under $400 - ummm oh yeah the moonswatch!!
Nice review btw - was well researched and pretty fair overall.
Spot on. If you want an ultra rugged watch with excellent timekeeping, you get a G-Shock. Automatic watches are a choice watch lovers make because that's the type of jewelry they're into. Outside of the fact that you don't need a battery to power them, there is absolutely nothing pragmatic about autos.
Picked an Arctic up with no queue at the Covent Garden store earlier this week. It’s really fun! Looks great in person and feels better executed than the MoonSwatch.
The drilled lugs open to a small Allen key spring bar. Granted to remove them you'd need two small Allen keys to loosen it, but it is technically removable. Thanks for the review!
I think the big difference between the two marketing campaigns is that you can go almost anywhere in the uk and there will be an Omega boutique or an Omega section within a watch store. However I’ve never seen a Blancpain in person as I never see them in stores. So if I was interested in the real thing there is no way to easily access it, try it on and then purchase. With the moonwatch I can go to 2 or 3 places within 5 miles tomorrow and pick one up immediately.
The bars screw together like the real Fifty Fathoms and can be removed using two 0.9mm hex wrenches.
I hope enough of us watch this to offset the price you paid.
You and me both!
People spend $400 on far dumber and less rewarding things. Its an expensive world we live in.
The logo on the side of the case is actually a Blancpain thing
Ahhh well I still don’t like it haha
If you would rather have a Seiko, that’s fair, the Seiko will most likely last you longer. You can service a Seiko but I don’t know to many guys that would service one. This watch is for guys that buy Luxury watches and $400 is the same cost of their straps. It’s a bit of fun for them. If you like more affordable watches just buy a Seiko and wear it and buy an Omega or something in time.
😂😂😂 no its not this thing screams poser
Actually, the orginal fifty fathoms has "blancpain" on one side of the case as well. It's one of the main criticisms since it's like 15k
Geez. I didn’t know that.
I got one in Geneva yesterday. And it makes me smile every time I look at it. Don’t ask me what time it is though, I really don’t care. Maybe I’ll use the watch for that function at a later time.
That is all that matters!
I have been binge watching your channel! Love the content, not pretentious, really cool and love the experiments!
Great, thorough video. Good info on the counterclockwise winding, and that it is non-hacking. Thought mine was broke at first. Which btw I found in ebay for 125 over retail. Which is well worth it to me, as someone who spent time and gas money, to travel 250 miles, and wait in line over night in the cold, to leave empty handed at number 89 in line for the MoonSwatch.
Good Review on this watch, moisture indicator works, bars are removable, but you need some seriously small Allen keys to do so, and be very careful how you remove them as the wear down very easily (cheaply made?)
If you buy a strap, it usually comes with tools and replacement bars, so it's worth paying extra.
As for the watch. I have the one shown here, spend $900 AUD on getting it from a scalper from Ebay, but I liked the watch more than moon versions, including Snoopy?
I hate that Swatch is still not selling these online, but I live in hope, will someone see the light?
Though, if I had my time over again, I'd choose the black one as dirt tends to follow this one around.
A screen protector on this is a must, as the Chrystal does sit above the bezel. Movement is good though, not perfect.
Would love to see an automatic moon version with a moon phase, but hey, that's just me?
The bezel is way better than a Seiko. I have a turtle. The bezel actually springs back into its position, with the turtle you have to most of the time manipulate the marker to get it just right.
I love it and you picked the best colourway!
I think the idea that swatch is making these as a marketing tool to buy Blancpain is not the main reason they sell this. It's to make money from a name that they own. People buying a £340 watch will mostly never buy a 10k blancpain.
Nice review.
Seiko 5 watches are great, their quality are much better than the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms, but when you buy a watch it's about the design and the emotion. And Swatch with Omega, and now with Blancpain, have created some watches that you want to buy, because you think you have a kind of Omega Speedmaster, or a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, for an affordable price.
It's an introduction to luxury watches.
Blancpain was the second choice for this project. Omega was the first. Now that they had exhausted the MoonSwatch with the funny chrono hands, they probably thought: and now let’s try the Blancpain too, we were thinking about that anyway. - With this one you are really paying for the name on the dial. If you want a watch with that name and only spend very little, then this one is for you.
Agreed. Brand is the driver here!
Invicta got the idea from Blancpain to label the side of the case... not sure you knew about that tid bit...
It actually looks okay and I think you've picked the best version.
Even if you like it though and you love the history the price of a " fifty fathoms " is for most people a bridge too far. Though if it generates interest in watches it can't be bad.
Your reference for John claude Biver.
Hope you get your money back and thanks for the review.
I thought it looked great. It’ll likely generate some interest for sure
Nice you caught it! I’m hoping I do, but we’ll see. Anytime!
I have the speedmaster pro, and bought the moonswatch out of curiosity once the hype had died down. In free advertising alone I guess the moonswatch worked. And the trade up to the real thing kinda of affordable if you buy interest free on monthly payments, similar to buying latest iphone on contract, so maybe some up selling occurred. Challenge with this collaboration, initial outlay is getting past fun. And the real 50 fathoms costs 3 times the price of a speedy. And it's big on the wrist. And the 50 fathoms looks like an old mans watch. Just isn't desirable. I can't see upgrade happening. I don't think hype will last long, but maybe for blancpain, the advertising is enough. I guess swatch will get a short term hit. I guess we will just have to wait for James Bond Swatch 300m seamaster, maybe with Snoopy in the back?
I don't hate the watch, I hate the price though...
Was just walking around Old Town Lucerne and the Swatch store there has all the models in stock! The person there said it’s new so they’ll have a lot in stock, so I got myself an Antarctic Ocean!
I’ll take a King Turtle or HELM Vanuatu every day over any $400 plastic watch.
Don’t forget the Marathon Navigator
your point about ghost position seems weird and wrong? the watch in your hand has a ghost position? I bought the same one (after researching this topic and they actually removed the ghost position for these models without date)
Thank you for the review
Hi thanks. How to wind the watch. Should it be counterclockwise winding using the crown? 😊
Does the watch have conventional removable strap bars, or are they fixed forever, so permanently necessitating the use of Nato straps ?
I would buy a Fifty Fathoms (Mil-Spec) like Hodinkee was selling, but they only want to make 250. Now, that watch is for sale around 3x MSRP. No way in hell am I paying what the flippers want. So, the only way I’m getting one is if Blancpain will make some more. If they don’t we all loose. 😅 I would have like to see this watch made out of a metal. Black dial too.
Kinda sad that you feel the way that I do, though I didn't buy it due to my bad experience with sistem51 ha ha. Well, it's a beautiful design I can't lie but the price makes the homage is way better
Agreed. Wish it was a bit less then it’s more compelling
can we start calling this the Swatch Pain?
Casio a168 drop test and hammer test plssss big fan
Im obsessed with this collection but I would never buy it for that price, hopefully some other manufacturers produce something similar for a fraction, I could see seiko 5's made outta plastic for around 180usd 120 on the gray market.
I think Swatch has been very very creative and know how to stand out but at that price point you're competing with serious options.
Does it damage the watch if you tried to wind it clockwise?
Casio a168 drop test and hammer test plssss big fan😢
They need to make a black version of this watch collection…. Let’s hope maybe soon
I'd buy it for Moonswatch MSRP.... $400 even feels too steep
Does this have a screw down crown online you read yes and no
The claim of a ceramic case is false. It's a injection moulded, or pressed case, using a plasticized resin, and a ceramic powder bulking medium. A real ceramic case would be formed from very high grade compound, and would then be fired, at exceptionally high temperature. The case shrinks during this process. It's very difficult to do, with a high error rate, and is very expensive. So this is a plastic cased watch, that's glued together, so it's disposable. The movement is mainly plastic. BUT the cost is $400! Do you remember the plastic crisis last year? People: what are your values?
Throwing you a comment and like purely to help out! $800. Yikes!
i hate the caseback and the dumb circle at the 6. If they do a non "scuba" im in
You are better buying a Baltic Aquascaphe.
I couldn't agree more. You buy this for the Blancpain name and that's it. Aesthetically, the collection had something for everyone, but when you can pay $200 more and get a truly great watch from Baltic with the same aesthetics, it's just a no brainer to save a little more money and do that instead.
Can the watch be serviced ? I hear system 51 you cannot
It has to be completely replaced, and apparently it costs $200.
Is this watch have ghost position on the crown? Since it did not have date
He said it does
Joining the crowd calling BS on the whole “moonswatch drastically increased moonwatch sales” narrative. Like OO’M has said - without seeing the pre and post sales data, it’s just makes-sense-to-me-so-must-be-true. More numbers; less sophistry.
I like the 50 Fathoms a lot, but... 45mm and what, 14mm thickness? Too chunky. I LOVE their LE versions: No Date Mil-Spec, No Date Barakuda. Both no-date, 40mm. Will I pay $15K aftermarket for them? Absolutely not! If they made the Antarctic Ocean in 40mm, priced at roughly Submariner level, $9500-$10K, they would go from having my attention to having my interest. Until that day, they can keep their $400, unservicable McDonalds toy watch.
It is super chunky at 42.3mm x 14.4mm.
I only like this one because it has no date window
$400 for a disposable plastic toy watch with a non-serviceable movement = cash grab from Swatch, just like the Moonswatch. But this won't have the hype of the Moonswatch, as 99.9% of non-watch nerds have never heard of Blancpain.
very nice watch
Oh that's a nice watch. Maybe I'll go and buy the real thing. A Rolex Submariner
It's 2/3 ceramic 1/3 plastic. Why are you calling it plastic?
fred lip rip glad you didnt see this one all the energie you put in the BP Fifty Fathoms and the war against timex like companies
I thought the caseback was supposed to be saffire?
Are you uneducated?
Its written: **sapphire
@jw.2507 really man? Grammar checking? Answer the question and get over yourself honestly. I see bad grammar every day, but I still know what the person is trying to say. You Tube is not the place for grammar, I'm sure you know. Save it for a formal document. Real nice, man🫡
@markhondaturbo LMFAO youre so triggered 🤣 😂 😭 absolutely pathetic. You made my day. I love talking to losers like you. Makes me feel better !!
I agree with you. Buy a Seiko and not this lump of plastic.
Swatch is selling for 400 dollars even in India
These watches suck. They couldn’t even do aluminum keepers on the strap? Lmao.
All of these collabs are garbage. But this one is far worse than the Speedmasters. The color ways are terrible on each one. And I’m not a snob. I wear my explorer 1, along with my khaki field, a $30 Casio, and a seiko sports 5 gmt. I would never spend $150 on this let alone $400. Tbh, I’m not even sure I would spend $150 on this. (If that was the price).
A hipe-ish plastic watch dedicated to the oceans...It is a 400€ trashy-performative contradiction by itself
especially when not made out of recycled plastic from fishnets in oceans using the tide plastic.
Worth $100 or less sistem51 is less than a $20 movement lol….
lego watch
Its targeted for poor people to push up the value of other brands.
Buy a Seiko
Everyone’s got a gimmick
relojes que no se pueden reparar, de mala calidad, muy caros para ser de plástico
You can get a Helson Skindiver for $750 - a great replica of the first Blancpain dive watch - better movement, no plastic, serviceable, better all round.
Nice chinese watch!
yes 40 bucks for the original watch made in china
400 euros throwing out on window
After i bought two of the moonswatches , and seeing how cheaply made they are ,ill pass
It’s NOT plastic, tho! lol 🤷♂️
It's "bioceramic".
I will not be buying this crap
THE SECOND HAND SWEEPS
True!
Casio a168 drop test and hammer test plssss big fan