Swatch SCUBAQUA

Swatch, a brand renowned for its revolutionary approach to watchmaking, has once again captured the attention of enthusiasts and casual wearers alike with the introduction of its new SCUBAQUA collection. This line of diver's watches seeks to merge the brand's historical commitment to playful design and accessibility with contemporary material innovation and a distinct aesthetic inspired by the mysteries of the deep sea. The collection launched on May 8, 2025, and is available both online and in Swatch stores globally.



The Swatch story began in the early 1980s, a period of significant upheaval for the Swiss watch industry. Faced with the "quartz crisis," where inexpensive, mass-produced quartz watches from Asia threatened the dominance of traditional Swiss mechanical timepieces, Swiss watchmakers needed a radical new approach. Enter Nicolas G. Hayek, who envisioned a new kind of Swiss watch: one that was not only affordable and reliable, thanks to quartz technology, but also a vibrant fashion accessory. Swatch, a contraction of "Second Watch," was born, emphasizing the idea that these watches could be fun, expressive, and collected, rather than being a singular, lifelong purchase. The brand's early success was built on colorful plastic designs, aggressive marketing, and a keen understanding of popular culture. Over the decades, Swatch has consistently pushed boundaries in design, materials, and even technology, introducing innovations like the Swatch Skin and automatic movements, all while maintaining its core identity of being a provocateur in the often-staid world of horology. The SCUBA line, in particular, has a legacy of offering water-resistant watches that don't sacrifice the brand's signature flair, making them popular choices for recreational divers and beachgoers.



The new SCUBAQUA collection builds upon this legacy, presenting five distinct models, each drawing its design cues and name from various species of jellyfish. This thematic inspiration is evident in the collection's "jelly effect," a visual and tactile sensation achieved through a novel combination of materials. The cases of these watches feature a groundbreaking fusion of Bioceramic and biosourced materials. Bioceramic, a proprietary Swatch Group material, is a hybrid of ceramic and bio-sourced plastic, known for its resilience, silky matte finish, and ability to hold vibrant color. This is primarily used for the solid-colored sections of the watch. Complementing this is a biosourced material derived from castor oil, which forms the transparent parts of the case, lending a vivid, almost luminous quality. This juxtaposition of matte and transparent, solid and translucent, creates a striking visual contrast and an intricate texture that is both eye-catching and pleasant to the touch.



Each of the five watches in the SCUBAQUA collection – BLUE FIRE, LION’S MANE, BLACK SEA NETTLE, AURELIA AURITA, and EGG YOLK – offers a unique colorway, allowing for a range of personal expression. The BLUE FIRE model, for instance, aims to capture the mystique of the ocean with its white and blue hues. Its transparent blue biosourced material, paired with matte white Bioceramic, evokes the image of a bioluminescent jellyfish gliding through the water. The LION’S MANE variant surges with a vibrant red and white combination, where the transparent red biosourced material contrasts sharply with the matte white Bioceramic, designed to pulse with energy. The BLACK SEA NETTLE offers a sleeker, more subdued option with its matte black Bioceramic and transparent black biosourced material, commanding attention with a design that is both contemporary and assertive. AURELIA AURITA presents an almost translucent-white design, where matte white Bioceramic pairs with transparent biosourced material for a fresh, modern, and understated look. Finally, EGG YOLK beams with a sun-infused radiance, its yellow transparent biosourced material and matte white Bioceramic intended to brighten any adventure, whether on land or beneath the waves.



Delving into the visual specifics, the watches present a bold and modern dive watch aesthetic. The overall shape is substantial, with a noticeable presence on the wrist, as expected from a 44mm diameter case. The bezels are prominent, featuring clear, contrasting dive-time indicators that are crucial for underwater timing. These markings, often in gray and white, are designed to glow in the dark, enhancing legibility in low-light conditions. The transparent nature of the biosourced material used in the bezel and parts of the case allows for an intriguing interplay of light and color, giving the watches a dynamic, almost liquid appearance. The matte finish of the Bioceramic sections provides a grounding contrast, emphasizing the solidity and robustness of the construction. The straps, rendered in combinations of matte and transparent finishes that mirror the case materials, integrate smoothly with the overall design, creating a cohesive look. The use of color is a hallmark of Swatch, and the SCUBAQUA collection is no exception, with each model offering a distinct and vibrant personality.



The technical specifications of the SCUBAQUA watches underscore their capability as functional diver's instruments, albeit for recreational depths. The case measures 44.00 mm in diameter, a contemporary size that offers good visibility and a masculine feel, though certainly wearable by anyone preferring a larger watch. The thickness is a substantial 15.40 mm, contributing to its robust profile, and the lug-to-lug measurement is 51.50 mm, which is an important consideration for how the watch will sit on various wrist sizes. The case material, as mentioned, is a combination of bio-sourced material and Bioceramic, showcasing Swatch's commitment to exploring innovative and more sustainable material options.



A key feature for any dive watch is its water resistance, and the SCUBAQUA collection is rated for 10 Bar, which translates to approximately 100 meters or 330 feet. This level of water resistance makes the watches suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and recreational scuba diving, aligning with the SCUBA family's purpose. It's important to note that while 10 Bar is sufficient for many water activities, serious professional or deep-sea diving would typically require higher ratings (e.g., 20 Bar or more).



One of the more distinctive design elements of the SCUBAQUA watches is the positioning of the crown at 10 o'clock. This is an unconventional placement, as most watches have their crowns at the 3 o'clock position, or occasionally at 4 o'clock. Placing the crown at 10 o'clock offers a couple of potential benefits. Firstly, it can enhance comfort by preventing the crown from digging into the back of the wearer's hand, especially during activities that involve a lot of wrist flexion. Secondly, it provides an added layer of protection for the crown against accidental knocks and bumps, which can be particularly useful in active environments. From a visual standpoint, it also gives the watch a unique and somewhat technical or "tool watch" signature look, setting it apart from more conventional designs. The crown itself is made from Bioceramic, matching the matte sections of the case.



The movement powering the SCUBAQUA collection is quartz. This choice is consistent with Swatch's origins and its philosophy of providing reliable, accurate, and affordable timekeeping. Quartz movements are known for their precision and low maintenance requirements, making them a practical choice for an everyday sports watch. While mechanical movements are often favored by horological purists for their intricate craftsmanship, quartz offers distinct advantages in terms of robustness against shocks and cost-effectiveness, which allows Swatch to offer these feature-rich dive-style watches at an accessible price point. The specific caliber of the quartz movement is not detailed, but Swatch has a long history of using reliable Swiss-made ETA quartz movements (ETA is also part of the Swatch Group).



The dial of each SCUBAQUA watch is a critical component for legibility, especially given their diving aspirations. The dials are transparent, continuing the "jelly effect" and allowing a glimpse into the inner workings or at least the structure beneath. This transparency is a bold design choice that adds to the watches' unique character. To ensure readability against this transparent backdrop, the indexes and numerals are printed, typically in white or gray. The hands – hour, minute, and seconds – are also designed for clarity. For example, the BLUE FIRE model features white printed indexes and numerals, blue hour and minute hands, and a gray seconds hand. The LION’S MANE has white printed indexes and numerals, red hour and minute hands, and a gray seconds hand. The BLACK SEA NETTLE uses gray printed indexes, white printed numerals, black hour and minute hands, and a gray seconds hand.



A particularly interesting variation in hand design is seen on the AURELIA AURITA model, which features a red hour hand, a blue minute hand, and a yellow seconds hand, creating a playful and highly legible contrast against its predominantly white and transparent backdrop. The EGG YOLK model has yellow hour and minute hands and a gray seconds hand. Crucially, all hands, indexes, and numerals on all models are treated with a glow-in-the-dark effect. This luminescent material, likely Super-LumiNova or a similar compound, absorbs light and then emits it in the dark, ensuring that the time can be read in low-light conditions, whether underwater or simply in a dimly lit environment. The crystal protecting the dial is described as biosourced glass, aligning with the collection's emphasis on innovative materials.



The strap is an integral part of any watch's comfort and overall aesthetic, and the SCUBAQUA collection features silicone straps. Silicone is an excellent material choice for a dive watch due to its inherent water resistance, durability, flexibility, and comfort against the skin. It doesn't absorb water like leather and is resistant to saltwater and UV radiation. The straps are designed to complement the colorway of each specific model, often featuring a two-tone design with matte and matte transparent sections. For instance, the BLUE FIRE has a matte white and matte transparent blue strap. The LION'S MANE uses a matte white and matte transparent red strap. This design continuity extends to the loop (the keeper that holds the excess strap) and the buckle. The loop material matches the strap, such as a matte transparent blue loop for the BLUE FIRE or a matte black loop for the BLACK SEA NETTLE. The buckle is made from a shiny, transparent biosourced polymer, providing a secure fastening mechanism while maintaining the collection's material theme. The strap buckle is a standard buckle type, which is robust and reliable.



The pricing of the Swatch SCUBAQUA watches is set at $150. This price point is consistent with Swatch's strategy of offering affordable Swiss-made watches. Given the unique material combination (Bioceramic and biosourced plastics), the dive-watch features (10 Bar water resistance, unidirectional bezel, luminous markings), and the distinctive design, this price represents a strong value proposition for individuals looking for a stylish and functional sports watch that stands out from the crowd. The availability, as mentioned, commenced on May 8, 2025, through Swatch.com and Swatch retail stores worldwide, making them broadly accessible to a global audience.



Case: Bio-sourced material and Bioceramic. Diameter: 44.00 mm. Thickness: 15.40 mm. Lug-to-lug: 51.50 mm. Water resistant: 10 Bar. Crown positioned at 10 o'clock.

Movement: Quartz.

Dial: Transparent with glow-in-the-dark printed indexes, numerals, and hands. Biosourced glass.

Strap: Silicone strap with matte and transparent finishes. Polymer clasp material with a buckle.

Price: $150

Reference Number: SSCU09S100, SSCU09R100, SSCU09B100, SSCU09K100, SSCU09J100

Notes: Features a groundbreaking fusion of Bioceramic and biosourced materials, creating a distinctive "jelly effect." Inspired by jellyfish. Glow-in-the-dark details on dial and bezel. Special packaging.