The Swiss Luxury Watchmaker Blancpain Designed a Brand-New Timepiece to Commemorate The Fifty Fathoms' 70th Anniversary

Blancpain, a Swiss luxury watchmaker headquartered in Paudex/Le Brassus, Switzerland, will debut a new timepiece in 2023. This is 70 years after the first release of Fifty Fathoms and 20 years after the release of the modern anniversary wristwatch. It is comprised of three limited editions of 70 units and has a diameter of 42 mm.

A brief history

In 1953, Blancpain created the Fifty Fathoms. It was the very first contemporary diver's watch. For its 50th anniversary, Blancpain produced a limited edition of 50 watches in 2003. 50 years after its initial creation, this brought the dormant Fifty Fathoms into the present day. Blancpain is kicking off a year of festivities with a new model, 70 years after the original Fifty Fathoms was created and 20 years after the contemporary anniversary watch was created.

This timepiece will be available for pre-order on the Blancpain website in January 2023. It has an uncommon diameter of 42 millimetres and is produced in three limited batches of 70 units each.

The 2003 "renaissance" model serves as the basis for the new Fifty Fathoms watch. Each of the three series is designed for a different region of the globe. They are labelled EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, and their dials are numbered I through III. The black dial boasts a sunburst design, aged-looking luminescent hands, and block-like hour markers. The domed sapphire bezel on the 42 mm steel watch case may only be rotated in one way.

This is a very uncommon diameter, since no contemporary Fifty Fathoms has ever been manufactured in this size. Regular size is 45 millimetres, although the standard limited edition Fifty Fathoms has a 40 millimetre shell.

The watch's bigger 42 mm diameter is a tribute to the original 1953 model. The innovative Calibre 1315 is what allows the new watch to function. Since its debut in 2007, this self-winding movement has been a hallmark at Blancpain Manufacture. It is constructed with three barrels and features a five-day power reserve for the wearer's convenience.

Its magnetic resistance is ensured by its silicon balancing spring. The oscillating weight of the anniversary edition is composed of platinum and contains a hole. In the 1950s, this was done to make the rotor more flexible and resistant to shocks.

By selecting a new 42 mm diameter, Blancpain pays homage to the 1953 model and satisfies the desires of Fifty Fathoms enthusiasts who want the advantages of the unrivalled Calibre 1315 in a smaller dimension. This self-winding movement has been a Blancpain Manufacture constant since its introduction in 2007. It is constructed with three barrels and features a five-day power reserve for the wearer's convenience.

Its silicon balance spring ensures its resistance to magnetism, an essential characteristic for scuba diving. In the original Fifty Fathoms, the movement was shielded from magnetism by a soft iron cage. Blancpain made it possible for the owners of its diver's watches to observe the precise workings of the movement with the advent of silicon 15 years ago. This demonstrates the craftsmanship of the Manufacture's watches.

Platinum was selected as the symbol for the "Fifty Fathoms 70th" insignia on the movable weight of the jubilee edition. In Switzerland, the 70th wedding anniversary is associated with this item, which represents eternity. The oscillating weight features an opening, which was utilised in the 1950s to make the rotor more flexible and consequently better able to withstand shocks.

In 2023, this 42 mm Fifty Fathoms with a black NATO YTT+ band will be the inaugural anniversary model. This form of NATO strap is constructed from 100% recycled and entirely recyclable thread derived from recovered fishing nets from the ocean or oceans. This is a long-term initiative that will ultimately be implemented on all Blancpain NATO straps.In January 2023, the Blancpain website will be the only place to pre-order the three sets of 70 watches for EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.

More about the Fifty Fathoms

The Fifty Fathoms watch is the first contemporary diver's timepiece. It originally went on sale in 1953. It was utilised as a professional watch by diving pioneers and elite marine corps worldwide since it was designed by a diver to fulfil the demands of underwater exploration. With its water resistance, sturdy double-sealed crown, self-winding movement, black dial with bright indicators, unidirectional rotating bezel, and anti-magnetic protection, the Fifty Fathoms has become an indispensable tool for underwater workers.

These distinctive characteristics, which made the Fifty Fathoms the first authentic diver's watch, continue to define the appearance of these types of watches across the whole watch industry. Modern Fifty Fathoms models include intricate movements that are acclaimed for their durability and dependability. They honour the past while focusing on the future. Blancpain has extensive expertise with scuba diving, its inherent risks, and its stringent standards; as a result, its timepieces include a great deal of cutting-edge technology.

The Fifty Fathoms was crucial in the development of scuba diving and the exploration of the oceanic environment. It has allowed Blancpain to establish ties with the maritime community that have been steadily reinforced over the last seven decades. The Fifty Fathoms is the impetus for Blancpain's dedication to ocean preservation.