Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary – Act 1

In 1953, Blancpain introduced the first modern diving watch, the Fifty Fathoms. In 2003, fifty years after the birth of this iconic timepiece of the deep, the brand unveiled a limited anniversary edition consisting of three series of 50 watches, ushering in the then-discontinued Fifty Fathoms.

Now, 70 years after the launch of the first Fifty Fathoms and 20 years after the launch of the contemporary anniversary piece, Blancpain is kicking off a year of celebrations with an exclusive new model. Measuring an unprecedented 42 mm and manufactured in three series of 70 watches, this timepiece will be available for pre-order on the Blancpain website in January 2023.

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Twenty years ago, Marc A. Hayek, newly appointed CEO of Blancpain, discovered the Fifty Fathoms, then in abeyance, while poring over the brand's archives. A passionate diver himself, a sport he had practiced since his youth, he immediately fell under the spell of this exceptional timepiece and decided to breathe new life into it. The revival of the Fifty Fathoms was one of the first projects he undertook upon his arrival at Blancpain. Since the Manufacture was almost exclusively dedicated to classic watches, it was imperative to "test the waters" first, to see how Blancpain's clientele would respond to this sporty model. In 2003, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms, Blancpain launched the first contemporary Fifty Fathoms, a limited edition of three series of 50 pieces.

This anniversary watch takes the codes of the 1953 watch and adapts them to the 21st century. The black dial and XXL numerals and indexes affirm the character of the original watch, recognizable at first glance, as well as its attributes as a time-measuring instrument designed specifically for diving. However, the anchoring of this anniversary model in the 2000s is evident: its case is no longer water-resistant to 50 fathoms (almost 91 meters), or nearly 100 feet, but to approximately 300 meters. Its automatic movement is equipped with a double barrel, giving it a power reserve of 4 days. Another equally important detail is that the 1950s epoxy bezel insert has been replaced by a domed, scratch-resistant sapphire insert.

The extraordinary success of this anniversary edition convinced Blancpain to include the Fifty Fathoms in its watch collection. But Marc A. Hayek wanted to go even further. For him, this new era had to include a deeper tribute to Jean-Jacques Fiechter, in recognition of his contribution to the oceans by beginning their exploration through the Fifty Fathoms. Thus was born Blancpain's first initiative for ocean preservation, in collaboration with PADI, the world's largest diving training organization.

To inaugurate the year celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms, whose arrival set the standard for diving watches, the Manufacture is presenting a new watch, which is also a nod to the 2003 "renaissance" model. Three series are now being produced again, this time consisting of 70 pieces each. Each series is dedicated to a region of the world—EMEA, Asia-Pacific, America—and features a number from I to III on the dial.

The latter is a sun-kissed black, vintage-look watch with luminescent hands and block-style indexes. The watch case, topped by the famous unidirectional bezel with a domed sapphire insert, is polished steel and measures 42 mm, a unique diameter, as a contemporary Fifty Fathoms of this size has never existed before. Catalog pieces measure 45 mm, while the regular limited-edition Fifty Fathoms have a 40 mm case.

By opting for a new 42 mm diameter, Blancpain pays homage to the 1953 model while also responding to the demands of Fifty Fathoms enthusiasts who wish to enjoy all the advantages of the incomparable caliber 1315 in a compact format. Renowned for its extreme robustness, this self-winding movement has been a staple of the Manufacture since its launch in 2007. Equipped with a three-barrel architecture, it offers a five-day power reserve for optimal comfort. Its silicon balance spring guarantees resistance to magnetism, an essential criterion in the world of diving.

At the time of the first Fifty Fathoms' creation, anti-magnetism was guaranteed by a soft iron cage housing the movement. By eliminating this obstacle through the use of silicon some fifteen years ago, Blancpain allowed owners of its diving watches to admire the intricate details of the movement, whose workmanship attests to the prestige of the Manufacture's watchmaking creations.

The oscillating weight of this anniversary edition, which bears the "Fifty Fathoms 70" logo, is made of platinum, a material chosen for its symbolism. Synonymous with eternity, this metal is associated with the Swiss wedding custom of the number 70. As a further homage to the first Fifty Fathoms, it features an opening, a trick used in the 1950s to make the rotor more flexible and thus improve its shock resistance.

This 42 mm Fifty Fathoms, the first anniversary piece of 2023, is mounted on a black YTT+ NATO strap. The unique feature of this type of NATO strap is that it is made with 100% recycled and fully recyclable yarn from fishing nets recovered from the sea or oceans. This sustainable initiative will eventually be extended to all Blancpain NATO straps.

The three series of 70 watches, dedicated respectively to the EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and America regions, will be available exclusively for pre-order on the Blancpain website in January 2023.

Specs

BLANCPAIN FIFTY FATHOMS 70TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES I
REFERENCE : 5010A/B/C-1130-NABA
MOVEMENT : Blancpain Manufacture caliber 1315, self-winding mechanical movement, 5.65 mm thick, 30.60 mm in diameter. 120-hour power reserve, 35 jewels, 227 components
CASE : Stainless steel, 42.30 mm diameter, 14.30 mm thick, 30 bar water resistance, sapphire case back, 21.50 mm distance between lugs
DIAL/HANDS : Sunburst black, vintage-look dial with luminescent hands and block indices. Arabic numerals 3-6-9-12, with date window at 4:30
BRACELET : Black YTT+ NATO strap, 100% recycled thread from recovered fishing nets
FUNCTIONS : Hours, minutes and seconds, date window at 4:30 with black background

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