Fifty Fathoms Automatique

An acknowledged virtuoso of complication watches, Blancpain also created the world’s first  modern diver’s watch,the famous “Fifty Fathoms”,in 1953.The Manufacture in Le Brassus now  revisits this watchmaking and nautical sports legend by developing a collection composed of three  models:a self-winding watch equipped with a brand-new calibre, a chronograph version with  flyback function,and a timepiece featuring a prestigious flying tourbillon.Water-resistant to 300  metres and endowed with essential characteristics of diver’s watches, this new wave of Fifty  Fathoms watches marries black dials,bezels and straps with 45 mm-diameter cases in steel,red  gold or white gold.  

The Fifty Fathoms was born from an encounter between Blancpain and two exceptional personalities. In  1952, Captain “Bob” Maloubier and his lieutenant Claude Riffaud were entrusted by the French Ministry  of Defence with creating an elite unit of “Combat Divers”. Upon finding no existing watch capable of  withstanding the extreme conditions of underwater missions, the two officers came to Blancpain with an  extremely specific set of technical specifications, including the revolutionary unidirectional bezel.  Building on their expertise and their visionary spirit, the watchmakers and engineers of the Manufacture  developed a mechanical masterpiece that was to assert itself as the archetypal diver’s watch. The original  model was launched in 1953; its water resistance was guaranteed to a depth of 50 fathoms (91.45 m),  hence its names. Fifty Fathoms soon earned a reputation for reliability and sturdiness among the special  forces of several different countries. It was adopted by specialists in the field of ocean exploration  including the famous French Navy’s GERS (Groupe d’Etudes et de Recherches Sous-Marines, or Under-  water research group). It also accompanied the crew of Jacques Cousteau and Louis Malle during the  shooting of the “World of Silence” movie. In 1997, Blancpain increased the water resistance of the Fifty  Fathoms to a depth of 300 metres, and in 2003, the Manufacture celebrated the 50thanniversary of this  legendary model by issuing a limited edition with a new black domed scratchproof sapphire bezel.  

A full-fledged collection  

Today, Blancpain is giving the Fifty Fathoms a new lease on life by creating a full-fledged collection  comprising the Automatic model, a Flyback Chronograph version, as well as a fascinating flying  Tourbillon version. It represents a means of expressing several forms of expertise cultivated by the  Manufacture through variations on a single watch, to the delight of devotees of fine mechanical horology.  Blancpain also offers the Fifty Fathoms in red or white gold versions, thereby paying tribute to its  precious nature yet without compromising on its sturdiness, water-resistance and reliability.  

The same indomitable spirit  

The three new models display the main signature features that forged the reputation of the  original Fifty Fathoms and of its subsequent enhanced versions. The same professionalism is  apparent in the decisive choices, dictated by a wealth of experience in the field of diving, its  risks and its imperious necessities. The same water-resistance to 300 metres. The same  oversized hour-markers and hands ensuring optimal readability. The same black dial and bezel  colour, against which the luminescent indications make a striking contrast. The rotating bezel  remains a key element of the watch, with its notched profile facilitating handling and its  unidirectional rotating system that avoids any inadvertent extension of the dive times. Crafted  from scratch-resistant sapphire, one of the hardest materials in the world, and featuring a  slightly cambered raised effect that reduces its vulnerability to shocks, this bezel is  distinguished by its luxurious finishing.