Swiss luxury watch brand Blancpain presents new models of its Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph.
In 2022, Blancpain is focusing on introducing new variants of its Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe watches, playing with styles by means of red gold and grade 23 titanium.
Following the 1953 launch of the Fifty Fathoms, the first modern diver’s watch, Blancpain developed numerous variations of this vital timekeeping tool for divers.
The Bathyscaphe watch created in 1956 is undoubtedly one of the finest examples. The flyback chronograph joined the contemporary Bathyscaphe line in 2014 and was the first complication to equip Blancpain’s “urban diver” model.
The Manufacture is now returning its Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph model to centre-stage, housing one of the watch industry’s most renowned chronograph movements. Blancpain Calibre F385 is one of the latest in a line of Blancpain chronographs that have often been world firsts over the past 30 years.
This in-house movement draws on Blancpain’s refined vertical clutch design that ensures smooth engagement of the chronograph mechanism, eliminating the problem of the chronograph seconds hand making sudden, abrupt jumps. Control of starting, stopping and resetting the chronograph is done via a column wheel, enabling smooth and comfortable operation of the pushers.
The F385 beats at a frequency of 5 Hz, which is a considerable advantage in terms of timekeeping accuracy compared to lower frequencies. It has an inertia-regulated balance wheel with a silicon balance spring, whose geometry and lightness help ensure excellent chronometric performance.
Recently introduced into its collections by Blancpain, grade 23 titanium – also known as grade 5 ELI (extra low interstitials) – is the purest type of titanium available.
The red gold version has a blue dial while the grade 23 titanium features an anthracite dial. Whether the model is in red gold or titanium, the dial is graced with a sunburst pattern throughout and a snailed motif on the chronograph counters, designed to create a sense of depth and contrast.
The new Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph models are naturally framed by a unidirectional rotating bezel with a ceramic inlay, a signature of the contemporary Bathyscaphe line.
The blue inlay on the red gold version sports a glossy finish and a Ceragold™ time scale, while the anthracite inlay of the titanium watch is satin-brushed and features a Liquidmetal™ scale.
The cases of both watches measure 43 mm in diameter and are water resistant to 30 bar (approximately 300 m).
They are paired with a NATO or sailcloth strap matching the dial colour. The sail canvas strap of the red gold version comes with a choice of pin buckle or folding clasp, while the grade 23 titanium model is also available with a titanium bracelet.
Technical details
Model: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph
Case
Material: Satin-brushed titanium/ Satin-brushed 18ct red gold
Diameter: 43.00 mm
Thickness: 14.90 mm
Water resistance: 300 meters
Sapphire crystal back
Lug width: 23mm
Movement
Calibre F385 (5HZ), self-winding movement
Diameter: 31.80 mm
Thickness: 6.65 mm
Power reserve: 50 hours
Jewels: 37
Number of components: 322
Functions
Flyback Chronograph, date and small seconds
Bezel
Titanium version: Unidirectional satin-brushed titanium bezel with ceramic insert and LiquidmetalTM hour-markers
Red gold version: Unidirectional satin-brushed 18ct red gold bezel with ceramic insert and CeragoldTM hour-markers
Dial
Titanium version: Sunburst anthracite dial
Red gold version: Sunburst blue dial
