Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1 is a part of commemorative editions celebrating the 70th anniversary of the iconic Fifty Fathoms watch.
In 1953, Blancpain introduced the first modern diver’s watch, the Fifty Fathoms. In 2003, to mark its 50th anniversary, the iconic Swiss Maison unveiled an anniversary limited edition comprising three series of 50 watches, thereby reviving the Fifty Fathoms. The first 70th anniversary watch is based on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 50th anniversary limited series.
Featuring an exclusive 42 mm diameter and composed of three 70-piece limited series, this watch will be available for pre-order on the Blancpain website in January 2023.
Twenty years ago, Blancpain’s newly appointed CEO Marc A. Hayek, discovered the Fifty Fathoms lying dormant in the Brand’s archives. An avid scuba diver, he immediately decided to give it a new lease on life. The rebirth of the Fifty Fathoms was one of the first projects he undertook upon his arrival at Blancpain.
50th Anniversary Model
In 2003, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms, Blancpain launched a limited edition comprising three series of 50 watches.
This anniversary model picked up the aesthetic codes of the 1953 timepiece while ushering it into the 21st century. The black dial, bearing extra-large numerals and markings affirmed the character of the original watch that was recognisable at first glance, as too were its attributes as a timekeeping instrument designed for diving.
Made according to modern day specifications, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 50th anniversary model (reference 2200A-1130-71) was water-resistant to around 300 metres. Its self-winding movement was equipped with a twin barrel endowing it with a four-day power reserve. Another significant feature was that the epoxy bezel inlay of the 1950s was replaced by a domed, scratchproof sapphire insert.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary: Act 1
Now, to kick off year-long celebrations highlighting the 70th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms, the Manufacture is unveiling a brand-new timepiece that is also a nod to the 2003 “renaissance” model. Three series are once again being produced, this time each comprising 70 watches.
Each series is dedicated to a region of the world – EMEA, Asia-Pacific, the Americas – and bears a number from I to III on the dial.
The dial is black with a sunburst motif and features vintage-look luminescent hands and block-type hour- markers. The polished steel watch case measures 42 mm in diameter and 14.30 mm in thickness. It is mounted with the famous unidirectional bezel with a domed sapphire inlay.
This is an exclusive diameter, as no contemporary Fifty Fathoms has ever yet been offered in this size. Regular models measure 45 mm, while the usual limited-edition Fifty Fathoms has a 40 mm case.
By opting for a new 42 mm diameter, Blancpain is paying tribute to the 1953 model while at the same time responding to the demands of Fifty Fathoms enthusiasts.
The first anniversary timepiece in 2023, this 42 mm Fifty Fathoms (reference 5010A/B/C-1130-NABA) comes with a black NATO YTT+ strap. This strap is made from 100% recycled and entirely recyclable thread from fishing nets recovered from the sea or oceans. The lug width of the watch is 21.50 mm.
The three series of 70 watches dedicated respectively to EMEA, Asia-Pacific and the Americas will be exclusively available for pre-order on the Blancpain website in January 2023.
Blancpain Calibre 1315
This new watch allows enjoying all the advantages of the Calibre 1315 in a concentrated format. Renowned for its extreme robustness, it has been a staple at Manufacture Blancpain since its launch in 2007. Based on a three-barrel architecture, this 35-jewel self-winding movement provides a five-day power reserve (120 hours).
Its silicon balance spring guarantees resistance to magnetism. This anniversary edition’s oscillating weight bearing the “Fifty Fathoms 70th” logo is made of platinum, chosen for its symbolism.
