Blancpain goes three up with its 70th anniversary Fifty Fathoms.

Launched in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms stands as the first true diver's watch. Originally designed by a diver to meet the specific demands of underwater exploration, it was swiftly adopted by diving pioneers and military diving units worldwide as an essential timekeeping tool for professional divers. Groundbreaking at that time, it featured remarkable water resistance, a robust double-sealed crown, self-winding movement, a dark dial with luminescent markers, a lockable rotating bezel, and anti-magnetic safeguards. These distinctive features that initially defined the Fifty Fathoms as the quintessential diver's watch continue to set the standard for timepieces in the watch industry.
The Fifty Fathoms watch was born from a moment of inspiration and near-crisis. Jean-Jacques Fiechter, co-CEO of Blancpain and an avid diver, found himself in a perilous situation during a dive in Cannes, France, when he ran out of air. This pivotal experience led him to recognize the pressing need for a specialized timekeeping instrument for scuba divers. As a result, he conceived the Fifty Fathoms, the world's first true diver's watch.
Soon after, in the 1950s, Jean-Jacques Fiechter developed a moisture indicator, an extra safety feature that assured divers that the watch had not been compromised in a previous mission. The moisture indicator was highly regarded by the US Navy and soon featured on the dial of the MIL-SPEC Fifty Fathoms in 1957. They had considered the Fifty Fathoms to be the only watch that met their stringent criteria for underwater missions. These advancements made the Fifty Fathoms highly sought-after, not only by civilian divers but also by the main armed forces of the era, including France, Germany, the United States, and Norway. The watch became the standard for combat divers, establishing itself as the archetypal diving watch in the watch industry. In fact, some variants of the MIL-SPEC watch have become extremely rare and prized by collectors.
The Fifty Fathoms has since grown into being an indispensable companion for divers during their underwater missions. While paying homage to its heritage, contemporary Fifty Fathoms models integrate modern movements known for their durability and reliability. They also incorporate various technical advancements derived from Blancpain's extensive experience in the realm of diving, recognizing the challenges and requirements it entails. Over the years, the Fifty Fathoms has played a pivotal role in advancing scuba diving and uncovering the mysteries of the ocean world, fostering strong connections between Blancpain and the ocean community over the past seven decades. Essentially, it serves as the driving force behind Blancpain's commitment to the preservation of the oceans. 
Inspired by the predecessor used by the US Navy, the design of the 70th Anniversary Act 3 clearly reflect this lineage with its matte black dial that features vintage Super-LumiNova&reg;-enhanced moisture indicators and hour markers. Moreover, the unidirectional bezel has a black ceramic insert, also with vintage Super-LumiNova&reg; applied to the diving scale. To complete it, the watch is attached to a two-tone NATO strap which adopts the colour scheme of the original timepiece and is crafted from fishing nets recovered from the oceans.

Although the watch looks like its predecessor, their cases are different. The original MIL-SPEC is crafted from German silver while the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 is encased in 9K Bronze Gold. The latter is a patented alloy enriched with 37.5% gold, 50% copper (which gives it its "bronze" characteristic), silver, palladium, and gallium. This alloy is engineered to display a pleasing pinkish hue and can be worn directly against the skin, unlike traditional bronze. As a bonus, with the inclusion of gold, it resists oxidation and a typical greenish patina.
The 70th Anniversary Act 3 incorporates the automatic 1154.P2 movement which is housed in a 9K Bronze Gold case that is water-resistant up to 300 metres. The case has a diameter of 41.30 mm, reminiscent of the historic MIL-SPEC. With its twin barrels providing a substantial 100-hour power reserve, the calibre is also equipped with a silicon balance-spring along with special materials and alloys to ensure magnetic resistance (up to 1000-gauss). Unlike the original watch, where the movement was concealed within a soft iron cage, the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 is able to showcase its insides through a sapphire caseback. The open caseback shows off the enlarged bridges that have been decorated in a style inspired by the period's aesthetics. Furthermore, the oscillating weight features a design inspired by the historical rotor, with an opening to enhance its flexibility and shock resistance. The vintage logotype, engraved and highlighted in gold, adds a luxurious touch.
This Fifty Fathoms is a special edition limited to 555 pieces, and it comes in a box that draws inspiration from a historical camera housing. The box is a nod to Blancpain's dedication to ocean protection with the connection between this watch and the underwater world going beyond just its appearance. Underwater photography and the development of diver's watches emerged simultaneously, contributing to the exploration of the ocean's depths. As such, by combining the essence of two distinct eras, this commemorative timepiece perpetuates the legacy of the world's first true diver's watch and bridges the past and present.

Ocean Connection

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