Blancpain presents its latest Fifty Fathoms Automatique watches in 42mm

The brainchild of Jean-Jacques Fiechter, Blancpain’s CEO from 1950 to 1980 and an avid diver, the Fifty Fathoms watch was created in 1953 following a diving incident in France where Fiechter ran out of air. This timepiece went on to mark a new era in the world of watchmaking.

Named after Ariel’s song from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was hailed as the first diver’s tool watch. It also established the foundational principles that would come to define the category – sturdiness, water-resistance, a secure rotating-bezel for timing dives, resistance to magnetic disruption, and excellent readability even in the ocean’s depths. Designed specifically to meet the rigorous demands of scuba diving, these features not only set a new benchmark, but also established a design blueprint that influenced the watchmaking industry – a standard that remains to this day.

The Fifty Fathoms has served as more than a timekeeper, from the early days of its adoption by pioneering underwater explorers to being the chosen tool of elite combat diver corps around the world. Its water-resistance, robust doubled-sealed crown, self-winding movement, dark dial with contrasting luminescent indications, lockable rotating bezel and anti-magnetic protection have transformed it into an indispensable tool for the most critical of missions beneath the waves.

In 2003 (the watch celebrated its 50th anniversary that year), the Fifty Fathoms was reinvigorated under the leadership of Blancpain’s newly appointed president and CEO Marc Hayek, who propelled the iconic timepiece into a new century of horological excellence. Fusing a vintage spirit with an innovative mechanism, the series of three limited editions comprising 50 pieces each boasted a four-day power reserve and a distinctive bombe sapphire unidirectional rotating bezel. As an ode to the original 1953 design,Hayek retained the emblematic black dial adorned with oversized numerals and markings. Additional updates included an enhanced self-winding movement, and a scratch-proof domed sapphire insert replacing the epoxy bezel inlay of the 1950s era. It was also water resistant for up to 300 metres.

The success of Hayek’sendeavour paved the way for further innovations, culminating in the introduction of the Fifty Fathoms Automatique in 2007. It saw the debut of a new generation of the iconic watch featuring Blancpain’s specially developed Calibre 1315 – a movement offering a five-day power reserve, along with enhanced precision and shock resistance. Paired with the manufacture’s signature sapphire bezel adorned with luminous indexes and scratch-resistant properties, the Fifty Fathoms Automatique set a new standard for diving watches. Then, in 2023, the Calibre 1315was incorporated into the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1. Celebrating seven decades of the original 1953 model, the tribute timepiece featured an updated case that was downsized from 45mm to 42mm.

A NEW CHAPTER

This year, Blancpain continues to honour the Fifty Fathoms’ legacy with the introduction of two new Fifty Fathoms Automatique models. Retaining the iconic design elements of their predecessors, these watches are offered in the smaller 42mm case to cater to a wider range of audience.

The collection’s latest offerings in red gold and grade 23 titanium – materials chosen for their elegance and resilience – highlight the Fifty Fathoms’ versatility. The former brings a classic warmth that captivates traditionalists and aficionados, while lending a touch of luxury and opulence to the line. In contrast, titanium appeals to the sporty maverick, providing a durable and lightweight option that’s equipped to handle the rigours of the sea and daily use.

Its sapphire-topped bezel remains a defining element of the Fifty Fathoms line. This feature marries the durability needed for dive watches with crystal-clear readability under water, ensuring dependability even in the most challenging environments.

The latest Fifty Fathoms Automatiquetimepieces retain the iconic dial design, preserving the traditional mix of oversized luminescent Arabic numerals at the quarter hours and triangular indexes for the remaining hour markers. The signature hands remain unchanged, each element generously coated with Super-LumiNova for optimal visibility. Discreetly placed between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock on a coloured disc that matches the dial for visual harmony, the date aperture ensures uninterrupted luminosity for all hour markers. As compared to the slightly stepped dials of the 45mm versions, the new 42mm models feature a flat dial with a sunray-brushed finish.

Powering the latest editions is the high-performance Calibre 1315. All thanks to the three series-coupled mainspring barrels, the solid 120-hour or five-day power reserve is one of the proprietary movement’s most impressive aspects. Beating at a frequency of 4Hz, it is equipped with a stop-seconds feature for precise time adjustment, as well as an antimagnetic silicon hairspring for improved shock resistance and enhanced resistance to the effects of magnetism. Visible through the transparent sapphire caseback, the movement flaunts the finest touches of haute horlogerie detailing and finishes on its snailed bridges, polished chamfers, and an NAC-coated 18k red gold rotor that is a hat-tip to the original Fifty Fathoms rotor.

To cater to a range of tastes and preferences, the latest Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm collection offers a total of 14 references with options of either a black or blue dial, bezel, and strap ensemble. Whether it’s red gold or titanium you go for, each is paired with a corresponding spectrum of straps, from sail-canvas to NATO, as well as the textured Tropic rubber. For the titanium editions, they come with a matching titanium bracelet with a triple-folding clasp.