Blancpain, the renowned Swiss watchmaker, recently revealed the third installment in its celebration of the 70th anniversary of its iconic Fifty Fathoms diving watch. The presentation, fittingly enough, took place in Cannes, France—a location with historical significance for the birth of this revolutionary timepiece. Named the “Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3,” this watch pays homage to its predecessor, the MIL-SPEC, a timepiece that was adopted by major military forces of its time.
Let’s get straight to the point with the information about the new Fifty Fathoms, at the end instead you can find all our images shot during the launch event in Cannes in the company of freediver Gianluca Genoni.
The origins of the Fifty Fathoms
The Fifty Fathoms wasn’t just another watch; it was a life-saving revelation. It was conceived by Jean-Jacques Fiechter, the then co-director of Blancpain and an avid diver, after a diving incident off the coast of Cannes left him critically low on oxygen.
Recognizing the vital role a specialized diving watch could play, Fiechter created the world’s first true underwater watch. The watch boasted automatic winding (to reduce crown seal wear), anti-magnetic features, a minimum 10 bar water resistance, and large, luminescent indices for enhanced readability underwater. These features quickly caught the attention of several major militaries, including those of France, Germany, the United States, and Norway.
Features of Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3
At first glance, the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 appears to be a faithful reimagining of its ancestor. It features a matte black dial with a humidity indicator, Super-LumiNova® vintage indices, and a unidirectional rotating bezel with a ceramic insert and vintage Super-LumiNova® diving scale. It also comes with a bi-color NATO strap fashioned from ocean-salvaged fishing nets.
What sets it apart is its casing material. The original MIL-SPEC model used German silver; the new anniversary edition utilizes a patented 9-carat gold bronze alloy consisting of 37.5% gold, 50% copper, and the remaining percentage made up of silver, palladium, and gallium. This alloy not only offers an appealing aesthetic but also allows for direct skin contact without the risk of verdigris oxidation, thanks to the gold content.
Inside the 9-carat gold bronze case, the watch houses a 1154.P2 movement. This movement, paired with a double barrel, offers an impressive 100-hour power reserve. A silicon spiral spring enables the watch to resist magnetism, boasting a resistance of 1000 Gauss. Unlike the original version, this model allows the movement to be admired through a sapphire case back, revealing its vintage-inspired design and details.
Un Eredità Continua
The Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 is not only a tribute to the past, but also a demonstration of how watchmaking technology can evolve while maintaining the legacy of its predecessors.
Price and availability
With a limited production run of 555 pieces, the watch is presented inside a case that pays tribute to Blancpain’s efforts to protect the oceans and is inspired by the waterproof boxes of vintage cameras. The reason, explained by Blancpain, is to bring together two of the most important technologies for deep-sea discovery and diving that developed simultaneously: watchmaking and photography.
The list price for purchasing Fifty Fathoms Act 3 70th Anniversary is EUR 33,300.00.
Final thoughts
Blancpain continues to write the history of the first true diver’s watch, maintaining a prominent position in the dive watch industry. This celebratory model represents an important chapter in the Swiss watchmaker’s ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability.
For more information, you can visit Blancpain’s website: www.blancpain.com or their Press Lounge: www.blancpain.com/it/press-lounge.
Pictures of the Event
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