The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, with a history dating back to 1953, is one of the earliest true diving watches and ranks among the most iconic in the Swiss watch industry. The Fifty Fathoms has long been more than just a watch, with the collection also including the Bathyscaphe model, which is somewhat simpler and more instrumental. Today, Blancpain introduces a new material to these watches, giving a sportier edge to this sporty-chic model. Here is the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Titanium.
We won't delve too deeply into the details of this watch today, as we will soon return to this topic with our own photos and hands-on impressions. But here's what you need to know right now. The Bathyscaphe watches, part of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms collection, debuted in 1956 as a more compact and less professionally oriented model in the collection. Nevertheless, it remained a capable diving watch. In its modern version, it retains a more elegant and slightly more vintage look than the classic Fifty Fathoms. The watches are already available in stainless steel and ceramic cases, and soon they will be available in a titanium case - a material first used by the brand in the early 1960s in a special series of MIL-SPEC II models designed for US Navy explosives experts.
Based on a larger case diameter of 43 mm, this new Bathyscaphe version is made from the unusual alloy, grade 23 titanium, to be precise - we will request more detailed information on this rare grade. The case retains the same angular design and fully matte finish. Titanium offers numerous advantages for diving watches, including high resistance to shock, pressure, and corrosion, and, of course, lightness. The watch's height is 13.45 mm, it is equipped with sapphire crystals on the front and back, and it is water-resistant up to 300 meters. The watch features a unidirectional satin-finished titanium bezel with a matte gray ceramic insert and a 60-minute Liquidmetal scale.
The dial of this Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Titanium model is also new for the collection, anthracite in color with an unprecedented vertical satin finish. It retains the same 'baton' type hands and geometric hour indices filled with cream-colored Super-LumiNova. This new titanium version can be ordered with a NATO textile strap, a canvas strap, or a new for this collection grade 23 titanium three-link bracelet, which was first introduced on the classic Fifty Fathoms.
Inside the Bathyscaphe Titanium case is the classic yet powerful caliber 1315. This automatic movement, featuring no fewer than 3 barrels, can store a power reserve of up to 120 hours. It is equipped with an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring and decorated with bridges with hooks and bevels, as well as a gold rotor with sandblasted, satin-finished surfaces and hooks.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Titanium 43 mm will soon be available at retail. Prices start from 10,800 Swiss Francs for the strap version and 13,200 Swiss Francs for the titanium bracelet version. More detailed information can be found on blancpain.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - BLANCPAIN FIFTY FATHOMS BATHYSCAPHE TITANIUM 43MM
Case: 43 mm diameter x 13.45 mm height - satin-finished grade 23 titanium case - unidirectional satin-finished titanium bezel with matte gray ceramic insert and 60-minute Liquidmetal scale - sapphire crystal on front and back - screw-down crown and case back - water resistance 300 m.
Dial: anthracite dial with vertical satin finish, applied indices and hands with Super-LumiNova luminescent coating
Movement: Caliber 1315, in-house development - automatic with central rotor - 30.60 mm x 5.65 mm - 35 jewels - 227 components - power reserve 120 hours with three barrels - 28,800 vph - anti-magnetic silicon balance - hours, minutes, seconds and date
Bracelet/Strap: New satin-finished grade 23 titanium three-link bracelet with folding clasp, NATO textile strap, or canvas strap.
References: 5000-1210-98S - titanium bracelet
5000-1210-G52A - canvas strap
5000-1210-NAGA - NATO strap
Price: 10,800 Swiss Francs on strap
13,200 Swiss Francs for bracelet