Fresh from the Showcase here at SwissWatchExpo.
Today, we've got a modern version of one of the all-time classic dive watches: the Blancpain
Fifty Fathoms.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is a beautiful dive watch for people who are familiar with
it.
And I realize not everyone might be.
It's a fairly iconic line, but you do have to be pretty in the know when it comes to
Swiss watches to be familiar with this particular watch in the brand Blancpain in general.
They are a pretty rich, historically rich Swiss watchmaker which is studying the history
of it Pretty fascinating in the ups and downs that the brand has gone through throughout
the years.
You know, Swiss watchmaking has gone through a lot of tumultuous times.
A few brands can speak to that more than Blancpain has.
In fact, I think they sort of almost went out of business several times throughout their
year, but one of the things that have remained constant is they make fine quality pieces.
And the flagship sports model in their entire line is the Fifty Fathoms.
It is such an iconic dive watch, but it's incredibly unique.
And this is the 2022 offering that they are giving us right now.
This really remained unchanged, at least in the basic design of a lot of the Fifty Fathoms
going all the way back to when it was introduced in 1953, they claim that this is the first
modern dive watch.
They designate the word modern to mean this fixed uni-rotating bezel specifically made
for diving.
And they actually did beat the Rolex Submariner to market by exactly one year so at least
the acclaim to fame can be a back up that much, at least.
So this does predate this Sub model or the Fifty Fathoms in general, predates the Submariner
by exactly one year, which I think is cool.
A lot of the innovations about this though I think make it super classic, you'll notice
this is a super shiny type of finish on the watch.
And I do love this for what is essentially just a black dive watch would look very plain
by a lot of people's standards, but a lot of things make this look absolutely fascinating,
especially when you look at it up front.
One, we have two, we have a stepped dial with two different sunburst patterns here, which
is one thing that I think makes this a really dynamic to look at, even though it is just
black.
It is not exactly a flat black color.
Another thing you'll notice is the really bright lume on this.
This is one of the things that really make the Fifty Fathoms shine.
No pun intended is just how luminous this is.
You got really large Arabic numerals at 9, 6, and 3, Which make this a very modern-looking
dial, and the triangular markers here too light up really bright as well.
You get the short sword-shaped hands.
And I like that these are all luminous too.
So a lot of other brands like the like Omega Seamaster for example will have sword-shaped
hands but they are hollow or somehow skeletonized this nothing but lume real thick.
And you can definitely see this at night as well.
And the one innovation that Blancpain made with the Fifty Fathoms that I love is a luminous
bezel, which is something that I am so surprised is rare to find when it comes to Swiss dive
watches because you would think that actually having something that can be read in very
cloudy water or dark circumstances would, you know, possibly be lifesaving in certain
situations.
But this is one where literally the bezel lights up just as bright as the dial does
and there is no other dive watch I can think of that does that at least not at this price
point, certainly.
Another thing about the bezel that I think is absolutely fascinating is this is capped
by a sapphire crystal.
Now, obviously, because this rotates, the sapphire crystal is separate from the one
that covers the dial, but while a lot of watchmakers are making the bezels themselves out of harder
and harder and more durable materials, which is great, Blancpain went the other way and
just decided to cap this thing in a sapphire crystal in its own sapphire crystal, which
is completely pressure tested and waterproof as well.
So I think conceptually it is a great way to build and sort of developing a dive watch.
And they're really something that I don't think has really been imitated by any other
Swiss watchmakers.
This is a 45-millimeter stainless steel case.
So very big.
This is gonna have a great wrist presence, no matter who you are at 45 millimeters, I
think, but one thing that makes this a little more versatile than that size might lead you
to believe is just how short these lugs are.
These are pretty short lugs, especially for a dive watch of this size.
So this is one that even if your wrist isn't necessarily massive, this may be one of the
few, if only 45-millimeter watches, you can really pull off.
The case is not only relatively thick and definitely wide at 45 millimeters.
It is engraved with Blancpain here on the side.
I love that they put the branding on the side here too.
So even if you're not getting a perfect view of the front of the watch, somebody else can
still let you could still let other people know that you've got a Blancpain on as well.
No exhibition caseback here, but it does have Fifty Fathoms and anti-magnetic on the back,
which is another great thing about this.
The modern Fifty Fathoms are completely anti-magnetic as well.
And one of my favorite things about this is also the clasp and this is a steel deployant
clasp butterfly.
It opens both ways, but specifically on a sailcloth canvas strap, which I think is awesome
because very rarely do you see people put deployant straps on this, but this is definitely
a very sporty, very capable strap because while Blancpain definitely has a reputation
as being a bit hot horology, this is clearly a tool watch.
This is one that I really think can absolutely take a look at and is meant to be worn underwater
under very rigorous circumstances.
So when it comes to the construction of a dive watch, while this is a glorious luxurious
piece, this is definitely one that is meant for wear and tear.
I think this super industrial tactical box that it comes with is a great indication of
that too Blancpain's definitely letting you know what you get with it.
And I do love the package that this watch comes in.
And I am one of the last people on earth to care about things like that, but I do love
that they have this sort of diving briefcase here that clearly looked like it is meant
to be worn or meant to be used by some sort of special forces Naval units.
And, you know, that is what this watch was originally developed to do.
And it definitely looks like it.
So if you're into that really rugged military industrial look, there are fewer, if any fine
Swiss watches that really capture the spirit of that while still looking incredibly luxurious
in the process.
So Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, this may serve as an introduction for some people, or maybe
this is just gonna be the needle in, or the final nail in the coffin that really makes
you get this as your grail watch.
But either way, we've got this and a ton of other pieces in stock.
So like and subscribe to our channel, shoot us an email, give us a call, and find out
what we have for you at SwissWatchExpo.com.