The bezel is an important part of any Fifty Fathoms watch. Add in an annual calendar to the Bathyscaphe, and we’re entering the world of complications while keeping true to the rugged dive watch heritage of the Fifty-Fathoms. In a display of technical prowess, this depth rating is maintained without using … The idea here is that a manually-wound movement required fiddling with the crown, which would cause wear to the double o-ring lock on the crown. That said, this watch suffers a bit in the dark. Like the other models, the band is made of sail-canvas with a reverse side made of rubber. Inspired by a "desert dive" by Ernest H. Brooks II on his trip to the Death Valley in the United States back in 1962, the 500-piece limited edition Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date watch comes in a spectacular gradient-coloured sandy beige dial with a … For example, the Villeret watches are classic timepieces, while the Léman series blends traditional and modern elements. This is one of those dials that you can keep looking at over and over, discovering new things each time. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback touts an impressive 300 metres of water resistance, making it a bona fide diving chronograph that is safe to operate even when submerged. There are many other variations and unusual references, but these are the most well known and collectable. The brand is one example of high-quality workmanship in watchmaking. Plus, the hours and minutes hands are close in size and shape, which, while not a huge problem during the day, does mean you often have to look a little closer in the dark. Here's What To Buy Instead. 897. Jaeger-LeCoultre has the Deep Sea Chronograph, which at $10,800 could be considered the most direct competitor with the Bathyscaphe when it comes to the combination of styling and price. The Bathyscaphe is a legendary name at Blancpain. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe On The Wrist. This comparison will focus on the details in mostly neutral close up shots. Lastly, the lock mechanism is extremely secure though this does make clicking the bezel on the noisy side. Jehan-Jacques Blancpain founded his watch company in 1735 in the Swiss town of Villeret in the canton of Bern. Even with the criticisms mentioned above, this is still a nice release from Blancpain and one that ticks the boxes if you're looking for a combination of modern features and vintage styling in a dive watch. The Fifty Fathoms line has made this Swiss manufacturer famous around the world. On some Fifty Fathoms you will notice a similar circle without the logo – this is a humidity detector, which turns blue if it gets wet, alerting the wearer to a breach in the case's seal. The diving watch Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe shares the spirit of those exciting moments and serves as a reminder of this incredible feat. The dial of the Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert Edition, inspired by a Blancpain timepiece from the 1970s, features a subtle gradation of sandy beige, a hue that is new to the collection. The Bathyscaphe was inspired by Jacques Piccard, the Swiss explorer who descended into the Marianas Trench in 1960 in the bathyscaphe Trieste with fellow explorer Don Walsh. Sure, it is powered by an ETA movement and lacks the hand-finishing you'll find on the Bathyscaphe, but it's difficult to completely ignore the Pelagos if we're looking at currently available dive watches with vintage styling. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe features the self-winding F385 movement that gives it a flyback chronograph function, able to make fast measurements of successive time periods. For further information, please contact us or your nearest Blancpain point of sale Curbside Services Continue to be Available - Click here to learn more The L-Evolution models entice with their mix of avant-garde design and modern technology. While a basic padded cloth strap is an option, we went for the special Blancpain NATO, speaking to the military heritage of the Fifty Fathoms. With an impressive power reserve of 120 hours, it has been in use since 2007 and is based on the manual movement 13R0 from 2006. At $4,125, it comes in at less than half the price of the Bathyscaphe. I took the watch with me on a trip to the Cote d'Azur, home of the combat diving school for which the original Fifty Fathoms was conceived. The metallic numbers and markings are a compound called Liquidmetal that sits flush in the ceramic bezel insert, housed in a steel bezel. For the rest, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Complete Calendar is a highly practical watch with handsome aesthetics. Though, 43mm is by no means offensively large for most consumers of dive watches. The classic Fifty Fathoms is both large in diameter and very thick, with the chronograph models getting on for 45mm in diameter and an enormous 15.5mm thickness, that’s close to the Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph. 5000-1110-B52A. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is priced at around SGD17,000 or USD12,000. You can find all the details from Blancpain here. Free shipping. Captain Robert Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud, commanders of the French Combat Diving School, were looking for a purpose-built watch to put on the wrist of the most elite dive soldiers on the planet and couldn't find anything to suit their needs. Blancpain Bathyscaphe 43 Steel Ceramic Bezel Gray Dial 99%... Blancpain 2020 Blancpain 5052-1110 Fifty Fathoms Bathyscape... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe - 43mm - Stainless - New /... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Jour Date - 5052-1110-63A, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5000-0240-O52A Ceramic, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert 5052, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 38mm Blue, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph 43mm. Get Discounted Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Watch Prices and Free Shipping Today. This offers a lot of the same vintage appeal, but with a different combination of matte and polished surfaces. Calibre 1315, Through The Sapphire Caseback. The silicon balance spring provides protection from magnetic disruption, paying homage to the original anti-magnetic Fifty Fathoms with a new technological development. Concluding Thoughts. Three years after the 1953 debut of the original Fifty Fathoms fulfilling the needs of professional divers in underwater conditions, Blancpain introduced the Bathyscaphe as a civilian version whose size would be adapted to daily wear. This is one serious strap. For the civilian models, Blancpain clearly marked the dials at 6 o'clock with the now-famous "No Radiation" logo to put customers' minds at ease. Finishing off the case is a large crown with no guards that screws down for security. The new desert-coloured Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date is for adventurers, enthusiasts and creative minds. We offer Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Watches for sale. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Titanium 43mm Men's Watch... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Blue 38mm - New / 2020, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe - 5000-0130-B52A. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms has an amazing history and is really an under-appreciated icon in the watch world. They drew up some requirements for this ideal watch and shopped it around to various companies, but none wanted to invest in what they saw as a niche market. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe took its first dive to depths of the sea in the late 1950s, with Swiss manufacturer Blancpain the genius behind the watch. The movement is 5.65 mm thick and has a diameter of 30.6 mm. The band's clasp is also made of satin-brushed ceramic, which perfectly complements the watch. It brings something new to the current Fifty Fathoms family by recalling some key features from the original Bathyscaphes without totally giving up the hallmarks of the modern collection. In addition to the vintage appeal, the Bathyscaphe seems to be positioned as a luxury dive watch, which introduces a number of other comparisons. Only 30 exclusive 1735 pieces were made and they are among the most complicated wristwatches in the world. Blancpain is likewise well known for their mechanical watches with grand complications, which feature perpetual calendars, tourbillons, and minute repeaters. Professional dealer. The desert-coloured Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date is for adventurers, enthusiasts and creative minds. It has an excellent mech The watches in the Fifty Fathoms series by Blancpain feature trend-setting technology, much like the submarines in years past. That said, it is a noticeable 2mm smaller than the current basic Fifty Fathoms, which comes in at 45mm. FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $300. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Automatik Herrenuhr... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Automatic 43mm 5000-0240-o52a, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ceramic, Blancpain Bathyscaphe Automatic 43mm 5000-1110-70B. And, of there is the Royal Oak Offshore Diver, too. A fter the success of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Limited Edition for HODINKEE, we knew it wouldn't be the last time that we strapped on a tank with Blancpain. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe took its first dive to depths of the sea in the late 1950s, with Swiss manufacturer Blancpain the genius behind the watch. Open your door to 500,000 watch enthusiasts every day. It brings something new to the current Fifty Fathoms family by recalling some key features from the original Bathyscaphes without totally giving up the hallmarks of the modern collection. Intended for use in a submersible, the Bathyscaphe was made in a smaller size more indicative of the fashion of the time (35-38mm) but was still a robust dive watch. Part of the reason for this size was to make room for the external rotating bezel, the first of its kind. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Annual Calender Automatic... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5000 1230 B52A, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5000-0130-NABA. Readability during the day is great and the polished surrounds and hand edges almost glow when the sun is shining. But, even within the Fifty Fathoms family itself, there have been many variations over the years, used by everyone from worldwide special forces to civilians working desk jobs. IT. US. The explorer reached a depth of 3,150 meters in the bathyscaphe. The new Bathyscaphe combines a number of features from these originals with modern dive watch technology to result in a watch that is clearly a tribute without being a simple rerelease. The lugs are nicely beveled and faceted, with sharp edges that catch the light just enough to add some interest to the overall profile of the Bathyscaphe. Like this? This watch was like nothing that had come before. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Black Ceramic 43mm... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5200-0130-NABA NEW, Blancpain Original Blancpain Bathyscaphe 1960, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5200-0130-B52A. Few companies are going into this territory, and Blancpain does so … Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. The vintage Fifty Fathoms dive watch was first introduced in 1953. At $10,500 in steel and $12,000 in titanium, the Bathyscaphe certainly falls into the luxury sport watch category, but walking along the beaches of Nice, Cannes, and Villefranche, it felt like just the watch for the occasion. There are also Blancpain Fifty Fathoms bearing a Tornek-Rayville signature on the dial, made specifically for the US Navy. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was the original modern dive watch. In comparison, stainless steel has a hardness number of about 220. There was no better place to get a sense of what this watch is all about and to see how it performed both in and out of water. Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Annuel. Yes, you read that correctly. That makes the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback’s 43.6mm x 15.25mm case seem Our Showroom is Open by Appointment Only! Fifty Fathoms // Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. This new limited edition version of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date watch is inspired by a Blancpain diver's watch from the 1970s is characterised by a gradient-coloured sandy beige dial featuring a sunburst pattern. The case diameter measures 43.6 mm with a thickness of 13.4 mm and it is water resistant up to 30 bar. Taking some design inspiration from the 1950s original, this sturdy diver is a thoroughly modern watch. The 60-minute gradation (as opposed to only large hashes at 10-minute intervals plus numerals at 15, 30, and 45) does have historical precedent, so I'm not as much concerned with that as I am with the proportions and the finishing. It is somewhat Spartan looking with clean, minimal decoration. The Grande Complication 1735, for instance, is a prime example of the finest Swiss watchmaking. Unlike the classic stainless steel Fifty Fathoms, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe's case is made of satin-brushed black ceramic, a lightweight and especially scratch-resistant material. 3912. As a nod to their rich history with the U.S. Navy, the new Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC Limited Edition for … Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date 70's 43mm... You're already subscribed to the Chrono24 newsletter. It immediately offered a smaller, stylish alternative to the conventional Fifty Fathoms, and to this day, it is the version that has been most adapted. One of the most distinct features of the vintage Fifty Fathoms is the bold bezel and this one seems a little weak in comparison. Over 2,500 successful private sellers each month. Copyright © 2009–2021, HODINKEE Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is a tool watch at heart, but the finishing on the HODINKEE Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe rivals many watches twice the price. The first Bathyscaphe was introduced in 2013, and it was an intriguing combination of modern tech savvy and inspiration from vintage elements. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe strikes a good balance between form and function. Readability was understandably one of the most important criteria for the Fifty Fathoms. Blancpain. The name Fathoms comes from the word fathom, a unit of measurement for determining ocean depth. Though it is noticeably more expensive at $16,900 in stainless steel, there is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the original luxury sport watch. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Automatic SS / Bracelet... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert Edition... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Stainless Steel. The hands are similarly vintage-inspired, with luminous rectangular shafts and thin metallic tips. The incorporation of useful features for life on dry land has cemented the success of the Bathyscaphe, and in the 1970s some members of the family appeared in cushion-shaped cases … This year is the 60th anniversary of Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms dive watch. Military specifications in the 1950s and 60s required the luminous materials on the watch dials to be radioactive so it would always glow, even though this was knowingly harmful to the wearer. First off, it was 41mm in diameter – absolutely massive for the time. Blancpain is one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers and has accumulated more than 280 successful years in the industry. Then, on January 23rd, 1960, the Trieste reached the ocean floor of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in the ocean. Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback with a Green Dial. A Week On The Wrist The Omega Speedmaster 321, 39.7mm In Steel, In-Depth Everything You Need To Know About The Rolex Explorer Ref. The 227 component movement has a power reserve of 120 hours (5 days). But for the guy who sees himself wearing the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, that is surely part of the appeal. There is certainly a lot to be said for that. Regular HODINKEE readers will likely know by now that I have fairly small wrists and that 43mm is a lot of watch for me. The word bathyscaphe comes from the Greek words bathos and skaphos, meaning "deep" and "vessel" respectively. I have a mint full kit Canadian Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ceramic in blue dial for sale. Consult A Specialist. This definitely seems purposeful rather than a symptom of laziness, and many would say putting a sapphire back on a dive watch like this is unnecessary altogether. Often overshadowed by the bigger brother (the Fifty Fathoms), the Bathyscaphe is still nonetheless a stunning piece that is … And, it's great to see brands in general taking collectors seriously and beginning to reach back into the archives to produce watches that more closely resemble those made during the sport watch glory days of the 1960s and 70s. There is definitely something about this watch that makes it seem like a modern dive watch for the man in-the-know, rather than something more commercial or commonly worn. Remember, at this time there were no dive computers and a watch was absolutely necessary for ensuring both personal safety and coordinated timing during difficult missions. Dive watch purists look away. At first, Blancpain’s Bathyscaphe watches are clearly seen as tool/dive pieces. This nuance evokes the desert, and more specifically Death Valley in the United States, where Ernest H. Brooks II, pioneer… Whilst the chronograph had traditionally been used in motorsport racing, it is just as applicable measuring lap times both in the pool, or on the track. The watches in the Le Brassus series feature an exceptional number of complications. Water resistance was also a serious concern. Professional dealer. The automatic caliber 1315, developed in-house, powers the watch. Complimenting the brushed steel case is a radially brushed dial that you know will provide plenty of visual interest under different lighting conditions, with vintage-inspired hour markers that are oblong rectangles at 3, 6, 9, … The new Fifty Fathoms BathyscapheQuantième Complet Phase de Lune advances the idea of adding civilian-friendly features with both a complete calendar and moon-phase display. COVID-19 Update: Welcome Back! I thought it might be interesting to take a closer look at two references within the same model range, the standard Fifty Fathoms ref 5015-1130-71 and the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe ref 5000-1110-70, both on bracelet. My biggest complaint with the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is the bezel. The Patek 5711 Is No More. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ceramic / Black / Canvas -... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback Green, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Seventies, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe - Ceramic Blue Dial, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe - 5000-0240-O52A, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms - Bathyscaphe - Ceramic Black - 2020. Jacques Cousteau wore a Fifty Fathoms in "Silent World," his most famous (and award winning) film. The flyback chronograph, which measures a succession of elapsed times, eliminates many superfluous repetitive operations. 14270. I am seeling this one as it's a bit big for my wrist. Is this a dive watch for everyone? The finish on the dial is really beautiful. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe took its first dive to depths of the sea in the late 1950s, with Swiss manufacturer Blancpain the genius behind the watch. Similar to all classic Fifty Fathoms models, the band is made of sail canvas with a reverse side made of rubber. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Complete Calendar 43mm... Blancpain Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Stainless Steel 44mm... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Meteor 43mm - 5000-1110-B52A. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe took its first dive to depths of the sea in the late 1950s, with Swiss manufacturer Blancpain the genius behind the watch. Blancpain Pre-Owned Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Rose... Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5071-1110-B52A, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe - 38mm - 2020, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Automatic 43mm 5000-1110-70b, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Blue 38mm, Blancpain Bathyscaphe Automatic 38mm 5100B-1110-B52A, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Men's Watch, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5000-1110-B52A, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5200-1110-B52A, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe - Ceramic - Blue - 2020, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Automatic 43mm 5000-0130-b52a, Blancpain Bathyscaphe Automatic 43mm 5054-1110-B52A. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe was unveiled back in April at the Basel World fair in Switzerland and immediately we knew this was a watch worth taking a closer look at. Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert Edition. Sure, it is definitely a very different look and feel, but it is one you have to at least consider when talking about high-end sport watches. In the sun the brushing looks really vivid and has a lot of texture, while in the shade and indoors it's more subtle and restrained. -Brushed Steel Case With Nice Faceted Lugs, -Faithful In Many Ways To Original Bathyscaphe, -In-House Blancpain Movement With Silicon Balance Spring. The example we have here is brushed stainless steel, which gives a more vintage look than the polished steel cases you'll find on many modern divers. Early Blancpain Fifty Fathoms via  Anitquorum.com. A vintage Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe – photo by Watchonista. Once or twice I found myself having dinner outdoors and having to really squint to tell what time it was. Only about 1000 ever existed and finding a real one in decent shape can be really difficult. This bezel would allow the diver to line up the 12 o'clock triangle with the minutes hand when starting a dive, making it easy to see the number of elapsed minutes underwater. The Blancpain NATO is extremely well made, with stitched leather around the holes to prevent fraying and heavy duty hardware that you know is going to last. Share it! It’s essentially a luxury watch that’s built to specifications that put it squarely in the tool watch category. The other Blancpain series feature distinguished classic designs and modern technology. One of the features that drew us to the Bathyscaphe at Baselworld was definitely the high-end interpretation of the NATO strap. The dial color that seems to have ruled the past decade is, undoubtedly, the color blue. The indexes and numbers on the bezel are made of a modern material called Liquidmetal. Plus it's a chronograph. It began as a serious military dive instrument and then continued on to explore the deepest depths of our planet's oceans. I'm not typically a fan of putting white gold around hour markers, preferring matte dials instead, but on this watch these markers make perfect sense. Every time a watchmaker has released a blue dial variation of a watch — existing or otherwise — it’s almost, always, resulted in a hit. Luckily, Blancpain CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter was an avid diver and decided to team up with the commanders to create the watch they needed. The Fifty Fathoms is in some ways the perfect NATO watch. An anti-magnetic movement protector finished things off inside the case to ensure accuracy around heavy combat machinery. However, the lugs are nicely shaped and combined with the flexible NATO strap keep the Bathyscaphe nice and steady. But in fact, there’s more. Wearing the watch for a week, I did start to get used to the larger case size, but I would still have preferred a smaller size, especially for a vintage-inspired piece like this. It is the latest member of a dynasty that stretches back to the very emergence of the modern dive watch.