Home Blancpain has presented a previously unseen piece of the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1, distinguished by a unique blue motif, on the occasion of the charity auction Only Watch 2023. Blancpain is a regular donor to the Association Against Muscular Dystrophy of Monaco, which he has enthusiastically supported for more than two decades. This special edition of the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1 for the Only Watch is inspired by the original 1953 Fifty Fathoms and two other iconic predecessors: the 2003 50th Anniversary Fifty and the 2007 Fifty Fathoms, which ushered in of the new generation of this icon.
“The heritage of the Fifty Fathoms is legendary. Its creator, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, then co-CEO of Blancpain, was inspired by his own experience as a pioneer diver. His approach turned out to be very successful, as the combination of functions and features that he invented has been the world benchmark for diving watches ever since. A proof of the clarity of his vision was that the most important Navies in the world, such as those of France, Germany, Norway, Israel or the United States, to name a few, chose the Fifty Fathoms. Between 1957 and 1959, when the US Navy conducted its rigorous testing program to select its diver’s watch, pitting the Fifty Fathoms against other Swiss and American models, the Fifty Fathoms was the only one to pass all evidence. The Navy, to sum up why it had chosen Blancpain, concluded:
“In short, the experience with the 12 Blancpain underwater watches during the HARDTACK operation has been more than satisfactory. No need to make improvement suggestions for this watch.” «
Blancpain
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1 Only Watch 2023
A new watch from the house of Blancpain in which the iconic design of the Fifty Fathoms is combined with the beautiful blue color chosen for its dial and bezel. A single model has been created and will be auctioned in Geneva on November 6, 2023, with all profits going to the Monegasque Association Against Myopathies.
The dial has a subtle blue gradient, with a darker outline. Above it contrast the luminous indices, Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock and baton indices at the five-minute indicators, all with several layers of Super-LumiNova to give them more depth. The indication of the date is integrated with the dial thanks to having the numerals in white and the background matching the dial.
The case is made of steel with a size of 42.30 mm in diameter and a thickness of 14.30 mm. It has a distance between lugs of 21.50 mm. The unidirectional blue bezel is made of sapphire with extraordinary resistance to scratches and whose domed shape gives it exceptional visual depth. It has sapphire crystal both on the front and on the back. allowing one to admire the high-level finishes of the movement, its extra-large rubies and the 18-carat gold rotor, coated with a platinum NAC alloy and engraved with the inscription “Only Watch Blancpain”. It has a water resistance up to 30 bar, 300 meters.
The caliber used is 1315. Manufacture movement, mechanical and self-winding. It is made up of 227 parts and has a power reserve of 120 hours.
The watch features a blue NATO-style strap, made from recycled nylon sourced from fishing nets recovered from the sea as part of a series of environmental cleanup initiatives.
