Jamie Weiss
Contemporary off the again of their high-profile Swatch collaboration, Blancpain presents the third act of their commemorative Fifty Fathoms line
The alternative of a Swatch, this luxury Fifty Fathoms is crafted from 9K bronze gold
Trustworthy to the unique mannequin from the Nineteen Fifties, it contains a chunky retro case, emblem and moisture indicator
The Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms has undoubtedly been one of many largest watch tales this 12 months – however that prime/low collaboration types solely a part of the Seventieth-anniversary celebrations Blancpain has held for its most iconic mannequin. Certainly, completely separate from the ‘Thrifty Fathoms’, Blancpain has launched three Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary fashions, styling them as three “Acts” in an ongoing celebration.
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 1, an elevated tackle the usual Fifty Fathoms Automatique, re-introduced a ‘Goldilocks’ 42.3mm case dimension for the fashionable Fifty Fathoms vary. We then obtained the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 2: Tech Gombessa (what a reputation), a 47mm titanium instrument watch that’s the primary timepiece able to measuring immersions of as much as three hours, a useful complication for contemporary decompression diving. Now, meet the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3: an opulent, retro-inspired Fifty Fathoms that unites each Blancpain’s heritage and the Maison’s modern current (and future).
The very first thing that’s apparent concerning the Act 3 is that it’s bought a moderately totally different case to different Fifty Fathoms in Blancpain’s vary. That’s as a result of this mannequin is a trustworthy reimagining of the unique Fifty Fathoms provided to a number of nation’s navies within the Nineteen Fifties, as designed by then-Blancpain CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter and French Navy fight divers Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud. Easy, slabby and unpretentious, it’s a design the place type clearly follows operate.
Nonetheless, that utilitarian character is contradicted by the case materials Blancpain has chosen to solid the Act 3 in: 9K bronze gold. 9K bronze gold is a patented alloy that consists of 37.5% gold, 50% copper, and smaller percentages of silver, palladium and gallium. The benefit of this alloy is that it patinates far slower than typical bronze alloys whereas remaining lighter than strong gold and providing a definite pink hue. The case materials was additionally chosen as a homage to ‘MIL-SPEC’ fashions, which have been made out of German silver: 9K bronze gold seems to be just like patinated German silver whereas being far much less risky.
Different period-correct touches embrace a retro ‘Blancpain’ emblem at 12 o’clock, in addition to a moisture indicator at 6 o’clock: a characteristic that appeared on the dials of MIL-SPEC items in 1957 on the behest of the US Navy. This moisture indicator has grown to grow to be an iconic Fifty Fathoms characteristic, and fashions from the 50s with this moisture indicator intact stay a number of the most fascinating references to at the present time.
But a number of the watch’s retro touches are imbued with fashionable tech. As an example, the outsized unidirectional diving bezel is made out of ceramic, whereas interval fashions characteristic bakelite bezels. The dial would possibly characteristic utilized lume, however it’s fashionable Tremendous-LumiNova, merely in a faux-aged color. (The bezel’s lume is ‘classic’ Tremendous-LumiNova, too.) Its aggressively boxed crystal is made out of sapphire, as is its exhibition caseback. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3’s NATO strap can also be created from recycled fishing nets, a contemporary sustainable contact that displays Blancpain’s Ocean Committment program.
One thing else that’s fairly fashionable is the motion that powers the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3. The Blancpain Calibre 1154.P2, a no-date model of the Calibre 1150 which powers quite a few Bathyscape and Villeret fashions, boasts a 100-hour energy reserve because of twin barrels, and has had its magnetic resistance pushed to 1,000 Gauss because of a silicon stability spring and unique alloys for the escapement.
The motion, very similar to the remainder of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3, displays a kind of restrained luxurious. Sparsely however elegantly completed with delicate snailing, brushing and perlage, it contains a utilitarian rotor impressed by historic designs with a gap designed to make it extra versatile and due to this fact shock-resistant. The old-school Blancpain logotype will also be discovered on the rotor in addition to the motion’s bridge.
In some ways, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3 is the other of what the model’s accomplished with Swatch. Moderately than reimagining the Fifty Fathoms in a less expensive, extra accessible Bioceramic, they’ve reincarnated the OG in luxurious bronze gold. It’s the proper tribute to the Fifty Fathom’s modern genesis whereas demonstrating lots of the issues that make fashionable Blancpain such a compelling watchmaker.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3 pricing and availability
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3 is a restricted version of 555 items, accessible for inquiries now, and comes offered in a field impressed by a historic underwater digital camera housing. Worth: CHF 30,000.
Model
Blancpain
Mannequin
Fifty Fathoms Seventieth Anniversary Act 3
Reference Quantity
5901-5630-NANA
Case Dimensions
41.3mm (D) x 13.3mm (T)
Case Materials
9K bronze gold
Water Resistance
300 metres (30 bar)
Crystal(s)
Sapphire
Dial
Matte black with moisture indicator
Strap
NATO strap w/ bronze gold pin buckle
Motion
Manufacture calibre 1154.P2, automated
Energy Reserve
100 hours
Capabilities
Hours, minutes, seconds, unidirectional diving bezel
Availability
Restricted to 555 items
Worth
CHF 30,000
