The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 42mm Now in Steel

One of many first purpose-built trendy dive watches produced within the mid-Nineteen Fifties, Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms was a key participant within the growth of “pores and skin diving” and the watch chosen by a number of elite diving corps. Taken out of manufacturing within the Eighties, Swatch Group’s Marc A. Hayek resuscitated the Fifty Fathoms in 2003. In 2007, the basic Fifty Fathoms Automatique ref. 5015 made a splash with its giant 45mm metal case and black dial. In tune with the development for extra compact case sizes, final yr Blancpain launched everlasting assortment editions of the Fifty Fathoms in 42mm titanium and pink gold circumstances. Going again to its roots, the most recent 42mm Fifty Fathoms to achieve our shores is available in a stainless-steel case with a basic black dial and all the weather that solid the character of the acclaimed Fifty Fathoms dive watch.

Designed for skilled divers, the primary Fifty Fathoms fashions had been geared up with an revolutionary locking rotating bezel, which needed to be pushed down earlier than it may very well be turned, a double O-ring gasket within the crown, a double caseback, an computerized motion to minimise put on and tear on the crown, a black dial with luminescent radium-based indications and palms, an iron case shielding the motion towards magnetism and water-resistance of 91.44 metres (equal to 50 fathoms).

In contrast to the 2024 editions in brushed titanium and pink gold, the case of the brand new 42.3mm x 14.3mm thick chrome steel mannequin is polished. Though a shiny case is the antithesis of a sporty instrument look ahead to some, it produces hanging reflections from all angles. Water resistant to 300 metres, the crown is screwed and guarded by guards. Capturing the classic spirit of the unique Bakelite bezel inlay with the luminous lozenge at midday, the domed and notched unidirectional rotating bezel includes a shiny black ceramic insert and Liquidmetal markers.

One other issue that distinguishes the extra compact 42mm fashions from the bigger 45mm ones is the flat sunray-brushed dial. The utilized Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, the triangular markers and palms are handled with Tremendous-LumiNova and the date window, all the time a bone of rivalry, is positioned at 4:30 and has a black background to mix in with the dial tone.

Powered by the high-performance calibre 1315, the in-house computerized motion has three series-coupled barrels for a sturdy 120-hour or 5-day energy reserve and a strong gold rotor with a NAC coating (and new gold-coloured accents). Beating at 4Hz, it has an anti-magnetic silicon hairspring and a stop-seconds mechanism.

The brand new chrome steel Fifty Fathoms is offered on a elegant and brushed 3-link metal bracelet with a folding clasp and retails for EUR 19,550. Alternatively, it may be ordered with a basic black Tropic textured rubber strap with a price ticket of EUR 18,250. Extra info at Blancpain.com.