Created in 1953, this timepiece has been the archetypal modern diver's watch since its inception, and is now presented once again in a men's and women's more modern version. Blancpain's Bathyscaphe celebrates 60 years of Fifty Fathoms. Designed with the same sultry, sexy and dark exterior, this watch much like Christian Grey has a lineage that spans more than half a century.
Marc A. Hayek, President & CEO of the brand was instrumental in recognizing a group of people that played important roles in the development of the original timepiece, in the discovery of the ocean, and of course in being the divers that find the watch a necessary part of their wardrobe. At the anniversary event, these people gathered to remember the journey and recognize the technical innovations that have crafted these reinterpretations.
The 2013 versions were crafted with inspiration from the first editions, such as the sharply defined contours, or the traditional look of the hands. Taking on the traditional look the timepiece allows the date to be displayed through a dedicated aperture and the luminescent dot on the bezel preserves the constant readability for diving times. The core of the mechanical self-winding movements like the heart of the heated lovers, beat at 28,800 vibrations per hour.
While the vintage feel of the timepieces is evident in much of the craftsmanship, the watch movement is very modern. The automatic Caliber 1315 (Caliber 1150 in the women's model), features a non-magnetic silicon balance spring, and is made up of 227 components and 35 jewels, sporting a 120 hour power reserve. The innovative design is also evident in the metal alloy, Liquidmetal, an alloy that avoids deformation and creates a perfect bond with the ceramic bezel insert.
As Blancpain's Bathyscaphe Celebrates 60 Years of Fifty Fathoms, the brand also continues the impressive display of quality, reliability and exquisite craftsmanship. Each of the timepiece designs comes equipped with a unidirectional bezel that is activated by a counter-clockwise turn in single minute increments.
When being used for dives, the seconds serves as the operating indicator, while a contrasting dial with luminescent gold hour-markers provides optimal readability. The strap is reliable, strong and durable, a practical choice for this timepiece. The name of the watch like the many aspects of the design are historical, and gathered the long ago inspiration from Jacques Piccard. The diver is well known for his development of underwater vehicles, and his exploration of some of the deepest parts of the world's oceans.
While 'Fifty Shades' might be steamy and certainly allows readers to dive into some deep romance, the celebration of 60 years of Fifty Fathoms Blancpain's Bathyscaphe is just as much of a deep dive. Romantic, historical, traditional, yet edgy and modern this timepiece will continue to illuminate the depths with precision timekeeping.