Blancpain is the oldest watchmaking brand in the world. Founded in 1753 in the Swiss Jura, they make a varied range of timepieces for men and women, from the diver's watches to highly ornate and complicated pieces. I was recently invited to their London showroom for an overview of the range. Although I used to collect vintage watches, I knew little about the brand, although I had come across an early example of their Fifty Fathoms diving watch (see image below).
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| The original Blancpain Fifty Fathoms diving watch |
In this feature I wanted to say something about this diving heritage. The Fifty Fathoms, introduced in 1953 (pictured above), is claimed by Blancpain to have been the first modern dive watch [ed. I'm glad I said 'claimed' as I've since read this article which may rebunk this claim - with thanks to Perezscope]. An automatic movement meant that the crown would not have to be used to wind the watch (which runs the risk of allowing water into the case), its dial was easily legible with luminous numerals and the steel case robust with a rotating bezel to allow dive time and air usage to be monitored.
Naturally such a watch was used by several militaries, French, US, German and Israeli and the famous diver, Jacques-Yves Cousteau wore them for the filming of The Silent World.
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| Blancpain's modern tribute to the military version of the Fifty Fathoms |
Of course, the Fifty Fathoms is still made in a much-updated form and is at the heart of Blancpain's support for the ocean environment through its Ocean Commitment. In recognition of the brand's diving heritage it puts much effort and money into raising awareness of environmental issues around the world's oceans and supporting research and expeditions.
At the end of 2014 they launched a new Fifty Fathoms model, the Bathyscape Chronographe Flyback, as a limited edition of 250 pieces, from which they donate 1,000 Euros of the sale of each watch to raise a total of 250,000 Euros on support of their Ocean Commitment.
At the end of 2014 they launched a new Fifty Fathoms model, the Bathyscape Chronographe Flyback, as a limited edition of 250 pieces, from which they donate 1,000 Euros of the sale of each watch to raise a total of 250,000 Euros on support of their Ocean Commitment.
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| Typical of Blancpain's Ocean Commitment is this image of the Gombessa III expedition to Antarctica |
Chronograph dive watches are not common, as operating push buttons on a watch under water can compromise water resistance, but Blancpain are confident that theirs can be used for timing dives up to 300 metres in depth. The watch contains Blancpain's latest in-house movement and has an anti-magnetic construction. Each piece is numbered and comes with benefits as owners become members of the Ocean Commitment Circle.
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| Blancpain Ocean Commitment Fifty Fathoms Bathyscape Chronographe Flyback Limited Edition |
If you wish to find out more about the brand, the Ocean Commitment, their dive watches or the Bathyscape Chronographe, go to the Blancpain website here.
This feature is not sponsored.