Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe has a retro revival for its 70th anniversary

The latest civilian-inspired expression of the iconic professional dive watch pairs vintage style with modern performance.

The sun, the sea, and a trusty companion for when you want to go deep. When Blancpain debuted the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in 1956—three years after launching the original Fifty Fathoms that wrote the blueprint for the modern dive watch—the company quickly realized that a growing number of recreational divers, too, wanted a piece of the action.

Although the watch is made for leisurely dives, the Bathyscaphe didn’t sacrifice substance for vibe. Named after the pioneering deep-sea exploration vessel conceived by Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard in the 1940s, the watch boasts exceptional reliability when it comes to water resistance, underwater legibility, and timekeeping performance—all the hallmarks that endeared the Fifty Fathoms to professional divers.

Unlike the utilitarian tool watch, however, the Bathyscaphe is imbued with a touch of dress watch refinement for its looks. This is most evident in its proportions. Housed in a 35mm case, the very first Bathyscaphe is decidedly more svelte, and versatile enough to be paired with office getup after a day out at sea.

To mark the collection’s 70th anniversary, Blancpain takes collectors back to the past with the reinterpretation of a historic model from 1968. Chosen as a reference for its “balanced proportions, functionality, and understated elegance” the commemorative roll-out sits snugly on the wrist, and oozes a touch of nostalgia and quiet utilitarianism. Given the ever-fervent desire for sensibly sized, vintage-inspired watches, Blancpain’s decision to leverage its archives is both astute and timely.

Limited to 300 pieces, the watch’s 37.4mm stainless steel case harks back to the vintage reference’s dimensions, but is reconstructed this time to accommodate Blancpain’s in-house automatic movement with 100-hour power reserve, while retaining its characteristic slimness. The formidable engine is equipped with an 18k gold rotor, and can be viewed via the open caseback.

Similarly, other elements coalesce the old and new: the thin steel bezel now comes with ceramic insert and a precise 120-tooth ball-bearing unidirectional rotating system; the old-style hesalite glass box cover is constructed in sapphire crystal; and the baton hands and indexes are filled with vintage-coloured Super-LumiNova. To complete the look, the watch is paired with a hand-stitched chocolate calf leather strap that develops a unique patina over time—a perfect evocation of how the collection’s ever-evolving style and character.

Blancpain