WOTW: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Blue Dial & Canvas Strap Watch

Gentlemen…. commence your swooning for the slick Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe watch, equipped with a finely tuned engine that is ready and waiting to serve the wrist in classic blue tones and brushed finishes to its case. The collection has been enthralling divers for over 60 years. Creators of the Grande Complication in 1735, developed the Fifty Fathoms watch in response to a request made by the French Marines who were in need of a reliable tool that combined robustness with functionality for using under water depths of 300 meters. Today the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch is as popular as ever and encompasses over 280 years of Blancpain expertise within its rugged case construction.

The archetypal divers watch is used and trusted by scientists, underwater photographers, professional divers and lovers of Blancpain’s impressive technology and cutting edge accuracy. Geared towards the tastes of those with a shared love for the underwater world and a passion for exploring marine life, the watch’s design reflects the beauty of the dramatic oceans. Blancpain have clothed this Fifty Fathoms watch in captivating blues and a comfortable material strap for hours of wear upon the wrist.

The timepiece is a result of Blancpain’s research into innovative materials and new technical solutions to assisting the most demanding of diver’s requirements. This stylized watch features a distinct unidirectional satin-brushed steel bezel with blue ceramic insert and Liquidmetal® hour-markers for assisting legibility whilst under deep depths of the ocean. The bezel has been made easy to facilitate and manoeuvre under thick diving gloves, whilst its functional design ensures that remaining dive time can only be reduced and never lengthened.

Despite the steel case’s impressive 300-meter water resistance, the back of the watch features a glass window, which enables the wearer to admire the movement’ complex arrangement and its peerless performance when undressed from the wrist. Just like the lens sealed to the front of the case, the sapphire crystal glass is integrated with anti reflective and scratch resistant capabilities to ensure a clear view is granted into the beating heart of the watch at any given time.

The 20mm width between the horns on each end of the watch, ensures that the blue sail canvas band with rubber insert on the reverse side, sits flush against the skin for a secure and snug fit. The buckle on the strap is executed in the same satin brushed finish as seen on the case itself, whilst the dramatic blue dial is the perfect backdrop for luminous coated central hands and a mix of circular and baton markers around the hour track. The watch is sure to conquer darkness whether on dry land or underwater. Aside from a discreet date window at 4:30, the dial has been emblazoned with the iconic Blancpain lettering, accompanied by the “Fifty Fathoms” title in a sophisticated swirling font. The richness of the blue tones seen in the dial and strap are influenced by the ocean’s beauty – a nod to the company’s intrigue and fascination of deep-sea exploration.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is powered by the meticulously developed calibre 1150. The movement which performs effortlessly despite being plunged to such daring depths of water is no mean feat, thus its 210 individually assembled components have been placed into position with care by the hands of the most experienced Blancpain craftsmen. Lastly, an impressive 100 hour power reserve provides the opportunity for the wearer to don another Blancpain favourite to the wrist and come back to the Fifty Fathoms watch after a long weekend to find it hasn’t missed a single beat.

Gentlemen…… resume your swooning.

View the watch here