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Blancpain has long possessed a uniquely authentic connection to the ocean and has been a laudably active participant in its preservation. Now, the Swiss brand is reaffirming this commitment with a new limited-edition (and very handsome) timepiece: the Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC (Blancpain Ocean Commitment) IV.
This AUD$33,900 addition to Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms collection is limited to just 100 pieces (with one available in Australia — sadly, it’s already sold), and it introduces a new 45 mm format to the line. What’s more, €1,000 from every watch sold (totalling around AUD$170,000) will be allocated to the Blancpain x Sulubaaï Marine Research Center, which is dedicated to the the study, restoration, and protection of the Philippines’ Shark Fin Bay. This is an extension of Blancpain’s ocean-conserving effort, the Sea Academy programme.
Big, Bold, Beautiful
Despite adopting the design of the 47 mm Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 Tech Gombessa and downsizing it, you might think the Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV’s diameter of 45 mm and thickness of 14.1 mm make it too large for many wrists. However, having tried it on, I can attest that it’s far more wearable than those measurements make it sound. Quite a pleasant surprise.
Blancpain selected the case’s Grade 23 titanium for its strength and lightness, while the absolute black dial needs to be seen to be believed. Absorbing up to 97 per cent of the light, it’s designed to maximise readability underwater. Viewing it in a well-lit Sydney hotel room, it still has a special something — a sense of depth, like looking into the darkest of waters.
Readability is further enhanced by hour-markers formed using luminescent block-shaped appliques, and the dial is encircled by a unidirectional bezel with a domed black ceramic insert. This is angled towards the dial in order to increase ease of use while wearing diving gloves.
An integrated black rubber strap completes this robust and very attractive picture, and I should also note that the watch boasts a helium valve for saturation dives in a hyperbaric chamber.
An Ocean-Lover’s Heart
Inside the Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV, Blancpain’s calibre 1315A automatic movement keeps things running smoothly. Boasting a five-day power reserve, the movement packs an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring, designed to ensure chronometric performance and timekeeping precision, while an 18 ct gold oscillating weight adorned with the blue BOC logo is visible through the watch’s sapphire case back.
Each timepiece comes with a Pelicase box, a donation certificate, and a special-edition photograph in a series of 100 prints that are numbered to match the corresponding watch’s serial number. Depicting a horseshoe crab in its natural habitat around Pangatalan Island in Shark Fin Bay, each print’s image is part of photographer Laurent Ballesta’s award-winning series from the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year grand prize, and all will be hand-signed by Ballesta.
As a potent reminder of the importance of ocean conservation, the horseshoe crab has remained virtually unchanged for 150 million years, but is now threatened with extinction. Fortunately, it currently finds refuge in the marine protected areas that have been created by the aforementioned Sea Academy programme.
The Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV is a formidable and beautifully designed watch that will help to secure the horseshoe crab’s future, along with the rest of its precious ecosystem. Discover more about Blancpain’s latest via the link below.
