Swiss watchmaker Blancpain is upgrading three versions of its iconic Fifty Fathoms watch with new titanium bracelets. According to the brand, the new addition offers outstanding performance and incredible lightness.
When it first released way back in 1953, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms model was one of the only dive watches on the market that could withstand the rough-and-tumble nature of professional diving, especially for those at the top end of the military. As such, Blancpain produced a unique series of titanium watches exclusively for the US Navy minesweeping teams. This was at a time when titanium was mainly reserved for the aerospace industry and rarely seen in watchmaking.
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Fast-forward 67 years and titanium expands to lightweight bands. The three Fifty Fathoms watches to offer the bands feature a sporty and yet masculine form, equipped with a 45 mm titanium case that is water-resistant to a depth of approximately 300 meters. The Super-LumiNova-treated hour-markers and hands remain legible in all circumstances, as well as a unidirectional rotating bezel with a scratch-resistant sapphire insert.
It’s the Fifty Fathoms Automatique and Grande Date models that score the titanium treatment, and they run on the Manufacture 1315 movement—a mainstay of modern Fifty Fathoms watches since its launch in 2007. This calibre delivers a comfortable five-day power reserve and remains unaffected by magnetic fields thanks to the use of a silicon balance-spring. The movement can be appreciated through a sapphire crystal case-back.
The Fifty Fathoms Automatique remains available with a black or blue sunburst dial, while the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date continues to be offered with a black dial. Their new titanium bracelet complements the sail canvas and NATO straps which were the standard options until now. The titanium bracelet features hand satin-brushed links joined together by transverse pins, allowing flexibility that ensures a perfect fit on the wrist.
Based on a Blancpain patented system, the typically lateral screws are placed on the back of the links to preserve the smooth look and feel of the bracelet edges. These classically styled watches should appeal to anyone who appreciates a masculine timepiece as much as they crave reliable performance.
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