News: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ocean Commitment II
In the mid twentieth century, with the invention of the aqua-lung by French duo Emile Gagnan and Jacques Cousteau, diving was suddenly opened up to not just professional divers, but also avid enthusiasts. Suddenly, the need for watches that would be resistant to water at diving depths became more and more important, giving rise to such iconic watches as the Rolex Submariner, the Omega Seamaster, and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.
The history of the Fifty Fathoms dates back to 1953, when Blancpain unveiled it as one of the very first iconic dive watches. It was originally designed for the military, and it broke records at the time with its ability to dive to 200m. Jacques Cousteau himself wore one during the underwater film, 'Le Monde Du Silence', and it has remained the diving watch of choice for many of the world's top diving professionals.
With such close ties to the sea, it's no surprise that Blanpcain have chosen the Fifty Fathoms to promote the brand's commitment to protecting the world's oceans. A limited edition of 250 pieces, for every one of the newly released Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ocean Commitment II models sold, 1,000 Euros will be donated in support of scientific expeditions in the oceans.
The watch features a unique satin-brushed ceramic case in deep blue, reminiscent of the colour of the deep. The meteor grey dial has an elegant sunburst effect, with wide paddle-shaped luminous hands and hour markers to make it as legible as possible when diving to its maximum depth of 300m. The watch boasts a flyback chronograph, and is powered by the Blancpain calibre F385, which beats at 36,000vph and has a power reserve of 50 hours. The timepiece also comes with an exclusive copy of the book, 'Awakening to a New World' by Hans Hass, a pioneering Austrian biologist.
