Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms dive watch was first developed in 1953 for French navy combat divers, and was quickly recognized as one of the first modern dive watches. It was known for its large, legible dial, rotating bezel, and high water resistance. The watch quickly became the brand’s flagship sports line, with many subsequent releases, including the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 43MM Ceramic 5000-0240-052A.
Released in 2016, the newer model features the Fifty Fathoms signature DNA and places it in a contemporary, scratch-resistant ceramic package. Its stunning blue color provides a modern, dressy appearance.
Precision Watches currently has the Blancpain Bathyscaphe 43MM available in our collection, offered at an accessible pre-owned price of $9,495. Here’s what we discovered when we experienced it in a personal setting.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Review
The watch offers a stunning appearance, a comfortable fit, and exceptional functionality. Our review breaks down what to expect when you put it on your wrist.
The Appearance
The watch stands out for its stunning royal blue color. It is a rich sunburst anthracite that shifts from almost ink navy to bright blue in the light. The appearance is dressy but still appeals to serious divers.
The appliqué indices stand out nicely against the blue background. The sword-style hands lend an elegant appearance. The face is fully lumed for optimal glow-in-the-dark readability; even the second hand is lumed, a nice added touch you rarely see on modern watches.
Overall, the watch has a minimal, scaled-down vintage look, a nod to its 1950s origins. There’s not much printing, and everything is well balanced. Additionally, the sheer casing, with minimal beveling, squared-off ends, and a large crown without crown guards, further contributes to its utilitarian yet dressy appearance.
Another feature to mention is the date window, which sits between 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock. It is color-matched to integrate nicely, providing a discreet appearance.
The Fit
This is a bigger watch. However, it fits nicely on wrists as small as 15 cm due to its downward-curving lugs, 13.55 mm thickness, and small (49mm) measurement from lug to lug. Additionally, the ceramic case is noticeably lighter than steel, making it a comfortable choice. The watch will fit nicely under most suits.
The Strap
The strap is a navy-blue sailcloth, complementing the dial and fitting well with the watch’s maritime theme. It offers bolstered volume and a single stitching. The rubber inlay protects the wrist from the harsh outer fabric.
The attention to detail in the strap manufacturing is worth mentioning. It offers a satin-finished pin buckle with a faceted pin. The brand name is engraved in the clasp and on the strap inlay.
Caseback and Movement
Flipping the watch over, we find a screw-down sapphire cashback, allowing you to view the Caliber 1315 movement, one of the standout movements in modern watchmaking. However, beyond the movement is the attention to detail paid to the caseback design.
It is nicely finished with brushed surfaces and mirrored beveled edges. The spacing offers optimal balance. We also see a mix of materials and finishes, with a black and white gold rotor finished with satin, frosting, and mirrored bevels.
Shaped with cut-outs, it swings freely, offering dramatic impact when the watch moves. It provides a 120-hour power reserve for ‘wear it all week’ wear, and 300 meters of water resistance.
History of the Blancpain Ceramic Dive Watch
Blancpain launched the Fifty Fathoms line in 1953. It was designed for French Navy combat divers, specifically Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier (featured in the photo below) and Claude Rffaud. They needed a reliable underwater timing instrument for deep diving purposes.
The watch company heeded the call with a watch featuring a highly legible dial, lumed hands, a rotating timing bezel, robust water resistance, and anti-magnetic construction.
In the 1960s, Blancpain revisited the Fifty Fathoms, aiming to develop a more compact, civilian-friendly model, and the Bathyscaphe was born.
Though popular, the watch line eventually went dormant as Blancpain focused on dressier watches. However, they revived the Bathyscaphe in 2013 with a flatter case, more utilitarian lines, and other practical updates. Models like the 5000-0240-052A are a perfect example of the Blathyscape’s current direction, offering the heritage watch DNA with cutting-edge materials and technology.
Experience the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 43MM Ceramic at Precision Watches
If you love modern dive watches, we welcome you to experience the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 43MM Ceramic at our Lower Gwynedd showroom. We offer a wide selection of new watch models and pre-owned timepieces, ensuring you find the ideal choice. Our luxury watch repair services ensure your watch retains its value and withstands the test of time.
Contact us to learn more about our extensive products and services.
FAQs
1. Is this a serious dive watch or more of a luxury watch piece?
The watch functions as a serious dive watch with 300 meters of water resistance, a unidirectional bezel, and strong lume. However, the detailed finishes and exhibition caseback establish it as a dress watch.
2. How does Bathyscaphe differ from ‘classic’ Fifty Fathoms’?
Compared with the Fifty Fathoms, the Bathyscaphe is slightly smaller (43mm vs 45mm), less ornate, and has a cleaner look. It also features a flatter case, baton markers, and sword hands. However, it shares similar specs and belongs to the 1315 family of movements.
3. Who is this watch best suited for?
While this watch may be suited to serious divers, it is primarily a dress watch. It is suited to anyone who values functionality and versatility and is comfortable with a larger dial.
4. What movement does it use, and what are its advantages?
The watch uses a caliber 1315 movement, offering a 120-hour power reserve, a silicon balance spring for anti-magnetic properties, a 4Hz frequency, a free-sprung balance construction, and a display back to view the movement through a sapphire caseback.
