deeply evolved
Bob Maloubier, the founder of the
"Nageurs de Combat", with his Fifty
Fathoms watch, in 1953.
THE FIRST MODERN B L A N C PA I N F I F T Y FAT H O M S D I V I N G WAT C H
In 1952, two French naval officers, commander Robert "Bob" Maloubier and lieutenant Claude Riffaud were instructed by the Ministry of Defense and the French Navy to set up an elite unit called "Les Nageurs de combat", i.e. Combat Swimmers. Their underwater operations required rugged, water-resistant and reliable materiel capable of withstanding the testing conditions of subsea missions.
At the time, they found no diver's watch that could meet their demanding specifications. So the two men determined what they needed by way of a wristwatch and got in touch with Blancpain. The company's visionary engineers and watchmakers put their talents and know-how to work and came up with a compact marvel of precision mechanics. Launched in 1953, the "Fifty Fathoms" determined the basic specifications of the modern diving watch.
B L A N C PA I N F I F T Y FAT H O M S 1 9 5 3
When it was launched in 1953, Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms diving watch created a sensation.
Its water resistance was officially guaranteed to a then unheard-of depth of fifty fathoms: i.e. 91.45 m. Its dependable selfwinding mechanical movement was lodged in the protective shell of a tough stainless steel case with screwed-in back. Large luminous numerals and markers provided optimum legibility even in the dark depths. Most striking of all, its unidirectional rotating bezel could be used in a totally novel and practical way: the diver simply positioned the bezel's 12-hour marker opposite the minute hand before commencing a dive, enabling him to keep track of his elapsed diving time with a glance at his watch. The Fifty Fathoms diving watch instantly became a legend.
Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms diving watch, 1953.
B L A N C PA I N F I F T Y FAT H O M S M I S S I O N - R E A D Y
The Fifty Fathoms soon outgrew its strictly military missions, embarking on an expanded career in the exploration, study and preservation of marine life.
Highly regarded since 1953 by navy divers, commandos and other special forces, this technological marvel served with distinction in the armed forces of the United States (Navy SEALS), France, Germany (Bundesmarine) and Israel. But within a decade of its design, Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms had been adopted by not a few specialist oceanographic exploration and research organizations, notably the "Groupe d'ĂŠtudes et de recherches sous-marines" (GERS) in France. Numberless divers, explorers and scientists the world over all came to value and trust its stalwart dependability. Making the Fifty Fathoms diving watch an integral part of their life and work has helped them to appreciate and preserve the beauties and wonders of the world under the sea.
B L A N C PA I N F I F T Y FAT H O M S T H E S I L E N T W O R L D
Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival and of an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, The Silent World, coproduced by Louis Malle, enabled the public to discover the amazing variety and beauty of marine life and underwater vistas. It was also instrumental in sharpening mankind's awareness of the irreplaceable value of marine fauna and flora as well as of the imperative need to protect it.
Blancpain played a role in that history-making enterprise, equipping the entire film crew with its timepieces. The Fifty Fathoms' unique professional qualities proved invaluable for the shooting of the film's long underwater sequences. As such, it ranks among the contributors to the world's discovery of the deeps.
F I F T Y FAT H O M S .
A unit of length used for depth and to measure ropes and cables. Fifty fathoms (1fathom = 1,829m) work out to 91.45 meters, i.e. more or
less the maximum depth attainable at the time by a diver with bottles of oxygen-nitrogen strapped to his back.
50th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms,
with seconds hand and date calendar Selfwinding movement Caliber 1151
100-hour power reserve
Water-resistant to 300 m
Stainless steel case, 40 mm in diameter Sapphire crystal and bezel insert
Unidirectional rotating bezel with outcurved surface Screwed-in backcase and screw-locked crown
Stainless steel bracelet and natural rubber strap
ref. 2200A-1130-71
3 limited series of 50 pieces (series I,II, III)
B L A N C PA I N F I F T Y FAT H O M S 5 0 th A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N
The 50th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms is designed first and foremost for the world's most demanding professional divers.
It displays the same dial and same oversized luminous numerals and markers as the original 1953 design, reflecting the same indomitable spirit. Its unidirectional rotating bezel is now crafted from sapphire. A world first: its surface is cambered to deflect blows and other damaging encounters. Elapsed diving times are determined at a glance from the minute hand's position in relation to the bezel's luminous numerals and markers. Its case's screwed-in back, screw-locked crown and unusually thick outcurved sapphire crystal provide perfect water resistance to 300 meters, i.e. nearly 165 fathoms. Its selfwinding mechanical movement with twin barrels delivers 100 hours of power reserve without rewinding. Made in three series of 50 watches, 150 in all, it comes with a tough rubber diving strap interchangeable with the steel bracelet.
ref. 2200A-1130-71
3 limited series of 50 pieces (series I,II, III)
Designed for professional divers, the tough rubber
strap is equipped with an oversized clasp as well as
with a cut-out on either side of the crown for easy setting even with gloved fingers.
B L A N C PA I N F I F T Y FAT H O M S O N E S T R A P. O N E B R A C E L E T.
The Blancpain 50th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms comes with a stainless steel watch case, a stainless steel bracelet and a rubber strap designed specially for underwater activities. To facilitate the changeover from bracelet to strap and conversely, a watch-holder kit is supplied with the watch. It consists of a specially designed stand enabling you to keep the watch stable while you switch between strap and bracelet. The stand has four hollow feet that unscrew and hold various tools and spare parts: extractor pins, screwdriver bits, bracelet-lug tubes and tube securing screws.
Instead of the epoxy of the Fifty Fathoms' early years,
the watch's unidirectional, rotating bezel is now solid,
scratch-resistant, sapphire. The bezel surface is outcurved so as to better deflect sharp points and similar hazards.
Ultra-slim selfwinding mechanical movement with twin barrels Caliber 1151
26.8 mm in diameter (12 lines) 3,25 mm in thickness 185 components
21,600 vibrations per hour Adjusted in 5 positions
100-hour power reserve
THE COLLECTION
The entire Fifty Fathoms collection incorporates highperformance materials designed to master the elements. Built for superior service under water, Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms, Air Command and GMT models combine to perfection stainless steel and the finest rubber.
Fifty Fathoms, with seconds hand
and date calendar
Selfwinding movement Caliber 1151
100-hour power reserve
Water-resistant to 300 m
40 mm in diameter
Black dial
Available in steel and
in steel and natural rubber
ref. 2200-1130-71
ref. 2200-6530-66
GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
GMT, with seconds hand and date
calendar
Selfwinding movement Caliber 5A50
100-hour power reserve
Water-resistant to 300 m
40 mm in diameter Black dial
Available in steel and
in steel and natural rubber
ref. 2250-1130-71
ref. 2250-6530-66
Air Command, flyback chronograph
with subdial for the seconds and date calendar
Selfwinding movement Caliber F185
40-hour power reserve
Water-resistant to 200 m
40 mm in diameter Black dial
Available in steel and
in steel and natural rubber
ref. 2285 F-1130-71
ref. 2285 F-6530-66
Special thanks to Robert "Bob" Maloubier and Stephan Ciejka. Most models are available in a choice of variations. We reserve the right to modify all models and technical specifications. Any reproduction in full or in part of this catalog or from a Blancpain website is strictly forbidden. Blancpain S.A., Chemin de l’Etang 6, CH - 1094 Paudex, Switzerland www.blancpain.com www.blancpainforum.com