BLANCPAIN BRINGS BACK THE VINTAGE SPIRIT OF THE BATHYSCAPHE WITH A 70TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION

Born from the golden age of recreational diving, the Bathyscaphe embodies the typical skin diver codes through its balance of elegance and everyday wearability. Created in 1956 as the civilian counterpart to the Fifty Fathoms, the model bore a name that had already been registered in 1953 by Blancpain's then-CEO and passionate diver, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, reflecting his early vision of creating a diving watch designed not only for professional use but also for enthusiasts. Seventy years after its creation, Blancpain celebrates this legacy with a reproduction of a landmark model from 1968. A timepiece that bridges the aesthetic design of the past with watchmaking excellence, this 300-piece limited edition pays tribute to a defining chapter in the evolution of the diver's watch.

The Skin Diver Style: A New Relationship with the Underwater World

During the 1950s and 1960s, a new generation of watches emerged alongside the growing popularity of recreational diving: the skin diver. More than purely technical instruments, these watches reflected a new relationship with the underwater world, one shaped by leisure, enjoyment, and a growing fascination with this emerging lifestyle. Characterized by more compact proportions, clean lines, and a refined aesthetic, skin diver watches combined essential diving features with a more understated and daily-wear design.

Emerging from that philosophy, the Bathyscaphe was created in 1956 by Jean-Jacques Fiechter, then CEO of Blancpain and creator of the Fifty Fathoms, bringing Blancpain's pioneering diving expertise into a civilian expression designed for everyday wear.

The Bathyscaphe: The Diver Legacy

The name 'Bathyscaphe' refers to the pioneering deep-sea exploration vessel conceived by Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard in the 1940s. While the Fifty Fathoms, introduced in 1953, was developed as a professional diving instrument for military forces and underwater specialists, the Bathyscaphe offered an everyday interpretation of the same heritage. Measuring slightly over 41mm, the original Fifty Fathoms was a robust professional instrument; with a more compact 35mm case, the first Bathyscaphe adopted a slimmer, more civilian profile while maintaining the reliability expected from a true diver's watch.

'The Fifty Fathoms is not just one model, it's a family. And one important model in this family is the Bathyscaphe.' — Marc A. Hayek, President & CEO, Blancpain

The Spirit of 1968, Reborn

For the model's 70th anniversary, Blancpain turns to one of the most emblematic expressions of the Bathyscaphe's history with a watch from 1968, selected for the way it embodied the collection's defining qualities: balanced proportions, functionality, and understated elegance.

The new edition retains the original 37.40mm diameter and stainless-steel construction, with a case specifically developed around the movement to achieve the desired proportions and ergonomics. The bezel continues the dialogue between heritage and innovation — steel with a ceramic insert and lacquered numerals, replacing the original black hesalite material, reinforcing durability and legibility. Every element has been considered to reinforce the aesthetic codes of the original design, from the mid-20th century Blancpain logo to the baton hands and indexes enhanced by vintage-coloured Super-LumiNova, recalling the warm tones of the luminous materials used in the past. The hand-stitched chocolate calf leather strap further drives this heritage-inspired spirit, developing a natural patina over time.

Vintage Soul, Contemporary Performance

Beneath its vintage-inspired exterior, this anniversary edition reveals the expertise of Blancpain's contemporary watchmaking. The Manufacture calibre 1150 was selected to equip this timepiece, offering reliability, precision, and exceptional autonomy with a 100-hour power reserve. Its silicon hairspring provides antimagnetic properties, contributing to the movement's stability and long-term performance.

Visible through the sapphire crystal case back, the movement showcases meticulous Haute Horlogerie finishing. Its open-worked 18K gold oscillating weight, inspired by the design of the original Fifty Fathoms, highlights the beauty of the mechanical architecture. Unlike the 1968 inspiration piece, which featured a closed case back, this new interpretation allows the movement to become part of the experience of ownership, emphasising the daily-wear DNA of the piece.

Faithful to the standards of the Fifty Fathoms collection, the Bathyscaphe remains water-resistant to 30 bar. Limited to 300 individually numbered pieces, each delivered in a Peli case, this anniversary edition celebrates a 70-year-old legacy by combining contemporary reliability with the enduring character of a historic model.

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