Fifty Fathoms
Blancpain’s historic dive-watch collection, introduced in the early 1950s and influential in modern dive-watch design.
Also known as: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms
Definition
Fifty Fathoms is Blancpain's historic dive-watch family, launched in 1953 after development involving Blancpain chief Jean-Jacques Fiechter and French combat divers. It helped establish key dive-watch conventions including a secured rotating timing bezel, strong water resistance, legibility and antimagnetic considerations.
Why it matters
Its importance is historical as well as commercial: it is one of the foundational purpose-built modern dive watches, but individual vintage and modern references still differ in specification.