Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
2023 begins with a good indication of what to expect from the year ahead in watches. But to know more, we have to look back 70 years. In 1953, sport watches as we know them today were born, and one of several important models that debuted that year was the Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms — it was one of the first modern dive watches.
Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
Now, Blancpain is celebrating that 70-year anniversary with a new, limited model that’s downsized to a significantly more wearable 42.3mm.
Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
It’s smaller, but not in an overly retro way; rather than the vintage-reissue approach, it’s based on the modern iteration of the Fifty Fathoms as reintroduced in 2003 (yes, another anniversary). That model is typically 45mm wide, and though an impressive watch, it’s kinda ginormous for many average-sized wrists. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms has come in many forms and sizes (including the likes of 40mm limited-edition reissues), but never something quite like this.
Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Series Watch measuring 42.3mm wide and 14.3mm thick.
Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
Courtesy
Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
The Blancpain 1315 automatic movement offers five days of power reserve.
Blancpain's New Dive Watch Portends A Strong Year For Watches
Courtesy
The sizing here is, however, not just about fitting on smaller wrists and following trends. Firstly, it nods to the original sizing of the first Fifty Fathoms from 1953. Secondly, the Blancpain 1315 automatic movement inside with five days of power reserve wouldn’t have fit in a case that was, say, 40mm. You can see that movement through the caseback window with its platinum rotor reading “Fifty Fathoms 70th.”
This smaller Fifty Fathoms is a limited edition, but just the beginning of a promised year of releases to celebrate the…
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