Blancpain Expands Core Portfolio via Permanent Integration of Fifty Fathoms Tech Model

In a strategic move to secure market share in the high-end utility watch market, the luxury manufacturer has added the technically advanced timepiece to its permanent production line, featuring consumer-driven upgrades like an added date complication and an adaptable strap architecture.

Blancpain

Blancpain enhances the Fifty Fathoms series with the introduction of the Fifty Fathoms Tech Ref. 5019A, a professional dive watch developed from the Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa launched in 2023, tailored for closed-circuit rebreather divers and underwater explorers. The updated version introduces the same principle to a more versatile timepiece, now incorporating a date display and a novel replaceable strap system.

The distinctive three-hour diving bezel, the distinguishing feature, persists. Conventional diving watches employ a 60-minute bezel that has remained mostly unaltered since the 1950s. Nonetheless, advanced diving and rebreather devices have significantly extended underwater duration, enabling divers, photographers, and scientific explorers to remain immersed for several hours. To cater to this discerning audience, Blancpain re-engineered the GMT mechanism to develop a specialized hand that completes a full rotation every 3 hours.

Blancpain

The mechanism, utilized with the appropriately graduated unidirectional bezel, enables divers to monitor prolonged bottom periods with the same simple functionality as a traditional dive watch. Initially created in collaboration with underwater explorer Laurent Ballesta and the Gombessa Expeditions team, it retains its uniqueness within the industry. The new watch is contained within the same expansive casing using a central lug design first debuted with the Gombessa. Constructed from Grade 23 titanium, it has a diameter of 47mm and a thickness of 14.81mm. The case is water-resistant up to 300 meters and features a helium escape valve for saturation diving.

Blancpain utilizes their “Absolute Black” surface treatment for the dial, which absorbs up to 97% of incoming light. The nearly reflection-free display is engineered to optimize visibility underwater. Blancpain employs two luminous hues on the hands to differentiate functions: blue-emission Super-LumiNova for all diving indicators, including the three-hour hand and bezel scale, and green-emission Super-LumiNova for normal timekeeping indicators. The display is enhanced by luminescent block-shaped applied indices and numerals at cardinal places, all emitting a green glow.

Blancpain

The watch is powered by the manufacture calibre 13P5A, derived from Blancpain's established movement 1315. The automatic movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, has 35 jewels, and provides an exceptional five-day power reserve due to its triple-barrel design. A date display has been incorporated, enhancing the watch's practicality for daily use.

The updated Fifty Fathoms Tech features a reengineered strap attachment mechanism. The center lugs facilitate tool-free strap modifications, and the watch is provided with an orange rubber strap, while black and white versions are available for purchase separately. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech Ref. 5019A is a permanent collection piece, priced at CHF 20,500. Explore more at Blancpain.com.