Blancpain Fifty Fathoms (1953)

This is the primary ‘modern’ dive watch. By modern, a uni-directional rotating bezel with widespread water resistance. This honor is regularly mistakenly attributed to the Submariner. This genuine version is from the primary 12 months that the Fifty Fathoms become to be had to the public, 1953. Only prototypes and navy portions existed preceding that. Captain Robert Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud of the French Combat Diving School required a look ahead to their maximum elite divers to degree elapsed time at intensity. The marketplace didn’t appear very extensive to the maximum of the Swiss watchmaking houses. Only Jean-Jacques Fiechter of Blancpain, a diver himself, noticed the sensible business attraction of a waterproof watch. Fiechter controlled the layout of a dive watch with Fifty Fathoms, or ~90m, of intensity rating. As you will be aware, the method is stuck.

The watch they created collectively become a huge 41mm to deal with its rotating bezel, a first. The luminous dial needed to be seen with an easily-prominent 12 marker. Water resistance becomes performed thru a screw-down case again and reliability of timing becomes ensured thru an automated caliber. The crown could now no longer be adjusted or wound to hold time. This becomes crucial, due to the fact Blancpain couldn't consist of a screw-down crown. The generation existed, however, Rolex held its patent.

Detail information:

Manufacturer: Blancpain
Remarks: The original glossy dial is in immaculate and untouched condition. When viewed under UV light the radium within the bezel and dial still retain a glow.
Model: 1953 Blancpain Fifty Fathoms (Ref. 2462) Aqualung 1000FT
Price: £15,227