Blancpain has unveiled its new 42mm-diameter Fifty Fathoms Automatique models.

After presenting its first case of this size in steel with last year’s Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1 limited edition, the manufacture is now offering it in red gold and titanium.

Born in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms marked a turning point in watchmaking history. The first true diver’s watch, it established the fundamental technical and aesthetic codes for this type of toolwatch.

Its sturdiness, water-resistance, secure rotating-bezel system, anti-magnetism and extreme legibility are all features designed specifically for scuba diving that were adopted by the entire industry at the time and have endured to this day.

The Fifty Fathoms was given a new lease on life in 2003 by President and CEO Marc A Hayek, who ushered it into the 21st century.

His gamble paid off, as the fervent diving enthusiast also made 2007 a year to remember with the launch of the 45 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique.

Equipped with specially developed Calibre 1315, this model marked the debut of a whole new Fifty Fathoms generation. This movement also went on to find its place in the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1, the first timepiece (issued in a limited edition) celebrating the 70th anniversary of the inaugural model in 2023 and featuring a 42mm case.

Quality materials

Retaining their predecessor’s pleasing proportions, these new 42 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique watches are available in red gold and grade 23 titanium. The elegance and sophistication of gold makes them alluringly chic, while grade 23 titanium endows them with a sporty look. Reputed to be the purest of its kind, this metal is lightweight and highly resistant to scratches and corrosion, alongside its anti-allergenic properties. The collection’s characteristic sapphire-topped bezel is also synonymous with robustness and ensures impeccable legibility.

Manufacture calibre 1315

Beating at the heart of these new Fifty Fathoms Automatique watches is Calibre 1315: a movement boasting unrivalled chronometric (precision timing) performance and that is designed, built, produced, assembled and adjusted in-house. Equipped with a stop-seconds function, it enables extremely precise time-setting. This calibre, entirely decorated in keeping with Haute Horlogerie traditions, has an 18K red gold oscillating weight.