Discover The New 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique Collection

After wooing collectors with its celebrated 70th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms Act 1 Limited Edition timepieces last year, Blancpain has unveiled the 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection. This sought after and historically significant model is now available in the main collection in a 42mm case diameter – in your choice of red gold or titanium – expanding its appeal to even more discerning enthusiasts. Building upon its rich heritage dating back to 1953, when the Fifty Fathoms revolutionized the world of diving watches, this new iteration seamlessly marries tradition with cutting-edge technology. With its robust construction, impeccable craftsmanship, and the renowned Calibre 1315 at its heart, this new addition to the Fifty Fathoms collection promises an unmatched fusion of luxury and performance. Read on to learn more about this latest iteration of the Fifty Fathoms and discover for yourself what all the fuss is about.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

Making its debut in 1953, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is now seen as a pivotal milestone in the annals of watchmaking. This iconic timepiece not only played a key role in pioneering the concept of a true diver’s watch but also helped set the foundational standards for subsequent tool-watch designs. Boasting exceptional durability, impeccable water resistance, a secure rotating-bezel mechanism, anti-magnetic properties, and supreme legibility, the Fifty Fathoms epitomized the essence of functionality tailored explicitly for scuba diving, a legacy that continues to resonate throughout the collection – and the wider industry – to this day.

Five decades later, Blancpain President & CEO Marc A. Hayek would breathe new life into the Fifty Fathoms, celebrating the model’s 50th anniversary with the launch of three special limited editions. Four years later he would well and truly establish the Fifty Fathoms as a dive watch for the modern age, reimagining the Automatique collection in a 45mm case. Equipped with the new – at the time – specially developed Calibre 1315, this model marked the debut of a new Fifty Fathoms generation, capitalising on the oversized dive watch trend and capturing a new legion of Fifty Fathoms devotees in the process.

As popular as the 45mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique is though, there has always been something of an open secret that collectors would also love a slightly smaller version, closer to the 1953 model’s original case size of 42mm. In 2023, Blancpain showed it had been listening, unveiling the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Act 1 in a 42mm polished steel case. The reaction was swift and unequivocal – Blancpain had yet another hit on its hands. Which brings us to the new 42mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection.

The New 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique

The new 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique is available in two case metals; titanium and rose gold. Both are offered with your choice of a blue or a black sunburst dial and can be paired with a broad selection of straps ranging from sail-canvas to NATO and Tropic textured rubber (all in colours matching the chosen dial). The titanium versions are also available on a titanium bracelet with a triple folding clasp, which wears extremely comfortably on the wrist thanks to its excellent construction and the metal’s light weight. The case itself measures 42.3mm in diameter and stands 14.2mm tall, a reduction of 1.3mm compared to its 45mm sibling. In total, the new collection comprises fourteen references.

The dial will be instantly familiar to Fifty Fathoms enthusiasts as it follows the aesthetic set by the 45mm version, however, an important distinction is that this new collection features a flat dial (versus the slightly stepped dial of the larger version). A combination of Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, and triangular markers for the remaining positions are used to mark the hours, all of which – along with the central hands – are treated with Super-LumiNova to ensure maximum legibility in all conditions. All the while retaining that understated and elegant look beloved by collectors everywhere. The date is subtly shown through an aperture between 4 and 5 o’clock, with the date disc matching the colour of the dial.

Framing the dial is a unidirectional rotating bezel with domed sapphire crystal insert matching the colour of the dial, complete with luminous sixty-minute diving scale. The use of sapphire for the bezel insert adds a special quality to the Fifty Fathoms that really needs to be seen in person to fully appreciate. A screw-down crown and screwed down case back – complete with sapphire glass display – ensures the Fifty Fathoms retains its impressive 300m/1,000ft water resistance rating.

And in more welcome news for collectors, the new 42mm version of the Fifty Fathoms Automatique is also powered by Blancpain’s legendary in-house Calibre 1315. A robust and accurate self-winding movement, it delivers a substantial and reliable five-day power reserve thanks to its three series-coupled barrels. Visible through the rear of the watch, the calibre has been decorated to Blancpain’s exacting standards in keeping with Haute Horlogerie traditions. A key highlight is the 18K red gold oscillating weight – also decorated and sporting an NAC coating – the design of which is inspired by the rotor of the historical 1953 timepiece.

Available Now from Watches Of Switzerland

A curated selection of pieces from the new 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique are available for purchase now from Watches of Switzerland. With strong demand anticipated, we invite you to express your interest as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of disappointment.