With the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 38mm, the model has lastly given us the extra restrained dive watch the group has been hankering for because the mannequin returned to the fold in 2003. Since that point, Blancpain has heard from us all that we needed a extra compact model of the Fifty Fathoms, considered one of two claimants to the title of “world’s first dive watch.” Sticking to its weapons, Blancpain maintained that the Fifty Fathoms mannequin was made for professionals in 1953 and thus couldn’t be smaller than its 45mm dimension. In fact, that unique mannequin was 41mm so…
Barring some restricted editions through the years, Blancpain has by no means given any indication that it might ever yield to persistent requests for a smaller diver. Even for ladies, who’re an vital a part of the diving world. Effectively, we will all cease our bellyaching, as they are saying, as a result of there are actually a slew of Fifty Fathoms Automatique fashions to fulfill these constant requests, and they’re 38.2mm, to be exact. Now, now we have to say that this was a little bit of a wink-and-a-nod kind of drop from the model, with the primary two 38.2mm releases final week trying like standalone information. In reality, we wrote this complete story (for essentially the most half) with out understanding that extra watches had been on the way in which… One clue that extra fashions had been coming was that the Web reacted slowly, uncharacteristically.
On these two women’ fashions final week, might both of those ostensibly made-for-her watches enchantment to males? That’s right down to style, after all, however – for the Singapore viewers – we expect considered one of these fashions can be excellent for SG60…
Anyway, if we’re being trustworthy, we expect {most professional} commentators (ourselves included) by no means thought the day would come when there can be a Fifty Fathoms mannequin smaller than 40mm…and the smallest watch within the vary is definitely 42mm, with something smaller (howdy Hodinkee!) being restricted to very particular runs. Certainly, the existence of the Bathyscaphe line, which does supply extra restrained proportions, appeared to render questions on smaller Fifty Fathoms choices moot. Such ideas appear downright churlish, it may very well be argued. In spite of everything, the Bathyscaphe is sort of a superb dive watch in its personal proper; nevertheless, it’s not the Fifty Fathoms.
Fifty Fathoms Automatique Ref. 5007
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is a proper correct icon and, if it’s your flavour of dive watch, nothing can substitute it. That is what all dive watches descend from- it’s an Ur kind that precedes ISO requirements. In some ways, the unique Fifty Fathoms set the usual, or predicted them, for those who choose. Which means that its kind and character are sacrosanct, and but… Blancpain itself has clearly altered the watch from the 1953 unique. Nobody imagines that even the 2003 up to date Fifty Fathoms was an actual reproduction, nor the 2007 model that heralded the return of the watch to the common assortment. Blancpain doesn’t do replicas, and neither does any watchmaking model that invests in its personal id.
Fifty Fathoms Automatique Ref. 5007
Earlier than we go additional, although, an precise introduction is named for, and we will organise by order of launch. What now we have first, then, are the 2 women’ automated 38.2mm dive watches, one in purple gold and one in brushed grade 23 titanium – Ref. 5007 3644A and Ref. 5007 12B44R, respectively. Each are 12mm thick so nothing extraordinary there and are powered by the identical automated Calibre 1153, which boasts 100 hours of energy reserve however usually are not chronometer licensed. Water resistance is 300 metres and Blancpain has after all not shorted us on an exhibition caseback. The titanium mannequin has a pink dégradé mother-of-pearl dial whereas the purple gold watch sports activities a black dégradé mother-of-pearl dial. Blancpain calls these colors petal pink and smoky black. The titanium mannequin specifically leans into pink very closely, as you’ll be able to see.
Becoming a member of these two early birds are three formally “genderless” fashions, all sharing the identical dimension and the identical Calibre 1153. These are Ref. 5007 1130 71S (polished metal with black dial and bezel); Ref. 5007 12B40 98S (satin brushed grade 23 titanium with blue dial and bezel); and Ref. 5007 36B40 O52B (purple gold with blue dial and bezel, this one with sail fabric strap). Intriguingly, all 38.2mm fashions are sans date, which is a primary for the Fifty Fathoms assortment. Whereas that transfer could also be lauded by essentially the most peevish of the date window debaters, the identical could not maintain true for the horn spacing for all 38.2mm fashions, which is 19mm. That is totally different to the 42mm fashions (21.5mm) and the 45mm fashions (23mm); this has implications for many who wish to swap out straps regularly and must be famous.
Not having worn these watches in any kind, prototypes or in any other case, it’s tough to evaluate them relative to anything. It is likely to be that the steadiness can be barely off or simply proper however we’ll hazard a guess that the match over a wetsuit is likely to be lower than optimum. It must be apparent from the look of the watches that these newest propositions are leisure instruments, not skilled ones. And that leaves us with the concept that is meant to be a second watch, or the first watch of an individual who doesn’t use it for diving. On that word, the brand engraved on the case flank stays in place within the 38.2mm mannequin, and this too is a function that’s a lot mentioned. It’s in all probability good that the gathering holds onto to extra components of its shared id – it didn’t happen to us to even ask after the flank brand initially.
We shut this primary look (at photos and specs) with a message from Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain (which was included within the press data and is sort of scrumptious. “The Fifty Fathoms is far more than a diver’s watch, it’s a logo of exploration and innovation. With the addition of latest fashions, we’re responding to a transparent demand whereas reaffirming that this assortment was all the time meant for all wrists. It’s a pure and vital evolution for a watch born underwater, made to be worn wherever.”
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