The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Goes Full Gold

The Bathyscaphe, Blancpain‘s more compact and streamlined version of the Fifty Fathoms, was first released in 1956. Compared to its full-fledged counterpart, with larger cases, more water-resistance and a more instrument-like design, the Bathyscaphe crosses borders and Blancpain uses to bring complications or higher-end materials within a diver’s context. Following the recent introduction of full ceramic models, it’s now time for the Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet and Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback to shine bright in full red gold, with gradient blue dials and precious bracelets. 

The Fifty Fathoms collection‘s daily-wear counterpart, the Bathyscaphe, followed three years after the initial FF, in 1956, offering a more refined format with a reduced diameter for everyday use while still providing the capability to explore the seabed. Since then, this collection has seen dozens of variations, exploring more traditional territories with complex movements that could surprise at first in the context of a dive watch. Think about an annual calendar, a day-date, and indeed, a complete calendar (Quantième Complet) with moonphase… And besides classic models in steel, there’s also a fair share of gold watches available from the Bathyscaphe catalogue.

With the recent black ceramic models, equipped with brightly coloured dials, Blancpain has made a point; the Bathyscaphe isn’t a hardcore dive watch. This is the role of the classic Fifty Fathoms, which can be ordered with extreme dive-oriented complications, such as a depth gauge (among other features) or a three-hour bezel for closed-circuit rebreather diving – find me a more niche watch… I’ll wait. With the Bathyscaphe, on the other hand, Blancpain doesn’t restrict itself to pure diving operations and it is meant to be a sports watch, wearable on land and underwater, with codes of luxury watchmaking.

Thus, it’s time to unveil the brand new full gold, bracelet-included versions of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. Red gold, from head to toe, or should I say from case to bracelet. This evolution concerns two existing models from the standard collection, the highly surprising Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet with its complete calendar and moon indication, and the technically-advanced Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback.

The first was already available in red gold, matched with a textile strap, as we reported when Blancpain updated this watch. This watch combines true diving credentials – 300m water-resistance, unidirectional bezel – with a classic horology movement that you would expect to see in a dress watch. The dial, with central date-by-hand, two windows for the day and the month, and a moonphase at 6 o’clock, is here executed in blue with a subtle gradient, paired with gold applied markers and hands. Measuring 43mm x 13.40mm, it comes with an 18k red gold bezel with ceramic insert using the Ceragold technology for the 60-minute scale.

What sets it apart from the already existing references is the addition of a solid. 18k red gold bracelet, closed by a triple folding clasp. The movement inside is the in-house, automatic calibre 6654P, with 72h power reserve and a clever safety system for the calendar mechanism. Knows as reference 5054-3640-76S, this new full gold edition of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet retails for EUR 59,500.

The second addition to the Bathyscaphe collection is a more mainstream combination of dive watch with a chronograph. This Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback is an evolution of an existing reference to which a full gold bracelet has been added. The rest remains in line with other versions, with a 43mm x 14.90mm case, water-resistant to 300m and equipped with a unidirectional bezel. The gradient blue dial matches the ceramic insert. Inside the case is an impressive automatic flyback chronograph movement, the F385. This calibre runs at 36,000 vibrations/hour and features a column-wheel and vertical clutch architecture.

Know as the reference 5200-3640-76S, this new full gold edition of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback also retails for EUR 59,500.

For more details, please visit blancpain.com.