deeply evolved

Bob Maloubier, the founder of the"Nageurs de Combat", with his FiftyFathoms watch, in 1953.

In 1952, two French naval officers, commander Robert "Bob" Maloubierand lieutenant Claude Riffaud were instructed by the Ministry of Defenseand the French Navy to set up an elite unit called "Les Nageurs de combat",i.e. Combat Swimmers.

Their underwater operations required rugged, water-resistant and reliablemateriel capable of withstanding the testing conditions of subsea missions.

At the time, they found no diver's watch that could meet their demandingspecifications. So the two men determined what they needed by way of awristwatch and got in touch with Blancpain. The company's visionaryengineers and watchmakers put their talents and know-how to work andcame up with a compact marvel of precision mechanics.

Launched in 1953, the "Fifty Fathoms" determined the basic specificationsof the modern diving watch.

B L A N C P A I N F I F T Y F A T H O M ST H E F I R S T M O D E R N D I V I N G W A T C H

When it was launched in 1953, Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms diving watchcreated a sensation.

Its water resistance was officially guaranteed to a then unheard-of depth offifty fathoms: i.e. 91.45 m. Its dependable selfwinding mechanical movement was lodged in the protective shell of a tough stainless steel casewith screwed-in back. Large luminous numerals and markers provided opti-mum legibility even in the dark depths.

Most striking of all, its unidirectional rotating bezel could be used in atotally novel and practical way: the diver simply positioned the bezel's 12-hour marker opposite the minute hand before commencing a dive,enabling him to keep track of his elapsed diving time with a glance at hiswatch.

The Fifty Fathoms diving watch instantly became a legend.

B L A N C P A I N F I F T Y F A T H O M S 1 9 5 3

Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms divingwatch, 1953.

The Fifty Fathoms soon outgrew its strictly military missions, embarking onan expanded career in the exploration, study and preservation of marine life.

Highly regarded since 1953 by navy divers, commandos and other specialforces, this technological marvel served with distinction in the armedforces of the United States (Navy SEALS), France, Germany(Bundesmarine) and Israel.

But within a decade of its design, Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms had beenadopted by not a few specialist oceanographic exploration and researchorganizations, notably the "Groupe d'études et de recherches sous-marines"(GERS) in France.

Numberless divers, explorers and scientists the world over all came to valueand trust its stalwart dependability. Making the Fifty Fathoms diving watchan integral part of their life and work has helped them to appreciate and preserve the beauties and wonders of the world under the sea.

B L A N C P A I N F I F T Y F A T H O M S M I S S I O N - R E A D Y

Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival and of an Oscarfor Best Foreign Film, The Silent World, coproduced by Louis Malle, enabled the public to discover the amazing variety and beauty of marine lifeand underwater vistas. It was also instrumental in sharpening mankind'sawareness of the irreplaceable value of marine fauna and flora as well as ofthe imperative need to protect it.

Blancpain played a role in that history-making enterprise, equipping theentire film crew with its timepieces. The Fifty Fathoms' unique professional qualities proved invaluable for the shooting of the film's longunderwater sequences. As such, it ranks among the contributors to the world's discovery of the deeps.

B L A N C P A I N F I F T Y F A T H O M S T H E S I L E N T W O R L D

F I F T Y F A T H O M S .A unit of length used for depth and to measure ropes and cables. Fiftyfathoms (1fathom = 1,829m) work out to 91.45 meters, i.e. more orless the maximum depth attainable at the time by a diver with bottlesof oxygen-nitrogen strapped to his back.

ref. 2200A-1130-71 3 limited series of 50 pieces (series I,II, III)

50th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms, with seconds hand and date calendarSelfwinding movementCaliber 1151100-hour power reserveWater-resistant to 300 mStainless steel case, 40 mm in diameterSapphire crystal and bezel insertUnidirectional rotating bezel with outcurved surfaceScrewed-in backcase and screw-locked crownStainless steel bracelet and natural rubber strap

The 50th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms is designed first and foremost for theworld's most demanding professional divers.

It displays the same dial and same oversized luminous numerals andmarkers as the original 1953 design, reflecting the same indomitable spirit.Its unidirectional rotating bezel is now crafted from sapphire. A world first:its surface is cambered to deflect blows and other damaging encounters.Elapsed diving times are determined at a glance from the minute hand's position in relation to the bezel's luminous numerals and markers.Its case's screwed-in back, screw-locked crown and unusually thickoutcurved sapphire crystal provide perfect water resistance to 300 meters,i.e. nearly 165 fathoms. Its selfwinding mechanical movement with twinbarrels delivers 100 hours of power reserve without rewinding.

Made in three series of 50 watches, 150 in all, it comes with a tough rubberdiving strap interchangeable with the steel bracelet.

B L A N C P A I N F I F T Y F A T H O M S 5 0 t h A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N

ref. 2200A-1130-71 3 limited series of 50 pieces (series I,II, III)

Designed for professional divers, the tough rubberstrap is equipped with an oversized clasp as well aswith a cut-out on either side of the crown for easysetting even with gloved fingers.

The Blancpain 50th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms comeswith a stainless steel watch case, a stainless steelbracelet and a rubber strap designed specially forunderwater activities.

To facilitate the changeover from bracelet to strap andconversely, a watch-holder kit is supplied with the watch.It consists of a specially designed stand enabling you tokeep the watch stable while you switch between strap andbracelet.

The stand has four hollow feet that unscrew and holdvarious tools and spare parts: extractor pins, screwdriverbits, bracelet-lug tubes and tube securing screws.

B L A N C P A I N F I F T Y F A T H O M S O N E S T R A P . O N E B R A C E L E T .

Instead of the epoxy of the Fifty Fathoms' early years,the watch's unidirectional, rotating bezel is now solid,scratch-resistant, sapphire. The bezel surface isoutcurved so as to better deflect sharp points andsimilar hazards.

Ultra-slim selfwinding mechanical movementwith twin barrelsCaliber 115126.8 mm in diameter (12 lines)3,25 mm in thickness185 components21,600 vibrations per hour Adjusted in 5 positions100-hour power reserve

T H E C O L L E C T I O N

The entire Fifty Fathoms collection incorporates high-performance materials designed to master the elements.

Built for superior service under water, Blancpain's FiftyFathoms, Air Command and GMT models combine toperfection stainless steel and the finest rubber.

Fifty Fathoms, with seconds handand date calendar

Selfwinding movementCaliber 1151

100-hour power reserveWater-resistant to 300 m

40 mm in diameterBlack dial

Available in steel and in steel and natural rubber

ref. 2200-6530-66ref. 2200-1130-71

GMT, with seconds hand and datecalendar

Selfwinding movementCaliber 5A50

100-hour power reserveWater-resistant to 300 m

40 mm in diameterBlack dial

Available in steel and in steel and natural rubber

GMTGreenwich Mean Time

ref. 2250-6530-66ref. 2250-1130-71

Air Command, flyback chronographwith subdial for the seconds

and date calendarSelfwinding movement

Caliber F18540-hour power reserve

Water-resistant to 200 m40 mm in diameter

Black dialAvailable in steel and

in steel and natural rubber

ref. 2285 F-6530-66ref. 2285 F-1130-71

Special thanks to Robert "Bob" Maloubier and Stephan Ciejka.

Most models are available in a choice of variations.We reserve the right to modify all models and technical specifications.

Any reproduction in full or in part of this catalog or from a Blancpain website isstrictly forbidden.

Blancpain S.A., Chemin de l’Etang 6, CH - 1094 Paudex, Switzerlandwww.blancpain.com

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