Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Electric Blue

When exploring the legacy of dive watches, few names command as much respect as Blancpain. The brand's contribution to underwater timekeeping is not just a footnote in history; it is, in many respects, the first chapter. In 1953, the company, under the direction of its passionate CEO and diver, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, introduced the Fifty Fathoms. This was not merely a water-resistant watch; it was the first modern, purpose-built diving instrument, establishing the blueprint that virtually all subsequent dive watches would follow. Its set of features, including a rotating-locking bezel, extreme legibility, and a high-performing automatic movement, was born from genuine necessity and quickly adopted by the French combat diving corps and, later, the U.S. Navy.

That singular, professional focus defined the original Fifty Fathoms. It was a large, uncompromising tool. However, just a few years later, in 1956, Blancpain recognized a different need. As recreational diving grew, and as daily-wear sensibilities remained, there was a desire for a watch that could bridge two worlds: the civilian's daily life and the adventurer's underwater pursuits. The result was the Bathyscaphe, a sibling to the Fifty Fathoms. Named after Auguste Piccard's deep-sea submersible, the Bathyscaphe retained the critical diving DNA of its older brother but offered it in a more modestly sized, wearable package. This is the legacy that informs the modern Bathyscaphe collection, and it finds a striking new expression in two e-Boutique exclusive models, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Electric Blue.



These new timepieces are a direct and compelling nod to the Bathyscaphe's dual heritage. They are, without question, highly capable modern dive watches, but they also lean heavily into material science and aesthetics that feel perfectly suited for life above the surface. The most immediate and striking feature is the case. Both models are presented in a 43.6 mm case crafted from blue ceramic. This is not the high-polish, reflective ceramic often seen in luxury items, but a satin-brushed, matte-finished material that has a deeply technical and subdued character. The blue itself is a dark, rich hue, absorbing light more than it reflects it, giving the watch an imposing and modern presence on the wrist.

The choice of ceramic is a functional one, directly aligning with the Bathyscaphe's practical roots. This advanced material is significantly lighter than steel, yet it is exponentially harder and more scratch-resistant. For a daily-wear piece, this is a profound benefit, offering resilience against the accidental bumps and scrapes that are an inevitable part of life. Furthermore, ceramic is hypoallergenic and inert, meaning it will not corrode or lose its color over time, even with exposure to saltwater. The case finishing is precise, with sharp, angular lugs that are a hallmark of the Bathyscaphe design, transitioning cleanly from the brushed case sides.

This 43.6 mm diameter, combined with a thickness of 13.80 mm, positions the watch as a modern, substantial piece that offers significant presence. Despite the large-on-paper diameter, the relatively short, downturned lugs help it conform to the wrist. The 23.00 mm lug width provides a solid, balanced stance for the accompanying strap, ensuring the watch head doesn't feel top-heavy. The entire package is water-resistant to 30 bar, which translates to approximately 300 meters or 984 feet, far exceeding the 91.45 meters of the original "Fifty Fathoms" and cementing its status as a serious, professional-grade tool.

Of course, a dive watch is defined by its bezel, and here, the Bathyscaphe is exceptional. The unidirectional rotating bezel features an insert made of blue ceramic, perfectly matched to the case. This insert is filled with luminous markers, using a high-tech process that bonds the luminescent material with the ceramic, ensuring durability and a bright glow. The bezel's edge is toothed for easy grip, even with a gloved hand, and its 120-click rotation is firm and precise, with no backlash. As a critical safety feature, its unidirectional nature ensures that a diver can only accidentally decrease, never increase, their perceived dive time, preventing a dangerous miscalculation of remaining air.



The dial is where the "Electric Blue" name truly comes to life. It is finished with a sunburst (or sunray) pattern that emanates from the center. This finishing technique gives the dial a dynamic quality, allowing it to shift in appearance based on the angle of the light. In direct light, it can flash with a vibrant, metallic blue, while in lower light, it recedes into a deep, oceanic darkness. This play of light is captivating and gives the watch a sense of life that a flat-color dial would lack. The layout is clean and instantly readable, a primary directive for any dive watch.

The applied hour markers are a combination of dots and rectangular batons at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, all filled with a generous amount of luminous material. The hands are the classic Bathyscaphe style—thick, rectangular batons that are impossible to misread. A slim seconds hand glides around the dial, and its most prominent feature is a bright red tip, a small but critical dash of contrast that breaks up the monochromatic blue and enhances legibility at a glance. A practical date complication is included, tucked discreetly into a small, angled window between the 4 and 5 o'clock positions, a placement that preserves the dial's symmetry without omitting a useful everyday function.

What makes this new release a unique proposition is that it is not one watch, but two distinct variations on this blue theme, differentiated by their luminescent material and strap. The first model (Ref. 5000A 0640 O52A) is arguably the most cohesive. It uses a bright blue Super-LumiNova for all the dial markers, hands, and bezel indexes. In the dark, the watch glows with an intense, aqua-blue light. This version is paired with a blue sail-canvas strap that features stitching in the exact same shade of bright blue as the lume, creating a harmonious and thoroughly modern look.



The second model (Ref. 5000 0640 O52A) offers a more traditional, vintage-inflected appeal. This version uses a powerful green Super-LumiNova for all its luminous elements. This green glow is the classic color of lume that collectors have known for decades, and it provides a stark, highly-legible contrast against the blue dial. To complement this, the blue sail-canvas strap is finished with contrasting beige stitching. This small change gives the watch an entirely different character, evoking the look of aged "ecru" stitching on vintage dive watch straps, adding a subtle touch of warmth to the cool blue palette.

Both timepieces are powered by the same exceptional engine: the Blancpain Calibre 1315. This movement is visible through a large sapphire crystal caseback, a feature made possible by the movement's inherent properties. The original Fifty Fathoms had to be encased in a soft-iron Faraday cage to protect its movement from magnetic fields, a common threat for divers and professionals. The Calibre 1315, however, achieves this protection through modern material science. It employs a silicon balance spring, which is completely impervious to magnetism, as well as being highly resistant to temperature changes and shocks, thereby improving overall accuracy and stability.

The Calibre 1315 is a robust, high-performance automatic movement designed for reliability. It is composed of 227 components and 35 jewels, and it beats at a modern frequency of 4Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, which contributes to its precision. Perhaps its most impressive "on-paper" specification, which translates to a real-world user benefit, is its 120-hour power reserve. This five-day reserve is achieved through the use of three series-coupled mainspring barrels. This means the watch can be taken off on a Friday evening and picked back up on a Monday morning (or even Tuesday) and it will still be running accurately, a remarkable convenience for a mechanical timepiece.



Beyond the specifications, the view through the caseback is a pleasure. The Calibre 1315 is not just a workhorse; it is finished to a high standard. The bridges are cleanly executed, and the 18K gold oscillating weight (the rotor) is coated with NAC, a dark grey, platinum-based alloy, giving it a modern, technical appearance that matches the case. This rotor is visible, winding the watch with the motion of the wearer's wrist, and is engraved with the Blancpain logo. The movement also features a "secured" date mechanism, a Blancpain innovation that protects the calibre from damage if the owner attempts to change the date during the "danger zone" (typically around midnight) when the complication is already engaged.

Both variations of the watch are delivered on a blue sail-canvas strap. This material is another nod to the watch's nautical heritage. It is famously durable and water-resistant, making it a perfect functional choice for a dive watch, but it also has a textural, casual look that pairs well with the watch's "everyday" persona. The strap is lined with rubber on the underside, which increases comfort and durability, especially in wet conditions, preventing the strap from becoming waterlogged. It is secured with a traditional pin buckle, also crafted from brushed ceramic to match the case.

The introduction of these two "Electric Blue" models represents a confident and modern step for the Bathyscaphe line. They are not historical re-editions but contemporary interpretations that leverage modern materials and bold aesthetics. The choice to house them in a full blue ceramic case is a technical and visual statement, offering a scratch-proof, lightweight, and vividly colored package that stands apart from the sea of stainless steel dive watches. The sunburst blue dial is dynamic and deep, serving as the perfect backdrop for the two different lume and stitching combinations.



The decision to offer two distinct lume colors is a clever one. It allows the buyer to choose the personality of their watch. The blue-on-blue version is futuristic, a monochromatic and cohesive design object. The green-lume-and-beige-stitch version is the traditionalist's choice, connecting the modern 43.6 mm ceramic case back to the long, storied history of the Fifty Fathoms and its military-issue ancestors. Both are functionally identical, sharing the same superb case, dial, and the powerhouse Calibre 1315 movement.

As befits their special nature, these two Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Electric Blue timepieces are designated as boutique exclusives, available only through Blancpain's e-Boutique. This exclusivity adds to their collectibility and distinguishes them from the mainline production models. Both the blue-lume (Ref. 5000A 0640 O52A) and green-lume (Ref. 5000 0640 O52A) versions are priced at $17,400. This places them in a competitive segment of the luxury sports watch market, but for that price, the owner receives a watch with an unmatched historical pedigree, a case made of advanced, color-fast ceramic, and a high-performance, in-house movement with a five-day power reserve, all wrapped in a stunning and vibrant blue package.

5000A 0640 O52A

Case: 43.60 mm diameter, 13.80 mm thickness, 23.00 mm lug width. Blue ceramic material. Water-resistant to 30 bar. Sapphire crystal caseback.

Movement: Calibre 1315 automatic. 120-hour power reserve. 4Hz frequency. 35 jewels, 227 components. 5.65 mm thick. Silicon balance spring. Secured movement.

Dial: Sunburst blue color. Date window. Blue Super-LumiNova on indexes, hands, and bezel markers.

Strap: Blue sail-canvas strap with blue stitching. Rubber material. Pin buckle.

Price: $17,400

Reference Number: 5000A 0640 O52A

Notes: Boutique exclusive. Features a rare blue ceramic case.



5000 0640 O52A

Case: 43.60 mm diameter, 13.80 mm thickness, 23.00 mm lug width. Blue ceramic material. Water-resistant to 30 bar. Sapphire crystal caseback.

Movement: Calibre 1315 automatic. 120-hour power reserve. 4Hz frequency. 35 jewels, 227 components. 5.65 mm thick. Silicon balance spring. Secured movement.

Dial: Sunburst blue color. Date window. Green Super-LumiNova on indexes, hands, and bezel markers.

Strap: Blue sail-canvas strap with beige stitching. Fabric material. Pin buckle.

Price: $17,400

Reference Number: 5000 0640 O52A

Notes: Boutique exclusive. Features a rare blue ceramic case.