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Blancpain brings back the vintage spirit of the Bathyscaphe with a 70th anniversary limited edition

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Born from the golden age of recreational diving, the Bathyscaphe embodies the typical skin diver codes through its balance of elegance and everyday wearability. Created in 1956 as the civilian counterpart to the Fifty Fathoms, the model bore a name that had already been registered in 1953 by Blancpain’s then-CEO and passionate diver, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, reflecting his early vision of creating a diving watch designed not only for professional use but also for enthusiasts. Seventy years after its creation, Blancpain celebrates this legacy with a reproduction of a landmark model from 1968. A timepiece that bridges the aesthetic design of the past with watchmaking excellence, this 300-piece limited edition pays tribute to a defining chapter in the evolution of the diver’s watch.

The Skin Diver Style: A New Relationship with the Underwater World

During the 1950s and 1960s,a new generation of watches emerged alongside the growing popularity of recreational diving: the skin diver. More than purely technical instruments, these watches reflected a new relationship with the underwater world, one shaped by leisure, enjoyment, and a growing fascination with this emerging lifestyle. They captured the spirit of a time when diving became not only a professional activity, but also a source of personal adventure. Characterized by more compact proportions, clean lines, and a refined aesthetic, skin diver watches combined essential diving features with a more understated and daily- wear design.

Emerging from that philosophy, the Bathyscaphe was created in 1956 – despite the name having already been registered in 1953 – by Jean-Jacques Fiechter, then CEO of Blancpain and creator of the Fifty Fathoms, bringing Blancpain’s pioneering diving expertise into
a civilian expression designed for everyday wear.

The Bathyscaphe: The Diver Legacy

The name “Bathyscaphe” refers to the pioneering deep-sea exploration vessel conceived by Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard in the 1940s. Designed to reach the greatest depths of the ocean, the Bathyscaphe represented a major milestone in humanity’s exploration of the underwater world, an achievement that resonated with Jean-Jacques Fiechter’s own passion for diving and exploration.

While the Fifty Fathoms, introduced in 1953, was developed as a professional diving instrument for military forces, professional divers, and underwater specialists, the Bathyscaphe offered an everyday interpretation of the same heritage yet preserving the essential features of the diver’s watch. The distinction between the two models was particularly evident through their proportions. Measuring slightly over 41 mm in diameter, the original Fifty Fathoms was created to be a robust professional instrument. With a more compact 35 mm case, the first Bathyscaphe adopted a slimmer profile, reflecting a more civilian style while maintaining the reliability expected from a true diver’s watch. Over seven decades, the Bathyscaphe has evolved through various interpretations but has always remained faithful to its original identity.

The Spirit of 1968, Reborn

For the model’s 70th anniversary, Blancpain turns to one of the most emblematic expressions of the Bathyscaphe’s history with a watch from 1968. This timepiece was selected for the way it embodied the collection’s defining qualities: balanced proportions, functionality, and understated elegance. Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, 1968

Staying as close as possible to this iteration, Blancpain translated the anniversary piece through contem- porary watchmaking standards. The new edition retains the original 37.40 mm diameter and stainless- steel construction, but its case was specifically developed around the movement to achieve the desired proportions and ergonomics. The remarkable diameter-to-thickness ratio, defined by a slender case middle, contributes to the watch’s harmonious profile on the wrist. The polished finishing, curved surfaces, and carefully shaped lugs enhance its refined aesthetics.

The bezel continues this dialogue between heritage and innovation. Made of steel with a ceramic insert and lacquered numerals – replacing the original black hesalite material – it reinforce durability and legibility.

Every element has been considered to reinforce the aesthetic codes of the original design, from the mid-20th century Blancpain logo to the baton hands and indexes enhanced by vintage-coloured Super-LumiNova®, which recalls the warm tones of the luminous materials used in the past. The hand- stitched chocolate calf leather strap further drives this heritage-inspired spirit, developing a natural patina over time.

The result is a faithful contemporary Bathyscaphe reproduction carrying the unmistakable character of its 1968 inspiration.

Vintage Soul, Contemporary Performance

Beneath its vintage-inspired exterior, this anniversary edition reveals the expertise of Blancpain’s contemporary watchmaking. The Manufacture calibre 1150 was selected to equip this timepiece, offering a combination of reliability, precision, and exceptional autonomy with a 100-hour power reserve.

Its silicon hairspring provides antimagnetic properties, contributing to the movement’s stability and long- term performance.

Visible through the sapphire crystal case back, the movement showcases the meticulous Haute Horlogerie finishing. Inspired by the design of that of the original Fifty Fathoms, its open worked 18K gold oscillating weight highlights the beauty of the mechanical architecture. Unlike the 1968 inspiration piece, which featured a closed case back, this new interpretation allows the movement to become part of the experience of ownership, emphasizing the daily- wear DNA of the piece. This choice reflects Blancpain’s desire to offer not only a connection to the past, but also a direct appreciation of the watchmaking expertise behind the timepiece.

Faithful to the standards of the Fifty Fathoms collection, the Bathyscaphe remains water-resistant to 30 bar. Limited to 300 individually numbered pieces, each delivered in a PeliTM case, this anniversary edition celebrates a 70-year-old legacy by combining contemporary reliability with the enduring character of a historic model. ©Tim Vaux Photography

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe
Ref. 5903 1110 63A

Movement: Blancpain Manufacture Calibre 1150
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 100 hours (~4 days)
Dimensions: 26.20 × 3.25 mm
Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Hairspring: Silicon
Jewels: 28
Components: 210
Case: Stainless steel
Glass & back: Sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 30 bar (300 metres)
Diameter: 37.40 mm
Thickness: 12.30 mm
Lug-to-lug: 46.50 mm
Lug width: 18 mm
Dial: Sunburst meteor grey
Hands: Baton shape, with vintage-colour
Super-LumiNova®
Indexes: Baton shape, 18K white gold with vintage-colour Super-LumiNova®
Strap: Chocolate calf leather
Clasp: Pin buckle
Limited Edition: 300 pieces
Warranty: 5 years

Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie: When Watchmaking Learns to Sing

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In haute horlogerie, sound is the most unforgiving medium. You can hide visual complexity beneath a dial, but a chime reveals everything—precision, balance, intention. With the Grande Double Sonnerie, Blancpain ventures into this rare territory and reshapes it entirely.

This is not simply another grand complication. It is a statement about what time can feel like when mechanics, music, and restraint converge.

Time, Written in Two Melodies

At the heart of the Grande Double Sonnerie lies a world-first achievement: a wristwatch grande sonnerie with two selectable melodies.

The watch speaks time using four carefully chosen notes—E, G, F, and B—struck by four individual hammers and gongs, each tuned to deliver clarity rather than volume. The owner can choose between:

  • the historic Westminster chime, deeply rooted in European horological tradition, or

  • an original Blancpain melody, composed through a creative collaboration with Eric Singer.

Working within the strict limitation of four notes, the challenge was not complexity—but expression. The result is a chime that feels deliberate, balanced, and emotionally engaging rather than theatrical.

The Discipline Behind the Poetry

While the sound is refined, the engineering behind it is monumental. The Grande Double Sonnerie is the product of eight years of uninterrupted development, during which Blancpain chose not to compromise or outsource.

The scale of this effort is best understood through numbers:

  • 1,200 technical drawings, mapping interactions invisible to the eye

  • 1,053 components, finished and assembled by hand

  • 21 patents, with 13 actively shaping the final watch

  • Every stage—design, construction, decoration, and assembly—executed fully in-house

This is not evolution built on past calibres. It is a movement conceived from the ground up, designed to make sound a first-class function rather than an afterthought.

The Most Complex Watch Blancpain Has Ever Created

The Grande Double Sonnerie represents the technical summit of Blancpain’s modern history. Beyond its dual-melody chiming system, it integrates an extraordinary collection of complications into a single, coherent architecture:

  • Grande sonnerie

  • Petite sonnerie

  • Minute repeater

  • Fully integrated retrograde perpetual calendar

  • Flying tourbillon

  • A fully secured movement designed to protect the chiming mechanism during daily use

What makes this achievement exceptional is not the list itself, but how seamlessly these elements coexist—without visual overload or acoustic compromise.

Precious Metals, Purpose-Built Movements

The Grande Double Sonnerie has so far been produced in red gold and white gold, with each case paired to a movement construction and finishing philosophy that complements its metal. This is not aesthetic coincidence, but intentional harmony—where case material, movement architecture, and acoustic behavior are considered as a whole.

Despite its complexity and presence, the watch is designed to be worn. Safety systems manage power, chiming modes, and user interaction, ensuring the experience remains intuitive rather than intimidating.

Listening to Time

As Marc A. Hayek, CEO & President of Blancpain, describes it:

“Listening to a sonnerie is like tasting a grand wine. It is not merely a question of volume, but of clarity, resonance, persistence, and richness.”

That philosophy defines the Grande Double Sonnerie. It is not a watch that demands attention—it rewards listening.

More Than a Complication

The Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie is not about excess. It is about restraint, balance, and intention—about proving that even the most complex watchmaking can remain human, emotional, and wearable.

Here, time is not announced.
It unfolds—note by note.










Blancpain Unveils Villeret, Fifty Fathoms & Ladybird Novelties at Exclusive Mumbai Showcase

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Blancpain, the world’s oldest watchmaking brand, hosted an exclusive showcase in Mumbai on 11th November 2025, presenting its latest novelties across three of its most iconic collections: the Villeret, Fifty Fathoms, and Ladybird. The private event brought together collectors, enthusiasts, and friends of the Maison for an intimate evening celebrating heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation.

Held at a luxury venue in the heart of the city, the showcase offered guests a rare opportunity to experience Blancpain’s newest creations up close. The event highlighted the timeless purity of the Villeret Collection, the pioneering spirit of the Fifty Fathoms dive watches, and the refined feminine elegance of the Ladybird line.

Adding to the exclusivity of the evening, Blancpain unveiled a curated selection of archival pieces from its historical collection. These rarely shown timepieces offered a perspective into the brand’s uninterrupted watchmaking history since 1735, demonstrating the evolution of design, technique, and mechanical mastery.

“We are delighted to host this special presentation in Mumbai, a city with a growing appreciation for fine watchmaking,” said a Blancpain representative. “Bringing together our latest novelties with important archival references allows us to share the full depth of Blancpain’s heritage and vision with our community.”

The event underscored Blancpain’s continued commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and its long-standing connection with collectors in India

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech-nicolors

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Depth-tested. Street-approved.

The Fifty Fathoms Tech 45 mm debuts in the permanent collection, with a new interchangeable strap system, expanding its technical repertoire with bold rubber options in classic black, white or vivid orange. These vibrant colors inject a fresh, lifestyle-driven twist into the iconic diver’s instrument, while preserving all its exceptional tool-watch features.

Blancpain’s enduring connection to the Ocean and pioneering spirit runs deep. While firmly rooted in the Maison’s professional diving heritage and unmatched legacy in professional diving timepieces, the new Fifty Fathoms Tech emerges as a thoroughly modern expression of Blancpain’s most famous collection, blending technicity with a new, unexpected dose of style.

Originally conceived as a serious tool watch and diving instrument, the Fifty Fathoms has long been the choice of professional divers, explorers, and underwater photographers. The Tech variant, housed in Grade 23 brushed titanium, embodies that legacy with a bold 45 mm case diameter, a helium escape valve, and a unidirectional 120-click ceramic bezel optimized for use with gloved hands. Its absolute black dial absorbs up to 97% of light – an impressive feat ensuring maximum legibility in murky depths or low-light conditions, while creating a striking contrast with the luminescent block-shaped appliques.

Yet Blancpain’s latest chapter writes a new narrative: the tool watch is going lifestyle. In a significant update for 2025, the Fifty Fathoms Tech introduces a fully interchangeable strap system, empowering wearers to switch styles in seconds, no tools required. Additionally, Blancpain offers straps in multiple lengths, a crucial detail for divers who may wear the watch over a wetsuit, while also making it perfect for everyday wear on a bare wrist.

Color, too, is making waves. Beyond classic black rubber, Blancpain is releasing two new summer-ready hues: a crisp white and a vibrant orange. The latter isn’t just an aesthetic flourish; it matches the Tech’s orange central seconds hand and TECH inscription on the dial, proving that even the most serious diving instruments can embrace personality and fun.

Of course, the Fifty Fathoms Tech retains its mechanical credentials. Powering the watch is the automatic calibre 1315A, a 4 Hz movement widely respected among collectors for its robust 120-hour power reserve, precision timekeeping, and beautifully finished architecture. The sapphire case-back offers a view of the movement’s decorations, underscoring Blancpain’s dedication to Haute Horlogerie even in the Maison’s most utilitarian creations.

In short, the Fifty Fathoms Tech bridges worlds: as capable in the abyss as it is on dry land. It’s a pure diver’s tool, reborn as a polyvalent companion for any occasion – from exploring coral reefs to strolling through a summer cityscape or making a statement far above sea level.

 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Fifty Fathoms Tech

Ref. 5029 12B30 94A

Movement: Blancpain Manufacture calibre 1315A
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, helium escape valve
Winding: Automatic
Power Reserve: 120 hours (5 days) Dimensions: 33.40 x 5.65 mm
Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph) Jewels: 35
Number of components: 227

Case: Grade 23 titanium
Crystal and Case Back: Sapphire crystal
Water Resistance: 30 bar (300 meters)
Diameter: 45.00 mm
Thickness: 14.10 mm
Lug: Central lugs with interchangeable strap system

Dial: Absolute black
Hands: With Super-LumiNova®, orange second hand

Indexes: Luminescent block-shaped appliques

Straps: Integrated rubber straps with pin buckle Tool-free interchangeable strap system Two straps included
Colour options: black, white, and orange Different size options

Limited Edition: No

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Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms – Ocean of Storms

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The Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms, particularly the “Ocean of Storms” edition, stands as an exemplary diver’s watch for several compelling reasons. Crafted with precision and innovation, this timepiece embodies the quintessential characteristics that make it a commendable companion for underwater exploration.

Firstly, the use of lightweight yet durable Bioceramic in the construction of the case, bezel, and crown ensures resilience against the rigours of aquatic environments. This material not only contributes to the watch’s robustness but also enhances its overall wearability during extended underwater activities.

The watch maintains the proven and trusted water resistance of 91 meters (300 feet), adhering to the renowned Fifty-Fathoms legacy. The unidirectional bezel with 60-minute graduation offers a crucial tool for measuring elapsed time underwater, an indispensable feature for divers to monitor their dives accurately.

The choice of an all-black design, from the case to the dial, serves a practical purpose. The sunray brush on the dark dial, combined with luminous hands, Arabic numerals, and markers, ensures optimal readability in low-light conditions, a crucial aspect when navigating the depths. The yellow-tipped central seconds hand adds a touch of visibility and functionality to the dial, while the bio-sourced crystal provides an extra layer of protection.

Powered by Swatch’s Sistem51 self-winding movement, the watch boasts a high frequency of 21,600 vph (3 Hz) and an impressive power reserve of 90 hours. The simplicity of its 51-component assembly, entirely conducted by machines, ensures reliability and ease of maintenance, crucial factors for a diver’s timepiece.

Beyond its technical prowess, the Scuba Fifty Fathoms “Ocean of Storms” embraces sustainability with a NATO strap crafted from recycled fishing nets. This eco-friendly choice aligns with contemporary environmental concerns and speaks to the watch’s commitment to responsible and thoughtful design.

In summary, the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms “Ocean of Storms” emerges as a superlative diver’s watch, seamlessly blending durability, functionality, readability, and sustainability – qualities that underscore its excellence in the realm of underwater timekeeping.

OCEAN OF STORMS SO35B400

Case material: black Bioceramic case including crown

Case diameter: 42.3 mm

Case thickness: 14.4 mm

Lug-to-lug distance: 48.0 mm

Movement: SISTEM51 mechanical movement 

Water resistance: 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar)

Glass: bio-sourced material with an anti-scratch coating

Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale: Grade A Super-LumiNova® 

Bezel: one-direction rotating bezel in black Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in black

Strap: NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets. Black Bioceramic pin buckle and loops