BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Fifty Fathoms is the first name that comes to mind when one thinks of Blancpain. Since its genesis in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms has been an integral part of the Blancpain catalog. Last month we looked at the green dial Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Mokarran and here we are today with yet another Fifty Fathoms installment, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Blue, featuring a blue dial and a Sedna gold case.
The Bathyscaphe has been around for a while now and exists in many dial/case combinations, but this is the first time that the brand has offered a blue dial with a Sedna gold case. And, while the use of precious metal on a dive watch might not sound very practical, the warm tones of Sedna gold offer the perfect contrast against the deep blue dial, making for a visually compelling combo. Furthermore, the use of precious metal also means added heft, which translates into a feeling of solidity that is commonly associated with a luxury watch. Dimension wise, the case measures 43mm in diameter and has a thickness of around 13.5mm. The case is water-resistant to 300 meters and features a uni-directional dive time bezel with a blue ceramic insert to help time those underwater moments.
As mentioned before the dial on this watch has been presented in a rich deep shade of blue and has been given a nice sunburst effect to lend the watch some elegance. The layout remains quite familiar with lume filled applied sedan gold markers for hours, a printed minute track, a date window between 4 and 5, block style lume filled hour/minute hands, and a red-tipped lollypop style seconds hand. Overall the dial is free of any clutter and highly legible.
Powering the watch is Blancpain’s in-house caliber 1315. This is a 35-jewel self-winding movement that comprises 227 components, operates at a frequency of 4hz, and offers a power reserve of 120 hours. The movement has been fitted a silicon balance spring, that makes it highly resistant to magnetic fields. It features a Sedna gold oscillating weight and can be viewed through the sapphire case back.
The new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Blue Sedna Gold can be purchased on either a rugged blue sailcloth strap or a blue nato strap. The retail price for the watch has been set at EUR 23,840.
