THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: BLANCPAIN
MODEL: BATHYSCAPHE
CASE DIAMETER: 37MM
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: TEXTILE
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

In the world of dive watches, while the Rolex Submariner is rightly the most famous, it was Blancpain that introduced the first purpose-built model—the Fifty Fathoms. An achievement that, incidentally, rivals being Stef’s favourite watch. Its development was the result of an extraordinary collaboration between civilian and military forces. Like two sides of a coin, they progressed along parallel paths before converging into a shared endeavour—creating a tool as essential for scuba divers as it was for special forces.

That said, the Fifty Fathoms was ultimately designed with professionals in mind. Its 41–42 mm case—modest by today’s standards—was considered large for civilian wear at the time. To cater to recreational divers and those seeking a more versatile daily watch, Blancpain introduced the Bathyscaphe line. It retained the core dive watch attributes—water resistance, rotating bezel, and luminous markers—while presenting them in a more compact 35–37 mm case.

The result, as seen here, is a beautifully proportioned design. The matte pewter-grey dial features crisp white printing, a date aperture at three o’clock, baton hour markers, and oversized hands. The tritium lume on both markers and hands has aged to a rich, creamy hue. The acrylic bezel is equally well preserved, free from cracks or damage.

In fact, the closer you look, the more you realise that the watch is quite literally in “perfect” condition. That’s because it has remained unworn for nearly six decades. Sourced directly from a close friend of Falco’s—and a former Blancpain watchmaker—this is a truly remarkable example.