The "Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day-Date" in a desert-inspired hue

BLANCPAIN | BLANCPAIN

Limited to 500 pieces! A new Fifty Fathoms in a vintage-inspired sand beige.

Blancpain has released the "Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day-Date Desert Edition," the collection's first model in a desert-inspired hue, in a limited edition of 500 pieces worldwide. This dive watch combines vintage styling reminiscent of models produced in the 1970s with modern mechanics.

Text by OZAKI Sayaka | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi

A dive watch in a desert hue, evoking the landscapes of Death Valley.

Blancpain has unveiled the new "Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day-Date Desert Edition," limited to 500 pieces worldwide. Inspired by Blancpain's dive watches from the 1970s, this model features a sand-beige dial with a sunburst pattern and gradient coloring.

The "Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day-Date" in desert hue | BLANCPAIN

This nuance evokes the scenery of Death Valley, USA, where Ernest H. Brooks II, a pioneer in underwater photography and involved in the "Edition Fifty Fathoms" project, conducted a major dive in 1962.

This dive took place in Devil's Hole, over 120 meters deep, which also serves as an entrance to the vast underground water system in Death Valley. Devil's Hole is also the sole habitat of the rare endangered fish, the Devil's Hole pupfish, which Brooks was the first to photograph.

The new desert-colored "Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day-Date" is a model that will appeal to adventurers, enthusiasts, and those with a creative spirit. In the 1970s, Blancpain, with its innovative approach, broke traditional design standards for the Bathyscaphe model, launching a series that featured cushion-shaped cases, rotating inner bezels instead of conventional rotating outer bezels, gradient-colored gray dials, and day and date displays.

The dial of this new model follows the style of that era, achieving clarity through a combination of a delicate sand-beige gradient—a first for the collection—and a sunburst finish. Large rectangular hour markers also allow for instant readability of the displayed information.

The chapter ring is divided by Arabic numerals every five minutes, reminiscent of the rotating inner bezel of the 1970s watches. As seen on timepieces from the same period, the date and day windows are positioned at the 3 o'clock mark.

The hands are coated with Super-LumiNova® and feature a baton design, similar to early Bathyscaphe models. The case is fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel featuring a brown ceramic insert and hour markers made with Liquidmetal®.

While this new model boasts a vintage aesthetic, it is equipped with highly modern mechanics. The in-house Caliber 1315DD movement possesses all the essential performance for a dive watch and offers a practical 5-day power reserve for daily use.

Another key feature is the silicon balance spring, ensuring precision and magnetic resistance. The NAC-treated gold rotor and the finishing of this high-end movement can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back.

The "Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day-Date Desert Edition" model is paired with a sand-colored sail canvas strap that complements the warm hue of the dial and is available in a worldwide limited edition of 500 pieces.