Blancpain has released a new model, limited to 500 pieces worldwide, paying tribute to the "Fifty Fathoms No Radiation," one of the brand's most iconic timepieces. The inspiration comes from a diver's watch introduced in the mid-1960s, some of which were adopted by the German Navy's combat diving units. This timepiece is an homage to an iconic model stamped with the "No Radiations" logo, indicating its safe usage.

Blancpain's new "Fifty Fathoms No Radiation" is a tribute model to a diver's watch introduced in the mid-1960s, parts of which were used by the German Navy's combat diving units.

Its distinctive feature is the "No Radiations" logo stamped on the dial. In the early 1960s, following the declaration that radioactive element radium, used in luminescent paint for watchmaking, was harmful to health, Blancpain decided to explicitly state that its timepieces were radium-free and harmless. As a special symbol to quickly convey this message, they devised a logo featuring a red three-segment mark and a black cross on a yellow background, with the text "No Radiations." The distinctive symbol indicating the absence of radium-based luminescent paint proved successful, and timepieces stamped with this logo, along with their derivatives, are counted among the iconic models of the Fifty Fathoms.

In this piece, the original model that served as inspiration has been reinterpreted. The deep matte black dial features geometric hour markers combining the traditional round dot, rectangular, and the diamond shape at the 12 o'clock position. The chapter ring, hands, and bezel scale are coated with Super-LumiNova® in an "Old Radium" color, evoking a vintage feel with a beige-orange hue reminiscent of aging.

The white border accentuating the date display window at 3 o'clock is also found on some models from the 1960s. The yellow and red "No Radiations" logo further enhances the strong character of this timepiece.

The unidirectional rotating bezel features the scale characteristic of the Fifty Fathoms of that era, while also incorporating a sapphire insert, a hallmark of the modern collection. This domed shape, along with the box-shaped sapphire crystal, adds a three-dimensional quality to the watch's surface. The steel case, boasting 300-meter water resistance, has a diameter of 40.3mm, a special specification for Fifty Fathoms limited models.

The Blancpain Caliber 1151 movement, an automatic winding mechanism with a silicon balance spring, offers a 100-hour power reserve. The cartouche-shaped opening on the rotor, the power source for the two barrels, is inspired by historical Fifty Fathoms timepieces, including the original model. This detail, rare today, was once employed to increase the rotor's flexibility and protect the movement from shocks.

The strap is made of "tropical" rubber, popular among divers for its durability and comfort, perfectly embodying the tribute to the iconic model.