Blancpain - Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad

With the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad, Blancpain revisits a historical model. The Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad 5008D-1130 has a price of €13400

The Fifty Fathoms was first introduced in 1953 and it was soon adopted by the Frogmen unit of the French Navy. Because legibility underwater was a very important requirement, hour markers and hands were generously treated with radioactive radium. In the mid-1960s, Blancpain also created a civilian versions without radium which was identified by the “No Radiations” sign at the bottom of the dial.

With the just released Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad, Blancpain revisits that model. The new edition maintains the look and feel of the historic model but, of course, it takes advantage of the technical innovations resulting from the continuous research of Blancpain in the fields of scuba diving and watchmaking.

The new Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad and, below, the original model from the 1960s

Measuring 40.30 mm x 13.23 mm, the case of the new model is crafted from stainless steel and is equipped with a unidirectional bezel featuring a scratch-resistant domed sapphire insert. It is water resistant up to a pressure of 30 bar (approximately 300 metres / 1,000 feet).

 

The 3 Hz (21,600 vph) self-winding movement, Calibre 1151, is visible through the transparent sapphire crystal. Offering a 100-hour (more than four days) power reserve, it is fitted with a silicon hairspring, a material insensitive to magnetic fields. 

The twin barrels are wound via a cut-out rotor, in reference to some of the collection’s antique watches. Its atypical geometry was originally designed to enhance the suppleness of the oscillating weight in order to protect the movement from potential impacts.

The matte deep black dial is punctuated by white hour-markers coated with "old radium» type Super-LumiNova. The pencil-shaped hands are white-lacquered and have the same luminescent treatment. The date is positioned at 3 o'clock.

Secured to the wrist by a steel pin buckle, the tropical-type rubber strap is identical to that of the historical model, very popular with divers at the time and particularly renowned for its durability as well as its wearer comfort. Its lug width is 20 mm.

The Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad ref. 5008D-1130-B64A is a limited edition of 500 pieces with a retail price of Euro 13,400. blancpain.com

Suggested reading:
- The history of the Blancpain Manufacture