Blancpain launched the Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa 5019-12B30-64A, the 2nd timepiece introduced for the 70th Anniversary of the model. Price €29,200
Blancpain continues the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms (you can read its complete history here) with the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 Tech Gombessa, a model that also marks the launch of a new line in the diver’s watch collection of the Swiss brand.
Its name "Tech Gombessa" commemorates the 10th anniversary of Gombessa, an initiative that Blancpain helped create by becoming the founding partner of the project from its inception in 2013.
Dedicated to the study of the behaviour of the great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran, in French Polynesia, this project is led by a committee of passionate deep-sea divers, including Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, and Laurent Ballesta, founder of the Gombessa project. Observation and information gathering regarding this species continued through technical dives on Rangiroa Atoll, aimed at contributing to the implementation of management measures promoting its conservation.
The new Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 Tech Gombessa was intended to meet the needs of all extreme divers, starting with the members of the Gombessa Expeditions whose research work involves long-duration deep dives. In fact, this advanced diver’s watch makes it possible for the first time to measure up to three-hour-long tech dives or exits from a saturation system.
Developed five years ago by Hayek and Ballesta, this watch has been extensively tested. In 2019, after a year of conceptualisation, Blancpain began the development of the project, starting with the two key elements represented by the movement and the unidirectional rotating bezel. Unlike the bezels on conventional diver's watches, the bezel on the Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa has a three-hour scale. It is linked to a special hand that completes one full turn in three hours and whose material and colour – a white luminescent coating with green emission – match those of its markers. This device is a world first for which a patent has been filed.
Looking like a Fifty Fathoms while sporting distinct tech attributes, the Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa features a bezel inlay in black ceramic – instead of the traditional sapphire – tilting towards a dial whose legibility is enhanced by a spherical crystal that eliminates any visual distortion. To ensure the best possible readability in the dark, the dial is finished in absolute black, whose structure is able to capture almost 97% of the light.
The hour-markers are formed by luminescent block-shaped appliques, this time in orange with blue emission – colour codes picked up on the hours and minutes hands to differentiate between time-related information and diving times.
The 47 mm x 14.81 mm is crafted from Grade 23 titanium, the purest type of titanium available. Also known as grade 5 ELI (extra low interstitials), it is distinguished by exceptional strength and anti-allergenic properties, while being remarkably light. This material ensures that the watch is comfortable to wear despite its imposing sizes.
Water-resistant to 30 bar (approximately 300 metres / 1,000 feet), the case is equipped with a helium valve. During saturation diving in a hyperbaric chamber, helium manages to seep into the watch. During the decompression phase, unscrewing the valve facilitates the evacuation of the helium without any impact on the watch’s water resistance.
The notches of the helium valve are identical to those of the winding and time-setting crown that enables simultaneous setting of the hours, minutes and dive-time hands.
The lower part of the case middle is bevelled rather than the rounded ‘bassine’ shape characterising the other Fifty Fathoms models.
The anthracite-coloured oscillating weight, stamped with the Gombessa Expeditions logo, features an innovative shape dominated by three large openings through which to admire the 13P8 self-winding movement beating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with a power reserve of 120 hours.
The black rubber strap is screwed to the back of the central lugs. It has an internal titanium reinforcement, guaranteeing ideal long-term shape and is teamed with an extension for wearing the watch over a tech-diving suit.
The watch comes in a water-resistant and shock-resistant Peli presentation box. It includes the strap extension, a travel pouch, a magnifying glass, as well as a set of dividers and cutting tools offering the possibility of compartmentalising it for any future use.
The new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 Tech Gombessa Ref. 5019-12B30-64A has a price of Euro 29,200. blancpain.com
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