Blancpain - Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3

Blancpain presented the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 5901-5630. A 555-piece limited-edition, it is made of 9K Bronze Gold. Price: CHF 30,000

Blancpain continues to celebrate the 70 years of its iconic diver's watch by unveiling the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3, a 555-piece limited-edition that reinterprets the MIL-SPEC model adopted by the main armed forces of the 1950s. This new model follows the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1 and the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 Tech Gombessa, 

The MIL-SPEC watch introduced a moisture indicator in 1957. This indicator served as an additional safety feature. Its purpose was to confirm that the watch remained undamaged from previous missions, reassuring divers. This moisture indicator was a crucial part of the specifications set by the US Navy, which considered this model the only one meeting all the rigorous criteria for their underwater missions. 

The Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 pays tribute to that watch.

This third anniversary timepiece comes in a 41.30 mm (the same diameter as the original MIL-SPEC) x 13.30 mm case crafted from 9K Bronze Gold, a patented alloy enriched with 37.5% gold (hallmarked 9K), copper – 50%, allowing it to be called "bronze" – silver, palladium and gallium. 

Designed to offer a pink hue and pleasing aesthetics, this type of bronze stands out because it can be worn in direct contact with the skin. Additionally, it has a longer lifespan, as the typical bronze oxidation to a verdigris color is prevented by the addition of gold. Water resistance is guaranteed up to a pressure of 30 bar (300 metres / 1,000 feet).

The unidirectional rotating bezel features a black ceramic insert with a vintage Super-LumiNova diving scale.

A raised sapphire crystal protects the matt black dial with vintage Super-LumiNova-enhanced hands and hour-markers. At 6 o'clock we find the water-tightness indicator.

The Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 is powered by the 1154.P2 Calibre, beating at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) and offering a remarkable power reserve of 100 hours.

Unlike the original version of this calibre – whose movement is not visible because resistance to magnetic fields was only possible at the time by encasing the mechanism in a soft iron cage – the heart of the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 can be admired through a sapphire crystal caseback, as the use of a non-magnetic silicon balance-spring enables the timepiece to feature such transparency without compromising its resistance to magnetism. 

The oscillating weight features a design inspired by the historical rotor. It has an opening to enhance flexibility and shock resistance. Its snail-shaped finish echoes its rotational movement. The engraved vintage logo in 18K gold adds the final vintage touch to the watch's appearance.

The watch is paired with a two-tone NATO strap featuring the colour code of the original timepiece and made from fishing nets recovered from the oceans.

Issued in a 555-piece limited edition, the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 ref. 5901-5630-NANA is presented in a box inspired by a historic camera housing, echoing Blancpain's ocean protection initiatives. Its retail price is CHF 30,000. blancpain.com

Suggested reading:

- The history of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

- The history of Blancpain, the oldest watch brand