RAW MATERIAL
Since 1956, the manufacture from Le Brassus has been our faithful friend on and under the seas and oceans with its collection of divers forever at the cutting edge, like this novel piece it unveils.
Titanium rolls in with a blast and pursues its irresistible progression in the watchmaking world. Blancpain has taken on this material that boasts numerous qualities for its iconic Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe model. Its 43 mm-diameter case stands out through its lightness, its sturdiness and its biocompatibility and center stages the satin-brushed gray hue that’s inherent to grade 23 titanium, an alloy that includes aluminum and vanadium. Like all the references in the collection, this variation embraces all the assets of a dive watch. The case, waterproof to depths of 300 meters, effectively protects the anthracite dial where a duo of rectangular-shaped hands rotates. To ensure optimal readability under any condition of light, these hands as well as the indexes are coated with luminescent material. This pared-down composition, complemented by a discreet date aperture at 4:30, is encircled by a unidirectional bezel featuring a ceramic insert and graduations in Liquidmetal®, a metallic glass combining zirconium, titanium, copper, nickel and beryllium, whose hardness is threefold that of steel.
All the time data is driven by the 1315 caliber. This high-performing selfwinding movement delivers an incredible 210-hour power reserve.
To make sure the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Titanium fits into any wearing conditions, it’s accompanied by a choice of NATO-type textile strap or a bracelet fashioned in the same metal as the case.
Price: CHF10,800 (textile) – CHF13,200 (titanium)
By Dan Diaconu