102nd Auction
2020/6/29
Lot 140
Blancpain, Swiss, "Fifty Fathoms No Radiations", Movement No. 3006138, Case No. 300920, Cal. R 310, 41 mm, circa 1968
A diver's automatic vintage wristwatch with centre seconds
Case: steel, screw back, anti-magnetic protection cap, bidirectional rotating bezel with 60 minutes division. Dial: black, re-lumed hands.
In 1953 Blancpain was commissioned by the French military to develop a mechanical, automatic wind diver’s watch with a unidirectional bezel that featured a graded Bakelite insert to display the diving time. The watch was named "Fifty Fathoms", because it was water-resistant to a depth of 50 fathoms (1 fm = 1,829 m), i.e., 91.45 m. In 1968 the "Fifty Fathoms No Radiations" was launched with non-radioactive luminous material on the dial and the hands.
When Blancpain launched the Fifty Fathoms, it immediately conquered one of the largest and most interesting market segments in the horological world. With its perfectly proportioned 41 mm steel case with gently curved lugs, a revolving Bakelite bezel and a jet-black dial with luminous indexes, the "Fifty Fathoms" redefined – together with the Rolex submariner – the idea of a true diver’s watch.
A diver's automatic vintage wristwatch with centre seconds
Case: steel, screw back, anti-magnetic protection cap, bidirectional rotating bezel with 60 minutes division. Dial: black, re-lumed hands.
In 1953 Blancpain was commissioned by the French military to develop a mechanical, automatic wind diver’s watch with a unidirectional bezel that featured a graded Bakelite insert to display the diving time. The watch was named "Fifty Fathoms", because it was water-resistant to a depth of 50 fathoms (1 fm = 1,829 m), i.e., 91.45 m. In 1968 the "Fifty Fathoms No Radiations" was launched with non-radioactive luminous material on the dial and the hands.
When Blancpain launched the Fifty Fathoms, it immediately conquered one of the largest and most interesting market segments in the horological world. With its perfectly proportioned 41 mm steel case with gently curved lugs, a revolving Bakelite bezel and a jet-black dial with luminous indexes, the "Fifty Fathoms" redefined – together with the Rolex submariner – the idea of a true diver’s watch.
estimated
10.000—35.000 €
Price realized
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