104th Auction
2021/5/22
Lot 213
BlancpainFifty Fathoms Flyback
A diving wristwatch in mint condition, with flyback chronograph, full calendar and moon phase - with original box, leather wallet, guarantee card and booklets
Sold
estimated
12.000—18.000 €
Price realized
15.000 €
specific features
Case
Steel, glazed screw back, unidirectional rotating bezel with 60 minutes division, screwed crown and pushers, original strap with steel deployant clasp.
Dial
Blue, engine-turned centre, luminous indexes and hands.
Movement
Automatic.
Case no.645
Ref.5066F-1140-52B
Cal.66BF8
Diam.45 mm
Circa2014
Ctry.Swiss
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.
Paying homage to the early diver’s watches, new and extravagant models were created, making use of avant-garde materials to set hitherto unsurpassed technical standards.