Even for these editions, the design is dictated by a tool watch needs: black dial with contrasting luminous numbers, oversized hands and a black rotating bezel for an optimal readability. This was the year when Blancpain released the Fifty Fathoms dive watch intended for the use of combat divers. There are very few of these pieces that still exist with original parts and many collectors seek them. For safety reasons, it is designed to rotate only in a single direction, so that any mistakes made or accidental turning of the bezel would result in the diver shortening the dive rather than lengthening it.It is accepted that the 1953 Fifty Fathoms watch was the first dive watch with a unidirectional rotating bezel, barely beating the Rolex Submariner.The initial model of the Fifty Fathoms had a black lumed bezel with indices and numerical markers. At the bottom edge of the case back are the military specifications reference “MIL-W-22176” and “SERIAL XXXX” to signify the serial number for the piece. Technically, it was the original modern dive watch – a nod that is often given to the Rolex Submariner, but truth be told the Fifty Fathoms debuted the year before. There are those that surfaced where the words are aligned.1953 numerical dial with aligned “Rotomatic Incabloc” markingsThere is also a version of the dial wherein the words are not aligned, but this time, it is the word “Incabloc” that’s wider.1953 Rotomatic Incabloc dial with small “Rotomatic” font and vintage ad featuring the same versionThe second type of dial does not have any numerical markers but has big rectangular indices as fifteen-minute markers. By 1953, Blancpain had managed to develop such a watch - and thus, the Fifty Fathoms was introduced to the world. These indicate the material used for the lume, Promethium 147, and the date of production. The watch is tested to be water resistant to a depth of 300 metres. Capt. The 1953 model featured innovations such as the unidirectional rotating bezel (URB), the double “O” ring system, and protection from magnetic fields. The Tornek-Rayville also comes with a dust cover but does not have any markings.Both the straps for the two models were chosen to withstand frequent use underwater. “Fifty Fathoms” comes from the unit of marine depth measurement and a fathom is equivalent to 1.829 meters. To learn more about the history of the Fifty Fathoms please click on the All content on this site is the property of The Naked Watchmaker© The Fifty Fathoms divers watch was originally designed in 1953. Seitdem begleiten wir Taucher, Wissenschaftler und Unterwasserfotografen bei ihren Entdeckungsreisen in die fragile Schönheit der Ozeane und leisten so einen Beitrag zur Kenntnis dieses faszinierenden Universums und der Motivation, dieses zu schützen.Die jüngsten Modelle der Kollektion sind außergewöhnliche Kreationen, aber auch eine Hommage an die Pioniere, die das autonome Tauchen möglich gemacht haben. hm..Hi I have a fifties fanthom all original which has been in a box since 1975 when my wife’s father died in a car accident if a send you pictures will you give me a no B.S. It also features a free sprung balance wheel, less sensitive to vibrations and shocks.The Calibre 1315 comes with large rubies, inserted directly in the bridges and plates, as well as a classical finishing with bevelled angles on the bridges, perlage of the plates and circular stripes. Finally, Capt. Their responsibilities include nowadays, among others, the protection of ships and marine equipment as well as rescue and recovery operations. On the upper half of the inside of the circle, it has the “Blancpain” signature. Below these words, there are the markings “Rec License” number and then the word “DANGER”.

The resulting pieces came to be known as Mil Spec watches as it followed certain military specifications. The jewels are larger in diameter than conventionally found on most calibres. The readability of the dial and the bezel both with Super-LumiNova detail is another element that defines this piece. This British measure corresponds to a depth of 91.45 meters, which is, at that time, considered as the maximum depth that divers can safely reach with a one-time use oxygen mixture.