Watches -- 13 days ago
In 1953, Blancpain cemented itself as a captain of the oceans, when it launched what many horological connoisseurs believe to be the first modern dive watch, the Fifty Fathoms. Not just content with designing watches destined for the deepest seas, this release and worldwide recognition spurred its long and ongoing mission to exploring, preserving, and achieving a better understanding of the world’s oceans.
Part of that has seen Blancpain work tirelessly with corporations to do its bit for the planet. The Blancpain Ocean Commitment encompasses the brand's global initiatives to support ocean exploration and protection, and it's made up of multiple efforts. Its big push is the citizen science programme, Adopt the Blue, which creates thousands of small protected areas via a global network of professional divers, dive centres and local communities. It has also partnered with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), offering direct support to the global 30x30 commitment to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. Meanwhile, a link up with the PADI Community Grant provides funds to crucial conservation efforts in local communities.
And plunging ever further with its over 20 years of dedication to ocean preservation, Blancpain has launched a new limited edition Blancpain Ocean Commitment (BOC) timepiece. This ultra exclusive series of 100 pieces showcases the Fifty Fathoms Tech line, which launched in 2023, in a new 45 mm format. The watch, which has a satin-brushed case, still adopts the design of the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 Tech Gombessa, which was released two years ago, but now also has a thickness of 14.1 mm. It features a grade 23 titanium case, known for its unrivalled strength and surprising lightness, and also houses a helium valve for saturation dives in a hyperbaric chamber, should that be your thing. Inside it houses a calibre 1315A, Blancpain's renowned automatic movement with a five-day power reserve.
It was with the Fifty Fathoms, all those decades back, where Blancpain's commitment to ocean preservation stems from, and so the latest drop has practicality to it too. Therefore the funds raised from every sale of the watches will be allocated to the newly established Blancpain x Sulubaaï Marine Research Centre, an extension of the Sea Academy project, a flagship initiative of the Brand's commitment to the ocean. In total Blancpain will pledge 100,000 euros to the research centre. Inaugurated on 7 February 2025, the Blancpain x Sulubaaï Marine Research Center is an extension of the Sea Academy programme, which has dedicated itself to four main pillars: the protection, restoration, education, and replication of the ocean.
More than just a timepiece, the Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV stands as a symbol of a commitment to a better future. Each of the 100 watches comes with a Pelicase box, a donation certificate, and a special edition photograph in a series of 100 prints. Each image is numbered to match the watch's serial number and is signed by four times Wildlife Photographer of the Year Laurent Ballesta. The image itself is part of his award-winning series from the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year grand prize and depicts a horseshoe crab in its natural habitat around Pangatalan Island in Shark Fin Bay.
The new Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV is available now for £19,900 at blancpain.com
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