2010 sees an interesting release from Blancpain. Given the plethora of "vintage" or "re-release" models, I wasn't at all surprised to see that Blancpain too had dug something out from their past to share with everyone. This is a model in the Fifty Fathoms collection called the "Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Watch." It is modeled after one of the original Fifty Fathoms watches from the 1950s. If you want to know more about the history, the go here.
I don't think that Blancpain has officially released anything regarding this watch yet. They often wait a long while to do so... which is frustrating. This is more or less the same Fifty Fathoms watch you know and love, but with a special "re-issue" dial. The original Fifty Fathoms watch has that interesting atomic label on there that actually meant to indicate that the watch was radiation free. Why? Well, luminant for a long time was radioactive. Radioactive waste is portrayed as glowing green and so does most luminant. Coincidence? Not exactly.When people started to realize that luminant was radioactive, they needed to find non harmful alternatives - and luminant is pretty darn important for dive watches. Thus, this timepiece back in the 1950's proudly advertised right on the dial that it had "No Radiations." The new version comes complete with the poor English. I wonder if it would have been so bad to change it simply to "No Radiation." Apologies for not having a larger image for you to inspect the text for yourself.
The case is in steel, and I believe it is the exact same as on the current Fifty Fathoms watch model. Inside the piece is a Blancpain in-house made calibre 1315 automatic movement with 5 days of power reserve. The retro dial is more minimalist (aside from the no radiation stamp), but it has the same hands as the standard Fifty Fathoms. Is it enough to call it a while new model? I don't think so. More like a different dial version of the Fifty Fathoms - so that is why it is called the "Tribute To Fifty Fathoms" (Fifty Fathoms) watch. I don't think it is a limited edition, and price is about $10,000. Available now.
Blancpain watches on eBay here.
See Blancpain watches on Amazon here.
 BLANCPAIN TOURBILLON FIFTY FATHOMS Ref 5025 3630 52 $59,900.00 Time Remaining: 9h 36m Buy It Now for only: $59,900.00 Buy It Now |
 Seiko 5 Automatic Diver Sports Watch SNZH57 Black Custom FFF Fifty Five Fathoms $354.95 Time Remaining: 20h 26m Buy It Now for only: $354.95 Buy It Now |
 Lettres du Brassus by BLANCPAIN Magazine Issue 11 2012 X Fathoms Squelette 50 $9.99 Time Remaining: 22h 34m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 Blancpain Fifity Fathoms Vintage Rare Crown Mint Condition $2,299.00 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 31m Buy It Now for only: $2,299.00 Buy It Now |
 BLANCPAIN 45mm Stainless Steel Fifty 50 Fathoms Diver 5015 Box Papers Auto $9,690.00 Time Remaining: 1d 19h 24m Buy It Now for only: $9,690.00 Buy It Now |
 BLANCPAIN FIFTY FATHOMS CHRONOGRAPH REF 5085F 1130 52A $11,700.00 Time Remaining: 2d 1h 53m Buy It Now for only: $11,700.00 Buy It Now |
[...] attention to the names. This one is the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Aqua Lung watch, whereas last year’s model is the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms watch (note no Aqua Lung at the [...]