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Lot Essay
According to the Archives of Blancpain, the present watch was manufactured in 1965
The present timepiece is one of the coveted examples from the famous Fifty Fathoms series, the 41 mm. large size civilian model preserved in excellent overall condition.
Led by Blancpain's then CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter, a passionate diver, the first Fifty Fathoms was released in 1953, a diving watch preceding Rolex's Submariner, which later debuted in 1954. Beginning with the French Combat Diving School who helped with the design elements with their know-how of actual diving requirements, Blancpain made the first dive watch that was favored by divers and soon it was deemed ready for military use. These watches included a large and legible bezel that could time initial descent, luminous markings to see underwater, and of course the case was waterproof to great depths.
In addition to regular military use, the general population caught on to this good-looking dive watch. Blancpain already issued to various military in many countries, but recreational divers were also interested. In response, the firm decided to add a feature to their watches that would set them apart from the military issued watches. A bright yellow and red ‘No Radiations’ mark was placed in large format at 6 o’clock. This would also ensure the public that no harmful coatings were used in the making of their timepiece, further noted in the presence of the marking T - 25 MC. to the outside of the dial, highlighting that the tritium used is less than 25 MC.
The present timepiece is one of the coveted examples from the famous Fifty Fathoms series, the 41 mm. large size civilian model preserved in excellent overall condition.
Led by Blancpain's then CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter, a passionate diver, the first Fifty Fathoms was released in 1953, a diving watch preceding Rolex's Submariner, which later debuted in 1954. Beginning with the French Combat Diving School who helped with the design elements with their know-how of actual diving requirements, Blancpain made the first dive watch that was favored by divers and soon it was deemed ready for military use. These watches included a large and legible bezel that could time initial descent, luminous markings to see underwater, and of course the case was waterproof to great depths.
In addition to regular military use, the general population caught on to this good-looking dive watch. Blancpain already issued to various military in many countries, but recreational divers were also interested. In response, the firm decided to add a feature to their watches that would set them apart from the military issued watches. A bright yellow and red ‘No Radiations’ mark was placed in large format at 6 o’clock. This would also ensure the public that no harmful coatings were used in the making of their timepiece, further noted in the presence of the marking T - 25 MC. to the outside of the dial, highlighting that the tritium used is less than 25 MC.