The 150th Open Championship this week was one that we will never forget. Cam Smith played an unbelievable final round but decided to keep his wrist bare while accepting the Claret Jug. Thankfully Sir Nick Faldo was on location and wearing a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 500 Fathoms dive watch on his wrist.
WOTW Specs
Name: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 500 Fathoms Titanium
Reference: 50015-12B30-52B
Limited: Yes, 500 Pieces
Date: 2009
Case: Titanium
Bezel: Titanium Saphire Crystal
Dial: Black
Size: 48mm
Movement: Blancpain Calibre 1315, 35 Jewels
Power Reserve: 120 Hours
Glass: Saphire Crystal
Waterproof: 10,000 Feet
Bracelet: Sail-Canvas Strap
Price: $24,700 (~$15,000)
Blancpain is not the most common name when it comes to watches but they have been making timepieces for over 280 years. Jehan-Jacques Blancpain started the company in 1735 in Villeret, Switzerland. Introduced in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms line is one of the most popular lines in the Blancpain lineup. Sir Nick’s 500 Fathoms was a limited edition of just 500 pieces for the entire world. It is a larger dive watch, clocking in at 48mm, but built from titanium so it is still lightweight. The titanium case has the traditional screw-down crown at 3 o’clock and then a decompression valve at the 10 o’clock location. The 500 Fathoms is waterproof rated to a wild 10,000 feet and the decompression valve helps to ensure no damage to the watch when diving to extreme depths. The back of the case screws down and contains a very large display back window to view the beautiful automatic movement. On top of the case is a large uni-directional bezel that features an easy to read diving scale. The bezel is crafted out of lightweight titanium and contains a diving scale that is covered in luminescent material. The bezel is then covered with sapphire crystal that is domed for a special look that also is extremely scratch resistant.
The dial on the 500 Fathoms is black and grey but as you look closely textured in a unique pattern. The base of the dial is a dark grey and then black sections are actually raised to contain the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock Arabic numerals. Those numerals are very large and filled with luminescent material for very easy reading in low light or dark water during dives. The hands on the watch are finished in matte black and the date window sits at the 4 o’clock position. Inside the titanium armor is a Blancpain self-winding automatic movement, the Calibre 1315. The 1315 features a beautiful winding rotor that is styled after a ship’s propeller. A triple balance wheel design gives the wearer almost 120 hours of power reserve while running smoothly on 35 jewels. A glucydur free sprung balance is made from beryllium bronze for added precision since it does not expand or contract much with temperature change.
The fabric strap is made from woven sail canvas that is extremely durable and contains a rubber backing for comfort on the wrist. At 24mm wide and held to the lugs on the case with hex screws, the strap is extremely durable. A double deployant clasp cannot be accidentally released, you have to press down the twin triggers in order to release the clasp. The market for Blancpain watches is not near as strong as some of the bigger brands so you are able to get this watch at a good discount. The retail price for one of these 500 pieces was $24,700, but you are now able to get one on your wrist for around $15,000 on the secondary market.
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Ken
Jul 22, 2022 at 10:19 am
48mm? Wow, a dinner plate. Won’t age well.
Baker
Jul 19, 2022 at 10:18 am
Blancpain = whitebread.
Wow.