Blancpain Fifty Fathoms*** 1000*** 1970

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BLANCPAIN Fifty Fathoms 1000 Diver, 1970
Serial: 0013 between lugs / 500348 caseback
Circa: 1970
Reference: N/A

DIAL: Black matte dial with date window at 3 o'clock and luminous hour markers. Skeleton baton hands with luminous tip center. Orange/red center seconds hand.

MOVEMENT: AS 2063, automatic movement, 17 jewels

CASE: 43mm, tonneau shaped stainless steel case, black bi-directional 60-minute bezel. Mineral crystal.

BRACELET: Black rubber tropic strap

CONDITION REPORT: Excellent condition, unpolished

NOTES: Under the 30 year tenure of CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter, an avid diver, beginning in 1950, Blancpain developed its first real diving watch. The name Fifty Fathoms, the equivalent of 91.45 meters, was the depth rating for the watch. It was developed with specifications and collaborative efforts of the French Combat Diving School. The release took place in 1953, one year before Rolex released the Submariner. Following the French Navy, other militaries followed suit including the Spanish, German, Israeli and US Navy. Of course the US Navy bid would have never been won under the protective Buy American Act without the help of Allen Tornek. The Fifty Fathoms had many innovative features in its development using radioactive Promethium 147 for its large luminous markers and even adding a humidity indicator on the dial to warn divers of any leaks. This iconic model is now a collector icon and with so few remaining in circulation, prices have climbed and continue to climb considerably.

SOLD