Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act III "070/555" at Sotheby's NY

Sotheby’s to auction a special limited-edition of Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 70th model of the anniversary edition to spotlight Sotheby’s Important Watches sale

*In honor of the 70th anniversary of the historic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Diver’s watch*

Proceeds of the auction will benefit Oceana to support Ocean conservation

Auction in New York on 7 December

Public exhibition open starting 1 December

NEW YORK, October 2023 - On the heels of Swiss luxury watch manufacture Blancpain’s unveiling of the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 timepiece, Sotheby’s is proud to announce it will offer for sale the momentous 70th timepiece of the 555-piece limited-edition series created to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the world’s first true diver’s watch, the Fifty Fathoms, in its Important Watches auction in New York on 7 December.

This year Blancpain paid homage to the anniversary in three “acts”, each taking inspiration from essential aspects of the full collection. The brand’s third act, the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 timepiece, incorporates the highly sought-after MIL-SPEC moisture indicator function originally created for combat divers of the US Navy in the late 1950s. Unlike the non-magnetic watch that was used by the US Navy, the case of this watch is made of 9K Bronze Gold designed to offer a pink hue that compliments the skin tone, unlike traditional bronze, and has a longer lifespan, fusing form and function for not just diving expeditions but everyday use. These iconic features coupled with the significance of the watch being the 70th numbered piece in the series created to mark the 70th anniversary provide a rare opportunity for potential buyers.

A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit Oceana, whose charitable and notable work is dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Support from the sale will advance efforts underway at Oceana to protect marine habitat and improve fisheries in North America. As Oceana’s exclusive watch partner since 2020, Blancpain also shares the same deep unwavering commitment to the ocean community, their original Fifty Fathoms having played an essential role in the development of scuba diving and discovery of the ocean world. The invention of the Fifty Fathoms has enabled Blancpain to forge close links with the ocean community that have been consistently strengthened over the past 70 years, including partnering with Oceana on two major scientific expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico. These expeditions laid the groundwork for public outreach and targeted advocacy that will expand protections for some of Mexico’s most biologically diverse reefs.

In furtherance of the celebration of the Fifty Fathoms, Sotheby’s & Blancpain will also host a curated exhibition and series of events anchored by an offering of important Fifty Fathoms timepieces from the models history. Alongside the sale of the special 70th Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 timepiece in the Important Watches auction, which is offered with an estimate of $20,000 – 40,000, bidders will be able to vie for historic models like OSS operative worn models, an incredibly early ‘Aqua-Lung’, and an original MIL-SPEC I.

Looking ahead to the December sale, Vincent Brasesco, Vice President and Specialist of Watches for the Americas at Sotheby’s said: “This collaboration marks a truly exceptional moment for Sotheby’s and the watch community as it unites Blancpain’s passion for innovation with Oceana’s highly deserving cause and impactful mission. We are absolutely delighted to present the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 to the public and commemorate the 70th anniversary of the iconic model, showcasing both the technical prowess and craftsmanship of Blancpain while simultaneously underscoring the importance of ocean discovery and preservation that the Fifty Fathoms has been a part of for its entire life.”

When I first joined Blancpain and was introduced to then-CEO Mr. Jean-Jacques Fiechter, I realised that both he and the Fifty Fathoms were diving pioneers,” states Blancpain President and CEO Marc A. Hayek. “The story behind the watch fascinated me and I knew I wanted to give something back to the ocean, especially in research. In the 1950s we were still discovering the world, but today it is about preservation for the next generation. That is why I am so proud to have the monies raised by the sale of our latest limited-edition Fifty Fathoms timepiece be put to excellent use in the hands of our incredible partner, Oceana.”

The Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act III

The 555-piece limited-edition series pays tribute to the MILSPEC model – some of whose variants are among the rarest and most sought-after timepieces by collectors – by including a moisture indictor originally developed by Jean-Jacques Fiechter with the purpose of providing divers with the confirmation that the watch had not been damaged by another diver on a previous mission. At the time, this moisture indicator was part of the specifications of the US Navy, which regarded this model as the only one to meet all the strict criteria laid down for its underwater missions. Further drawing inspiration from its predecessor, the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 includes a matt black dial with vintage Super-LumiNova® -enhanced moisture indicator and hour-markers; a unidirectional rotating bezel with black ceramic insert featuring a vintage Super-LumiNova® diving scale; as well as a two-tone NATO strap featuring the colour code of the original timepiece now made from fishing nets recovered from the oceans.

The anniversary model is distinguished by the introduction of the use of 9K Bronze Gold as the material for the case instead of the German silver required by the US Navy. Uniquely designed to offer a pink hue and pleasing aesthetics, this type of bronze stands out by the fact that it can be worn in direct contact with the skin, and has a longer lifespan since oxidation to a verdigris colour is prevented by the addition of gold.

The 1154.P2 movement is housed in a case that is water-resistant to 30 bar and measures 41.30 mm like the historic MIL-SPEC. Its twin barrel endows the timepiece with a substantial 100-hour power reserve, while a silicon balance-spring ensures the movement's resistance to magnetism. For the first time, Blancpain is offering a 1000-gauss version of its movement, thanks to the use of a silicon balance-spring coupled with exclusive alloys for the escapement. Unlike the original version – whose movement is not visible because resistance to magnetic fields was only possible at the time by encasing the mechanism in a soft iron cage – the heart of the timepiece can be admired through an open sapphire crystal caseback, as the use of a non-magnetic spiral enables such transparency without compromising its resistance to magnetism.

Blancpain Ocean Commitment

Blancpain played a key role in the development of scuba diving with the launch in 1953 of the Fifty Fathoms, the world's first true diver's watch. Professional and amateur divers alike immediately recognised the genius of its design, as well as its outstanding features and reliability. Close ties were thus naturally forged between Blancpain and the ocean enthusiasts who adopted it: deep-sea pioneers, explorers, oceanographers and underwater photographers. These links have led Blancpain to become involved in the exploration, preservation and protection of the oceans. The Manufacture has not only acted alongside those who share these motivations but has also initiated support for numerous environmental initiatives as a founding partner. These include the Pristine Seas expeditions, which it supported for five years, enabling the creation of new marine protected areas covering more than four million square kilometres around the world.

To date, Blancpain, through its Blancpain Ocean Commitment programme, has co-financed more than 20 major scientific expeditions, helped double the surface area of protected marine areas around the world, and presented several award-winning documentary films. The Manufacture has also been behind numerous exhibitions of underwater photography and publications. These contributions to the exploration and protection of the oceans have been complemented by the sale of several series of limited-edition watches, each generating an additional EUR 1,000 on top of Blancpain's substantial annual funding.

About the Fifty Fathoms

Launched in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms is the first true diver’s watch. Created by a diver to meet the needs of underwater exploration, it was chosen by diving pioneers and combat diver corps around the world as a professional timekeeping instrument. With its water resistance, robust doubled-sealed crown, selfwinding movement, contrasting dark dial with luminescent indications, lockable rotating bezel and antimagnetic protection, the Fifty Fathoms has become an indispensable instrument for divers on their underwater missions.

These key signature elements that established the Fifty Fathoms as the archetypal diver’s watch continue to define the identity of such timepieces for the entire watch industry. Bearing witness to the past while simultaneously looking firmly to the future, contemporary Fifty Fathoms models incorporate modern movements renowned for their robustness and reliability. They feature numerous technical innovations derived from Blancpain’s longstanding experience in the field of diving, its risks and its imperious necessities. The Fifty Fathoms has played an essential role in the development of scuba diving and the discovery of the ocean world. It has enabled Blancpain to forge close links with the ocean community that have been consistently strengthened over the past 70 years. The Fifty Fathoms is the catalyst for Blancpain’s commitment to ocean preservation.

About Oceana

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 275 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.