Blancpain's Vintage Appeal: Celebrating 70 years of Bathyscaphe Dive Watch Excellence

The watch industry has seen many gamechangers but Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms, being one of the earliest dive watches, remains a symbol of the brand’s unique innovation. Yet, it wasn’t the only significant creation of the esteemed watchmaker. Alongside it was the Bathyscaphe, a watch created in 1956 as the civilian counterpart to the Fifty Fathoms. Bathyscaphe was designed to be a ‘skin diver’ timepiece - an elegant, restrained alternative to the intense military-issued watch.

It was Blancpain’s then-CEO and enthusiastic diver, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, who ensured that the Bathyscaphe was not merely a watch, but a tribute to the era of deep-sea exploration led by Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard. The name ‘Bathyscaphe’ was inspired by Piccard’s pioneering deep-sea exploration vessel of the 1940s. Designed for the deepest regions of the ocean, this vessel symbolized humanity’s undying curiosity and pursuit of unknown depths.

The Bathyscaphe came to life on the wrist in 1956. It emerged as a softer alternative to the highly technical professional dive watches dominating the military scene. Despite its less technical appearance, the Bathyscaphe was still a capable and reliable dive watch, perfect for those who partook in recreational diving.

Now, Blancpain celebrates the 70th anniversary of this watch that mirrors the vision of their former CEO and the golden age of recreational diving. The Fisty Fathom Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary edition is a nod to a bygone era and a tribute to Blancpain’s historical excellence.