Baselworld 2014: Blancpain Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph


Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback ChronoBlancpain introduced a modern re-issue of its famed divers’ watch, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, at last year’s Baselworld. For Baselworld 2014, the brand has added a new model to the vintage-inspired Bathyscaphe family, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph.

This new version of the Blancpain Bathyscaphe, a dive watch first introduced in the 1950s, contains an all-new Blancpain manufacture movement, which features automatic winding, a column-wheel chronograph mechanism with vertical clutch, and a superfast frequency of 36,000 vph (5 Hz). The chronograph has a flyback function that enables the user to stop and restart it using the pusher at 4 o’clock. The chronograph pushers are operable underwater even at 300 meters depth, the watch’s stated water-resistance. The movement includes a balance spring made of magnetism-resistant silicon, which enabled Blancpain to add a sapphire exhibition caseback and to dispense with the standard Faraday cage. Its oscillating rotor is made of 18k gold, coated in the platinum alloy NAC and also sporting a sculpted Blancpain logo.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chrono - frontThe dial of the Blancpain Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph, like that of its historical predecessor, is domed and indicates the hours by means of simple lines and dots rather than numerals. The date appears in a window at 4 o’clock. The dial has a sunburst finish while the subdials (chrono counters and small seconds) have snailed finishes. The rectangular hour and minute hands are also a nod to the original 1950s Bathyscaphe. The unidirectional rotating divers’ bezel is made of ceramic and has hour markers filled with the patented LiquidMetal alloy, which enhances the bezel’s scratch-resistance. With the needs of divers in mind, Blancpain has also treated several elements on the dial with Super-LumiNova.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph has a 43-mm case, available in a brushed black ceramic version with black dial (pictured, priced at $17,000) or in brushed steel with “meteor gray” dial ($15,000). The watches are fitted with either a NATO fabric strap or sail canvas strap; the steel version also comes on a metal bracelet, a first for this collection.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chrono - angle

Below: here’s what the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chrono looks like on the wrist, in a photo snapped at Baselworld 2014…

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chrono - wrist

 

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  1. I think it is too ugly to cost that much the old fifthy fathom in blue is far more attractive

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