Blancpain Fifty Fathoms: Everything You Need To Know

Have you ever heard of Blancpain, the world's oldest watch brand? Or maybe you're wondering who invented the first dive watch? How about the first steel sports watch?
In this video we're telling you everything you need to know about the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and Bathyscaphe, including the history, inspiration for the original dive watch, and how the watch compares today.
The Fifty Fathoms was the first watch designed and has served as the baseline for all dive watch designs. Even Rolex has admitted to pulling from the Fifty Fathoms design for the first submariner! This is important information to know for any investor or collector of sport watches.
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Additional clips from: • The Fifty Fathoms Hist...

[@OSJTV]

Can you show a picture of the rose gold model on the pad with the tan enamel? I think the color of the enamel is fantastic. A very limited piece that I'm surprised we still have in stock!!!

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

You can find the full review of the Rose Gold Chrono here!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKK3XqykrNqsgqs

[@impexRQ]

The Blancpain FF is just incredible stunning… I got it few weeks ago and I can’t believe I waited so long before purchasing this master piece. All the Rolex went back to the safe and this one is my only one

[@jamespalsson746]

We all want a non limited 40mm fifty fathoms

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

Exactly.

[@jeffd4026]

You guys are awesome! Keep these videos coming. I love learning the history of these brands that i've heard of but would've never researched.All new level of respect for Blancpain!

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

We appreciate it Jeff!

[@robertsullivan4773]

I own the Bathyscaphe In ceramic with the blue dial on sail cloth. I picked it over the 50 like you because it fit my thinner wrist better. What you failed to mention and I will is along with all that history comes a watch made to the highest horology standards. The movement is made to the highest standards of finish and has three main sping barrels giving it a 5 day power reserve and ridiculous accuracy for a mechanical watch. Mine is currently running +1 second a day. I'm adding this because the Bathyscaphe and the 50 are both premium watches and are expensive and just going on history might scare off a newbie buyer. In closing don't compare ether Blancpain divers here to Rolex there is no comparison the Blancpain Bathyscaphe and 50 are far superior watches and will set you apart from the sheeple. By the way I own two Rolex a GMT and a new Submariner.

[@paulh2468]

Thank you. Very educational.

[@1959xk150]

Nice video. Thanks

[@ahmetkrom]

Very informative and professional presentation

[@richardwarren2024]

Great content, guys.

[@robertsullivan4773]

Very nice presentation. I myself have the Bathyscaphe ceramic in blue. I selected it for all the reasons you mentioned. It's so light and flexible and fits my smaller wrist. The most important thing I like about it is it's classy looking and doesn't have any of the baggage of a Submariner. Even though I succumbed to adding one to my modest collection too You can never have too many divers.

[@JimJones762x39]

I love my FF so glad I finally pulled the trigger and purchased it real history and amazing movement

[@Leftystrat]

That blue is one of the best I’ve seen in ages.just pops!

[@Eyescream64]

I just got mine a week ago, been wearing it everyday. Just magnificent!

[@johnnathan2794]

40mm fifty fathoms please

[@mikeshandling8074]

Great video George and Elizabeth, I love both of my Blancpain, best decision ever. Have the FF in Hawaii as we speak.👍👍👍👍

[@yvesb1227]

Excellent Team work Elizabeth and George! As a watch passionate and a Blancpain fan, I know the story very well. This fact allows me to appreciate how you both tell it with such fluidity within each other. Thanks for sharing:)

[@OliverSmithJeweler]

Thank you for the kind words Yves, it was a fun story for us to tell! - Elizabeth

[@yvesb1227]

​@@OliverSmithJeweler You're welcome. And Congratulations for your nomination within the "Hot 100 Inspiring Independents" !!

[@impexRQ]

It’s absolutely the first and best watch diver ever designed

[@dannyg6592]

Really enjoyed the history behind Blancpain. Very nicely done, as always!

[@rexmabunga]

Awesome 101 with the Ur dive watch!

[@yuriseluchenko4483]

Short and straight to the point - thank you. If I may ask, is the bezel also unidirectional on Bathyscaphe model? Thanks.

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Yes also a unidirectional bezel on the Bathyscaphe models

[@mikesomerset6338]

Great video! I learned a lot. Not least, until now I assumed the rotating bezel was a Rolex invention.

[@nanomac4147]

Great review. Actually, it’s the best Fifty Fathoms review. The two reviewers format worked very well. I’m treating myself to a watch for my 50th - one to pass on in due course to a grandson! If I’m honest, if it was possible to get one at list price, I would probably go for a Rolex Deepsea. Sea-Dweller, but I refuse to pay a penny more than list price. I have narrowed my search down to either a Fifty Fathoms or an Omega Ultradeep. On the one hand, I love the Old School history of the Fifty Fathoms. I really loved that Rolex couldn’t put a unidirectional bezel on the Submariner until the patent expired in 1980!! But the ridiculous fact that the Ultradeep is good to 6,000m is very persuasive! It’s a nice choice to have to make!

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Thank you for watching Nano, wishing you all the best in your fun decision!

[@Justfilloutthe111111]

Wearing a Bathyscaphe black ceramic. Had it a year. Worn it every day. Work at steel mill.

[@canadianwatchguy6768]

Very informative and well put together presentation. I genuinely feel that Blancpain is the watch brand with the most untapped potential. The two LE’s they released with Hodinkee show the direction they could go in (smaller pieces with callbacks to their storied history) but for some reason choose not to. Taking a look at the resale values of those limited edition prices (I have wanted to own the 3/6/9/12-dial Bathyscaphe since the moment I first laid eyes on it), Blancpain is leaving a massive amount of brand equity on the table. The current fifty-fathoms is a nice looking watch, but the tinted lume and oversized case eliminate the appeal for a very wide segment of potential buyers.

[@johnhwang1251]

its so hard to find any of these for sale!

[@vvvhhhhhbb]

It's not all about money for some companies.

[@federicopedata2950]

The Blancpain is the best brand ever made… also your bathiscaphe on the wrist is the new version titane 23 grade it’s just gorgeous 😍

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Thanks for watching Federico, and good eye!

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

Love the watch, but really would need a 40mm or 42mm.

[@Nefville]

Blancpain makes one of my favorite watches, the Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date in gold. Preferably yellow gold. Shame they quit making it, by the time I can afford it the watch will be vintage.

[@RoyTrevinoMusic]

Where can I get one in Texas?

[@cbg1974]

Great watches - my preferred watch over the Sub. Shame about that nasty scratch on the back of the Bathy. Beautiful watch and they are in a class of their own.

[@andrewholt3849]

The standard stainless steel Automatique Fifty Fathoms with the closed caseback and few remaining Faraday anti-magnetic cage, now everyone is moving to silicon parts, is the one I’d go for: in blue or black dial. The Titanium versions released in the last couple of years have an open caseback and no Fataday cage, but silicon parts. The Flyback chronographs in steel have the Faraday cage and are on another planet to the very limited and overpriced Daytona. I think retail tue standard non-Chrono is £12K wks the Flyback Chrono - with 300 m water resistance: and the CEO Marc Hayek said you can use the pushers under water. Is £17K. The ‘market price of a Daytona is about £35K. They also have calendar and moon phase integrated into some Automatique and Bathyscaphe Fifty Fathoms. The Villeret range has complicated tourbion watches. The

[@bensaigon3589]

i wanted my next watch to be a cartier santos but little by little this blancpain is catching my eye...

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Thats how it happens!

[@markgiles8527]

Absolutely loving the Fifty Fathoms watches now. It would be real nice is Blancpain would stop making Limited Watches and make more available to the masses. ❤ Until then I have settled with the Tornek-Rayville TR-660 and the RDUNAE R6 Legendary Diver. Pick up your game, Blancpain (SWATCH). No point having people loving to own one of your watches and supplying 500 of them. 😮

[@charlieboylol527]

And it has a 5 day power reserve , thanks

[@danielbobrowski5224]

How about FF Barracuda, hope my spelling is correct 😮

[@gesunelson]

How do you know when the Fifty Fathoms is fully wound? Is there anything in place to prevent overwining the watch? It's absolutely beautiful and my favourite dive watch

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Hi Gerry, the watch has an automatic movement so you do not need to worry about overwinding. Our recommendation is 60-80 winds to ensure the watch is fully wound

[@gesunelson]

@@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler thank you for your reply. I picked mine up last Saturday and it's in no danger of running out of power. This is purely because it hasn't left my wrist since I got it!

[@sardendibs]

It's an automatic.

[@spincolor]

They had the rose gold version on the table and never showed it up close! What a shame. It looks absolutely spectacular on the official website. I think it's the only rose gold watch I would ever buy.

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

We have a full review on the Blancpain rose gold chrono here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKK3XqykrNqsgqs

[@spincolor]

@@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler Thanks!

[@Pentonavalsolutions]

Con la rubia presentando, me quedaría a ver cualquier review

[@dees9502]

Big Apple! 212 baby! ✌️

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Welcome!

[@mattfoss1652]

Great Video!! It surprises me that the upper tier Swatch companies are still at a 3 year warranty. Rolex and AP are 5 years and JLC, Panerai and IWC are 8 years. Your thoughts??

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

We have not heard anything about extending a warranty but it wouldn't be surprising if they adjusted to the market

[@trumptookthevaccine1679]

Weird omega is 5

[@maratg9811]

Dear Elizabeth and George! I'm going to buy Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and what do you advise me, blue face or black?! Very interesting! Thank you for your hard work! Sincerely, Marat St. Petersburg, Russia.

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Hi Marat, If you don't already have a black dial in your collection then black is a good option because it matches with everything and is always in. If you already have a black dial watch then I would recommend the blue as something different! The Blancpain blue sunburst dials are beautiful. - Elizabeth

[@RB-xv4si]

Rudimental is not a word. I think you mean rudimentary.

[@powerplay.556]

Was disappointed with my Bathyscaphe purchase a few years ago. Sold it 3 months after buying it brand new. It would gain 10 seconds in the first minute after winding, the bezel was horrendous to move and sounded cheap, nobody at Blancpain could tell me whether the sailcloth strap was water resistant and that's when I received a reply. The transparent case back, beautiful looking movement and 5 day power reserve sold me, but the rest of it is pretty damn ugly. The point of the lugs were razor sharp. The fifty fathoms is a better purchase, but who wears a 45mm watch anymore? I purchased the Sea Dweller 43 a few months ago and it's perfect in every way possible.

[@davidr2802]

agreed a had one and the bezel pip never lined up exactly at 12 and the sailcloth strap started to fray. Sold it and got a Omega PO Tokyo 2020 edition. it is pretty ridiculous that they don't mainstream the 40MM FF specials

[@Laguna2013]

if only they made this in a swatch

[@shuxtable8432]

What are your thoughts on the Blancpain x Swatch collection? 🤔

[@puccini4530]

Superb watches at BIG prices. The major problem for all the prestige makers, is that the Rolex proposition just profoundly superior, especially the 2023 versions with updated calibers. Plan B: buy a Blancpain and and soak up the news that it lost 40% of its value as you walked out of the boutique. And Rolex seem to understand that basic diver watches should be 40mm to allow their use as a daily beater. Gedit?

[@federicopedata2950]

Nice match but honestly the Blancpain is 50 fathoms ahead of rolex . Better movement, the bracelet x71 is just gorgeous (cost 3 time more than Rolex)

[@Pakiboyo]

So Blancpain invented the uni-directional bezel?

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

Correct! They held the patent for many years

[@huemann7637]

Although risky, making an early ascent while diving is less risky than not breathing for 20 minutes.

[@LIONTAMER3D]

1) ditch the date or stay grand date, don't do a 4/30 date window 2) make them in WILD colors: lime green, neon orange, florescent yellow, hot pink 3) change nothing else!

[@Flavio_de_Oliveira]

What's the point of wearing only one glove?

[@WatchesbyOliverSmithJeweler]

You're not wrong, but it has become George's signature look

[@jonirwin7316]

No such thing as a waterproof watch. WR yes.

[@paaustria]

Way to go dude: nonstop interrupting your female colleague! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@akjackson009]

The only thing I need to know is its way too big.

[@kevinr206]

Modern versions look bad with the date, no date is better

[@spincolor]

Agree. I really wish there was a no date version. Hodinkee made a no date version, but they also modified the bezel/hands.

[@jackster285]

I don't mind the date so much, but hate it in that 4 o'clock position

[@Leftystrat]

Leaves a sub in the dust in all areas the blue titanium imho