Image: Blancpain

Only a handful of dive watches today can lay claim to the label of pioneer that the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe does. The diving world’s symbol, created in 1956, blazed a trail for others to follow, outlining criteria and conditions that allow timepieces to reach the unfathomable depths of underwater exploration. Though diving is no longer as popular as it once was, dive watches are nevertheless popular for their utility and elegance. Various complexities have been added to the Fifty Fathoms throughout the years to accommodate the changing demands of the user, one of which is the whole calendar, as shown in the current interpretation of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet is built with an indomitable spirit and intended for utility, and it is led by the manufacturer’s “Innovation Is Our Tradition” philosophy as it blends Blancpain savoir-faire. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe’s iconic sports DNA is balanced with a touch of heritage provided by the entire calendar more typically found in the Blancpain Villeret series. In this way, the Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet upholds the notion of everyday usefulness — a watch that can withstand the rigors of daily wear while still providing calendar information at a glance.

Image: Blancpain

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet is available in two styles: dress and utilitarian. The former follows the tried-and-true format of an 18K red gold case, a sunburst blue-gradient dial, and a blue ceramic bezel with Ceragold scale, while the latter is housed in Grade 23 titanium. Variable shades of grey on the sunburst anthracite dial and matte ceramic bezel with a graduated Liquidmetal scale define a subtle color palette. Both pieces come with matching NATO or sailcloth straps, and the titanium variant comes with a titanium bracelet.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet is powered by the in-house self-winding calibre 6654.P, which has a power reserve of 72 hours and shows the date, day of the week, month, and moon phase. Given the vulnerability of entire calendars in general, a security mechanism is included into the movement, allowing owners to change the signals without putting the movement at danger.