In keeping with the general approach of the Blue Editions collection, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Editions gives pride of place to the colour blue. This is even the first Blancpain model to be almost entirely blue. A colour familiar to the brand from Le Brassus, which has been deeply involved in the marine world since the 1950s, having launched the first diving watch, the Fifty Fathoms. The blue of the ocean has also dominated Blancpain’s multi-year financial support for environmental causes as part of the “Blancpain Ocean Commitment” programme.
The 43 mm brushed ceramic case of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Editions, as well as its unidirectionnal rotating bezel with time markings and the sunburst dial, are blue. The unique satin-brushed chapter ring, with Super-LumiNova®-coated hour-markers, strikes a fine contrast with the snailed chronograph counters. Visible through a sapphire caseback, another touch of blue adorns the 18-carat gold oscillating weight that is engraved with the Blancpain and Bucherer logos, while the bridges have snailed surfaces and bevelled edges.
The self-winding chronograph movement Caliber F385 beats at 36,000 vph. This frequency is perfectly suited to its functions, since it serves to divide each second into one-tenth intervals, and also provides enhanced precision. The Caliber F385 offers a vertical clutch ensuring smooth activation of the chronograph and enables it to operate non-stop, and a column-wheel system that provides a particularly smooth feel when starting and stopping a timing operation. Antimagnetic protection is ensured by the integration of a silicon balance-spring. The flyback function makes sure that resetting and restarting are instantly executed by a single press on the 4 o’clock pusher. This device proves extremely useful when fast-paced measurements of successive times are required. Water-resistant to 300 metres, like the watch case, the chronograph pushers can be used when diving without any risk of damaging the movement. The Caliber F385 powers the additionnal small second and date functions and has a 50-hour power reserve.
Like all the models in the Bucherer Blue Editions collection, this Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Editions is available exclusively in Bucherer boutiques and on its website. It is priced at 17,800 Swiss francs.
