{"product_id":"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-barakuda-limited-edition-as09493","title":"Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 'Barakuda' Limited Edition","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/collections\/blancpain\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBlancpain\u003c\/a\u003e Fifty Fathoms is without question one of the most iconic dive watches, and also one of the first of its kind; however, it might never have been made at all were it not for one man — Jean-Jacques Fiechter of Blancpain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn 1952, the French Navy tasked two veterans with a formidable mission. These men — Captain Bob Maloubier and Lt. Claude Riffaud — were to create a specialized unit of combat divers meant to act under the utmost secrecy. Some of their missions were to include attacking ports as well as sabotage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMaloubier and Riffaud  had a general idea of what gear the divers needed — compasses, depth gauges, and of course, watches. But as far as watches were concerned, there was nothing on the market designed specifically for the use to which these combat divers would put it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSo Maloubier, armed with a pencil and protractor, \u003cem\u003esketched\u003c\/em\u003e a watch. Not just any watch, but one ideally suited for diving. It needed to have a robust, watertight case and a dial that would be legible in the darkest of nights, at the deepest of depths.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBlancpain was the only manufacturer that agreed to produce Maloubier's new design. Fiechter, Blancpain’s CEO at the time, relied on Maloubier's expertise and his own diving experience — he had once nearly run out of air underwater for lack of a timing device — to create a unique timepiece equipped with a Bakelite bezel and rubber gaskets. Thus, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms dive watch was born.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis particular Fifty Fathoms, a Reference 5008B-1130, is a faithful recreation of the Blancpain ‘Barakuda’, a robust model created specifically for the German Navy, or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBundesmarine —\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e which is what it was known as at the time. Issued to its combat swimmers, this piece was characterized by its distinguishable two-tone indices with red stripes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt features a 40mm stainless steel case, a fully-graduated sapphire timing bezel with patinated finishing, a domed sapphire crystal, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emanufacture’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e namesake engraved on the 9 o’clock case flank, and a exhibition sapphire caseback framing the Calibre 1151 self-winding movement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe luminous, matte-black dial features printed indices with a matching, patinated finish and the signature distal red stripe; a matching handset; a ‘spear’ central-seconds hand; and a framed date window at 3 o’clock. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEquipped with 300 meters of water resistance, 100 hours of power reserve, and appropriately outfitted to a signed, Tropic-style strap, this piece is more than just a pretty thing — it’s robustly made \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eand\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e timelessly designed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhat’s more, it was part of a limited-edition release of just 500 units. This example is individually numbered ‘173’ and is accompanied by a signed leather folio; books; a dated warranty card; and one of our fantastic Analog:Shift watch boxes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWant to be a proud owner of a dive watch icon? This is your chance!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blancpain","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40609395638359,"sku":"40991865","price":21200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/files\/AS09493_40991865_BLANCPAIN_FIFTYFATHOMS_5008B-1130-12.jpg?v=1711553406","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/blancpain-fifty-fathoms-barakuda-limited-edition-as09493","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}