Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert Edition

Regular price
$8,950
Regular price
Sale price
$8,950
REF 5052 1146 E52A
Automatic
43 MM
– Show less
SKU AS08108
Article Number 40991212
ref 5052 1146 E52A
case size 43 MM
movement Automatic Winding
approximate age 2020s
dial color Brown
material Stainless Steel
style Dive
category Pre-Owned Contemporary
bracelet Leather
lug width 23 MM
Includes Signed beige canvas strap with rubber lining and signed steel pin buckle.
overall condition The case is in outstanding, as-new condition overall showing only faint signs of wear from careful handling. Luminous sunburst brown gradient dial with applied indices is in as-new condition with matching handset. Signed crown. Caseback numbered 65/500.
REF 5052 1146 E52A
Automatic
43 MM
– Show less
SKU AS08108
Article Number 40991212
ref 5052 1146 E52A
case size 43 MM
movement Automatic Winding
approximate age 2020s
dial color Brown
material Stainless Steel
style Dive
category Pre-Owned Contemporary
bracelet Leather
lug width 23 MM
Includes Signed beige canvas strap with rubber lining and signed steel pin buckle.
overall condition The case is in outstanding, as-new condition overall showing only faint signs of wear from careful handling. Luminous sunburst brown gradient dial with applied indices is in as-new condition with matching handset. Signed crown. Caseback numbered 65/500.

Why We Love it

In the history of dive watches, a few names tend to stand out as pioneers and innovators: Rolex. DOXA. Blancpain.

The latter changed the world with its Fifty Fathoms, a timepiece that many consider — and rightfully so — to be the world's first true diver's watch. However, the Fifty Fathoms wasn't the only diver that the maison from La Brassus produced. There was also a scaled-down version called the Bathyscaphe, named after the manned submersible of the Swiss explorer-diver Auguste Piccard. More recently, Blancpain has revived the Bathyscaphe nomenclature, offering an entire line of sophisticated divers that pay homage to their vintage counterparts. 

The particular Bathyscaphe that we have here is a Day Date Desert edition dating to circa 2020. Housed in a 43mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, and a unidirectional, rotating bezel with a brown dive timing insert, it features a sunburst, sand-colored Super-LumiNova dial with matching, fat ‘syringe’ handset, a day-date display at 3 o’clock, applied indices, and printed outer 5-minute indices. Paired to a brown fabric sail canvas strap with a Blancpain-signed pin buckle, it’s powered by the automatic Blancpain Calibre 1315DD with a whopping 120 hours of power reserve and a silicon balance.

This limited edition of 500 pieces is one of the coolest contemporary divers we’ve seen from a brand that was present at the beginning of dive watch mania. Surely, with its good looks, excellent pedigree, and bulletproof design, it won’t last long. 

Grab it while you can!

Brand Story

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Blancpain, the esteemed Swiss manufacturer that opened its doors in 1735 (and the oldest surviving watchmaker in the world), is known globally for crafting some of the most elegant pocket and dress wristwatches in history. Many of these pieces are brilliant works of horological art, and as a category are worthy of in-depth study and analysis. Since the firm’s acquisition by the modern forerunner of the Swatch Group in 1992, it has become synonymous with dazzling and complicated dress pieces, many of which are produced in precious metals.

But Blancpain's other genius — and what has arguably ensured their legacy — is the entrant into the world of purpose-built tool watches, and the industry's prototypical modern diver's watch: the legendary Fifty Fathoms. The genesis of this legendary timepiece has its roots in post-World War II France, where Captain Bob Maloubier (previously of the Special Operations Executive) and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud were tasked with setting up the French combat diver commando unit. The two approached Blancpain in the pursuit of a specialized diver’s watch — the design of which Maloubier drew up himself — and the Fifty Fathoms was born.a

Later adopted by the militaries of Germany and the United States, the Fifty Fathoms now forms the core of Blancpain’s dive watch collection, having spawned myriad iterations over the years, including complicated and chronograph versions. It is the savoir faire necessary to produce such disparate products as an elegant gold moon phase and a steel combat diver’s watch that makes Blancpain such a fascinating company, and a compelling product to collect.

A:S Guarantee

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Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

Shipping & Returns

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert Edition

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert Edition

Regular price
$8,950
Regular price
Sale price
$8,950
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date Desert Edition

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