Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech to Join the Permanent Collection
The brand's latest professional diver brings its patented three-hour bezel to the permanent collection, now with a date display and a more versatile strap system.
Blancpain expands the Fifty Fathoms collection and presents the new Fifty Fathoms Tech Ref. 5019A, a professional dive watch derived from the Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa unveiled in 2023 and made specifically for closed-circuit rebreather divers and underwater explorers. The new version brings the same concept to a more universal watch, now featuring a date display and a new interchangeable strap system.
The patented three-hour diving bezel, the defining element, remains. Traditional dive watches use a 60-minute bezel that has stayed mostly unchanged since the 1950s. However, the technical diving and rebreather systems have seriously increased underwater time, allowing divers, photographers, and scientists-explorers to remain submerged for several hours. To serve this demanding clientele, Blancpain re-engineered the GMT mechanism to create a dedicated hand that completes a full rotation every 3 hours.
Used with the unidirectional bezel graduated accordingly, the system allows divers to track extended bottom times with the same intuitive operation as a conventional dive watch. Originally developed with underwater explorer Laurent Ballesta and the Gombessa Expeditions team, it remains unique within the industry. The new watch is housed in the same large case with a central lug construction introduced with the Gombessa. Crafted from Grade 23 titanium, it measures 47mm in diameter and 14.81mm thick. The case is water-resistant to 300m and equipped with a helium escape valve for saturation diving.
For the dial, Blancpain employs its “Absolute Black” surface treatment, which absorbs up to 97% of incoming light. The virtually reflection-free display is designed to maximise legibility underwater. To further distinguish functions, Blancpain uses two luminous colours on hands: blue-emission Super-LumiNova for all diving indications, including the three-hour hand and bezel scale, and green-emission Super-LumiNova for standard timekeeping indications. Luminescent block-shaped applied indices and numerals at cardinal positions, all with green emission, complete the display.
Powering the watch is the manufacture calibre 13P5A, based on Blancpain’s proven calibre 1315. Operating at 28,800 vibrations/hour, the automatic movement is built with 35 jewels and delivers an impressive five-day power reserve thanks to its triple-barrel construction. A date display has now been integrated, making the watch more practical for everyday use.
The new Fifty Fathoms Tech also introduces a redesigned strap attachment system. The central lugs allow tool-free strap changes, and the watch is delivered on an orange rubber strap, with black and white alternatives sold separately. A permanent addition to the collection, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech Ref. 5019A is priced at CHF 20,500.
For more details, please visit Blancpain.com.
