After years and years of individuals telling Blancpain their marquee dive watch was too large (45 mm) in diameter, final 12 months, they launched (42 mm) diameter commonplace manufacturing variations of the Fifty Fathom.
Seemingly, Blancpain lastly listened to at the very least some issues customers have been saying, as a substitute of dogmatically ignoring public suggestions.
For 2025, Blancpain continues to pay attention and has launched an excellent smaller case dimension (38 mm) to broaden the viewers. The Fifty Fathoms lineup now is available in three sizes: 38 mm, 42 mm, and 45 mm. All with depth scores of 300 meters.
At 38 mm x 12 mm, the Fifty Fathoms 38 (Ref. 5007) is attractively skinny. Keep in mind, for some massive wrists, the 45 mm may nonetheless make sense, however general, 38 mm and 42 mm ought to attraction to a wider phase of the delicate amassing viewers that Blancpain must be courting.
Inside the brand new Fifty Fathoms 38 (Ref. 5007) is Blancpain’s 3Hz, 28-jewel, computerized in-house manufactured caliber 1150 motion, which contains a silicon stability spring, and a powerful 100-hour (4-day) energy reserve, pushed by series-mounted, twin mainspring barrels.
Beginning at $16,700 in chrome steel with a black sunburst dial, on a strap, the watch rapidly climbs to $19,500 on a stainless-steel bracelet. In grade 23 titanium, with a blue sunburst dial, the watch rises to $17,900 on a strap and $21,100 with an identical bracelet. In 18K pink gold, the Fifty Fathoms 38 hits $30,600 on a strap, and $34,000 with a strong gold bracelet.
Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms 38 extends the legacy of a pioneering watch within the subject of diving. Sadly, it additionally continues the custom of charging far above the Rolex Submariner (an trade benchmark), which in 2025 begins at $9,500 with out a date, and $10,650 with a date.
Hodinkee’s protection of the Fifty Fathoms 38 launch has a feedback part dominated by conversations about how overpriced the watch is. That doesn’t in and of itself imply it received’t promote. It does, nevertheless, give a good suggestion of the final sentiment across the launch, and is probably going a sign that Blancpain nonetheless must make some strategic advertising changes to markedly develop gross sales — just because the value is difficult to fathom.
Photographs by Blancpain.
