- Blancpain has announced a new line-up of 38mm references within the collector-favourite Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection.
- The Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection now includes 38mm, 42mm, and 45mm case sizes.
- New members of the Fifty Fathoms Automatique range in 38mm are not limited editions and have an Australian RRP from $25,500.
This week, Blancpain made an announcement that put smiles on the faces of watch collectors around the world – the Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection will be available with a 38mm case. It’s not often that shrinking something down is such big news, but for the purists out there who prefer their watches with historically inspired proportions, Blancpain’s newest releases are what they’ve been waiting for.
For a bit of background on why folks wanted a smaller version of the Fifty Fathoms, the original Fifty Fathoms made its debut in 1953 as one of the very first modern dive watches, with a screw-down case construction, legible dial, and rotating bezel. Its case measured 41mm in diameter, which was large at the time, yet for much of the last two decades, the Fifty Fathoms has almost exclusively been available as a 45mm watch.
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As a result, collectors have long requested a modern version of the Fifty Fathoms that more closely matches those original proportions. Blancpain responded by adding a 42mm reference to the permanent catalogue in 2024, yet it still felt a little big to some, and now, we arrive at the universally wearable measurement of 38mm – which we got to see in the metal in Sydney.
It might sound like a lot of huff and puff for a few millimetres here or there, but the 45mm reference measures 15.5mm thick and is an undeniably hefty watch to wear for anyone without solidly sized wrists. Now at 38mm in diameter, it’s a dream on the wrist for just about everyone, and arrives in your choice of either stainless steel, titanium, or red gold.
The entire design has been proportionally scaled back, now measuring a comparatively slender 12mm in thickness, while still boasting the same robust 300m of water resistance, luminous rotating bezel, and sapphire crystal caseback. Through the caseback you’ll spot the calibre 1150 automatic movement, which promises an impressive 100 hours of power reserve thanks to its twin mainspring barrels.
In addition to the three different choices of case metal, you’ll also have the option of different dial colours and strap types. Dials include blue, black, and white mother of pearl, while strap options include a bracelet (for the steel versions), and NATO, rubber, or sail-canvas straps that are variously secured with pin buckles or folding clasps.
Pricing ranges depending on your choice of case metal, but your choice of strap or bracelet can also add a little cost. The collection starts with the stainless steel reference on a NATO strap at $25,500 and goes up to the $52,800 red gold reference on a rubber or sail-canvas strap.
It might appear to be a minor change in the offering from Blancpain, but the new 38mm case size of the Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection is a fantastic development and one that shows the brand is listening to collectors. If you’ve ever hesitated on adding a Fifty Fathoms to your collection, now might be the time to pull the trigger.
