"Innovation is tradition": Blancpain Bathyscaphe never stands still.

Blancpain has produced epoch-making models throughout its long history, including the Fifty Fathoms, the ancestor of the modern diver's watch. Its commitment to continuing to develop new products that have an impact on the watch industry remains unchanged to this day, under the philosophy that "innovation is tradition."
The latest Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, released in October 2021, is based on this concept and features ambitious use of materials.

Innovation is tradition: The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe

Blancpain's brand philosophy is "innovation is tradition." Just as the Fifty Fathoms, released in 1953, became the ancestor of modern divers with its anti-malfunction mechanism for the rotating bezel, its soft-iron inner case, and its water resistance of approximately 100 meters, and the Ladybird, the world's smallest round watch, were created in 1956, Blancpain's continued commitment to creating innovative products is the right path for the brand. And the new variation of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, released in October 2021, carries on this philosophy.

　The case of this watch is made of medical-grade titanium, known as Grade 23. While this may be an unfamiliar grade, it's actually a Ti6Al4V alloy containing 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium, and its basic composition is the same as the commonly used Grade 5. So what's different? Because the base titanium itself is of a higher purity, it's more corrosion-resistant than Grade 5 and less likely to cause allergies. Like the 1956 original, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe boasts the full performance of a diver's watch, but with a smaller diameter and reduced thickness. Given that it's likely to be worn for extended periods of daily use and in sweaty sports situations, the use of Grade 23, which is gentler on the skin, makes sense.

　However, Grade 23 has a weakness: it is slightly weaker than Grade 5. This is likely the main reason why many watch manufacturers have not adopted this material, despite its ideal properties for wristwatches. So why is Blancpain able to use Grade 23 for its cases? It's because the company has the know-how in hot forging. Hot forging is a method that increases the strength and toughness of metal by hardening the material after stamping and then forging it again. However, it requires more extensive equipment than cutting, so only a few watch manufacturers have adopted it. By using this hot forging method with Grade 23 titanium, Blancpain has achieved the ideal case: lightweight, hypoallergenic, and less susceptible to aging.

　Blancpain's long history and commitment to producing only mechanical watches may give it a somewhat conservative image, but the latest Bathyscaphe, crafted from grade 23 titanium, clearly demonstrates that the brand remains committed to constantly pursuing innovation within the limited scope of mechanical watches.