Swiss high-end watchmaker Blancpain has announced a special edition to celebrate Valentine’s Day (February 14) in 2023, the year of the cat. This year, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Blancpain’s iconic diver’s watch collection, Fifty Fathoms, it is introduced as the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe line to add more meaning.
The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe “Valentine’s Day 2023” Edition is presented in a brushed stainless steel case. The diameter of the case is 38mm and the thickness is 10.77mm, which is the same size as the existing 38mm bathyscapes for men and women. As much as it inherits the heritage of the first modern diver’s replica watches, the iconic 300m water resistance of the collection remains unchanged. The unidirectional rotating bezel has a white ceramic insert and the 60-minute diving scale is made of Liquidmetal™ for a timeless look.
The element that differentiates it from the existing Fifty Fathoms Bathyscarf at a glance can be found in the white dial. Both sides of the appliqué indexes at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock are plated with light pink color, and the minute track is also treated with pink color printing. By embodying the symbol of love, ‘heart’, it is possible to know at a glance that it is a limited edition for Valentine’s Day. Of course, the center of each index and hands is coated with Super-LumiNova to ensure sufficient readability even in dark or diving environments.
Like the regular models, the movement is equipped with the in-house automatic Caliber 1150, which consists of 210 parts and 28 jewels. The double barrel structure guarantees a power reserve of about 100 hours, and the unique movement can be enjoyed through the see-through caseback. In the center of the 18K gold rotor finished with anthracite color NAC coating, the heart symbol is embossed (relief) along with the Blancpain brand logo to differentiate it from other products. The strap is equipped with a white color sail canvas strap. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe “Valentine’s Day 2023” (Ref. 5100A-1127-W52A) is a limited edition of only 99 pieces and is available for pre-order only at selected Blancpain boutiques worldwide. The domestic release price is yet to be determined, but it seems that there will be no big difference from the existing Fifty Fathoms 38mm products.