Marking a significant evolution in the Fifty Fathoms story, Blancpain has unveiled five new additions to its iconic Fifty Fathoms collection, introducing—for the first time—a 38 mm case that suits most wrists. It is not just a simple size reduction; the new models are comprehensively redesigned to meet the standards of the brand’s iconic diver’s watch.

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With women in mind, two of them are designed from a modern, feminine perspective and were released a week earlier. Accentuated with mother‑of‑pearl dials, there’s a smoky black dégradé version in 18K red gold and a petal pink dégradé model in brushed titanium, both completed with matching domed unidirectional rotating sapphire bezels.

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It draws inspiration from former CEO Jean‑Jacques Fiechter’s observation that the women in his diving circle often stayed underwater longer and consumed less air. The timepieces strengthen Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment initiative. The brand, in partnership with Oceanographic Magazine, also launched the Ocean Photographer of the Year (OPY) competition in 2020, celebrating outstanding ocean photography. In 2021, Blancpain introduced the Female Fifty Fathoms Award to honour the spirit of women photographers capturing the beauty and fragility of the oceans.

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Following the two, three new unisex models extend the line, featuring black or blue sunburst dials with matching bezels. The black dial version is housed in a polished stainless steel case, and the blue one complements a satin‑brushed grade 23 titanium or 18K red gold case.

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For all five models, the case measures exactly 38.2 mm in diameter and 12 mm thick and offers water resistance of up to 300 metres. Visible through the sapphire caseback is Blancpain’s renowned automatic calibre 1153, which offers an impressive 100‑hour power reserve and beats at a frequency of 3 Hz. A silicon balance spring ensures enhanced anti‑magnetic performance and long‑term precision. All dials feature Super‑LumiNova‑filled hands and indexes for optimal visibility in dark underwater conditions.

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For the two women‑oriented editions, the black model is available with black sailcloth, tropic rubber, or NATO fabric straps and is finished with either a pin buckle or folding clasp. Its price ranges from approx. INR 27,70,000 to INR 30,77,000, depending on strap configuration. The pink edition comes with a white fabric strap accented with electric and pastel pink racing stripes, giving the watch a sporty, playful character. Depending on the strap or bracelet selected, it is priced between approx. INR 16,45,000 and INR 19,30,000.

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The price for the three unisex models varies based on the strap or bracelet. The titanium edition ranges from approx. INR 14,10,000 to INR 15,60,400; the stainless steel model is priced from approx. INR 13,16,000 to INR 15,32,200; and the 18K red gold version ranges from approx. INR 24,06,400 to INR 26,79,000.

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What we think - 

Blancpain needs a lot more than smaller watches aimed at women, or calling them unisex in this day and age. While it is a welcome move it seems a bit too late in the general scheme of things. The brand seems to be doing a little better because of their affordable collaborations with Swatch and this just might pull in new clients with a fresh appreciation for the heritage of the watchmaker.

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