Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms dive watch was first released in 1953 as a tool watch for professional divers from a newly formed French Army combat unit. The founders wanted to design a watch that fit their specific needs, and while they submitted their specs to various brands, only Blancpain, whose then CEO was an avid diver, accepted the challenge, and the watch soon became a favorite with both professional, and civilian divers.

The present example from the second half of the 1960s is a wonderful example of the civilian use dive watch, which featured the now coveted “No Radiations” black glossy dial. Until the early 1960s, watch dials featured radium, a radioactive material allowing the dials to illuminate in the dark for greater visibility. Once common on all watch dials, it was determined radium had adverse health’s affects, and therefore was banned from use in 1963. Blancpain added the “No Radiation” signature and cross marks to their civilian dial so buyers were aware of this designation.