The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms’ history could well have ended before it even started. Indeed, when Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier, then in charge of the French Army’s newly created combat divers’ unit - the Service de Documentation Extérieure et de Contre-Espionnage, could not find a diver’s watch on the market that could meet military requirements, he decided to have it manufactured. He was met with the refusal of most renowned watch manufacturers until he met Jean-Jacques Fiechter, Blancpain’s CEO at the time and himself a diving enthusiast. Armed with his own diving experience and sensing a fantastic opportunity to offer military and civilian customers a diving watch validated by the most demanding users, the first Fifty Fathoms was born in 1953 out of this collaboration and was subsequently used by many armies around the world.
Captain Maloubier was very precise in his military specifications for the watch. In addition to perfect water resistance and the stop-second, the watch had to also be magnetic resistant. Indeed, in the years 60/70, part of the military missions consisted in handling magnetic mines. Research to find the alloy that would be antimagnetic, easy to machine, and economical naturally led the manufacture to use copper.

The result of this research was this so-called “Bronze series” that Blancpain produced to be tested by the US NAVY. The first tests were a total failure! This alloy was unstable, it oxidized on contact with salt water, it had very poor resistance, and above all it was too soft to guarantee absolute waterproofness. The use of this copper based alloy was quickly abandoned.

Today, it is believed that less than twenty bronze Fifty Fathoms have survived. Bearing the number 3201, this watch is part of the very first batch sent to be tested by the US Navy. Remaining in excellent condition, this watch represents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a piece that has contributed to the history and fame of a legendary watch.