1026

Blancpain

Fifty Fathoms "No Radiations"

A rare stainless steel military diver’s wristwatch with “no radiations” dial, made for the German Armed Forces

Estimate
HK$150,000–300,000
€16,300–32,700
$19,200–38,500
Live 31 May, 12 PM Hong Kong SAR China Time
Manufacturer
Blancpain
Year
Circa 1970
Movement No
3’006’138
Case No
301’277
Model Name
Fifty Fathoms "No Radiations"
Material
Stainless steel
Calibre
Automatic, cal. A.S. 1700, 17 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
NATO
Clasp/Buckle
Stainless steel pin buckle
Dimensions
41mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial and movement signed, outside caseback with NATO code ‘6645-12-149-5012’ and signed ‘BUNDESWEHR’
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GOOD TO KNOW:
- Made for Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces
- Caseback engravings remain deep and legible

Launched in the mid‑1950s, the Fifty Fathoms was both a passion project of Blancpain’s then CEO and an extraordinarily technical, groundbreaking diving tool, engineered to meet the rigorous requirements of the French Navy.

The earliest military-issue Fifty Fathoms models featured radium‑laced dials to ensure legibility in the darkness of the deep sea. As public concern over radioactivity grew, Blancpain transitioned to tritium and began clearly indicating the harmlessness of its luminescent material. The present watch was notably issued to the Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces, during the 1960s and 1970s. These timepieces were requisitioned by the German Navy for its elite naval commando unit, the Kampfschwimmer. Research indicates that they were supplied by Barakuda, a diving equipment dealer based in Buchholz near Hamburg.

This example is beautifully preserved, retaining a lacquered dial of exceptional quality. The caseback engravings remain deep and legible.

Blancpain

Swiss | 1735

As the watchmaking brand with the earliest founding date, Blancpain remains close to tradition, concentrating on classical mechanical watches. Established in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the Le Brassus manufacturer today continues to innovate with the development of high-quality calibres and is proud of their heritage, having never made quartz watches. One of the firm's greatest successes was the Fifty Fathom wristwatch introduced in 1953 — the vintage models of which are now highly coveted by collectors. The earliest dive watch available to the market, Fifty Fathom came out a year prior to Rolex's Submariner.  Another key model is the Air Command from the 1960s, considered one of the most mythical collector's watches due to their extreme rarity. Today, the firm specializes in creative innovated complicated timepieces. 

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