Blancpain - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection Geneva Saturday, May 11, 2024 | Phillips

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  • Condition Report

  • Manufacturer: Blancpain
    Year: Circa 1968
    Case No: 208'481
    Model Name: Fifty Fathoms No Radiations
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. AS1700/01, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: NATO
    Dimensions: 41mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed, outside caseback with NATO code 6645-12-149-5012 and signed BUNDESWEHR
    Accessories: Accompanied by Blancpain Garantie, Certificate confirming the present watch was selected by Blancpain for inclusion in the Fifty Fathoms Exhibition help in conjunction with the celebration of Blancpain's 27th anniversary and presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Launched in the mid 1950s, the Fifty Fathoms was both a passion project led by Blancpain’s then CEO, and an extremely technical and ground-breaking diving tool, built to meet the French Navy’s requirements for a wristwatch.

    When the very first military Fifty Fathoms model came out, the dials featured radium to ensure the luminosity of the watch in the darkness of the sea. Later on, and with the rise of the public’s concern with the level of radioactivity of this material, Blancpain decided that the Fifty Fathoms should use tritium and would clearly indicate the harmlessness of their luminescent material. The present watch was most notably issued to the Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces in the 1960s to1970s. These watches were requisitioned by the German Navy for their elite naval commando unit, the Kampfschwimmer.

    Research shows that these watches were supplied by diver's equipment dealer "Barakuda" in Buchholz near Hamburg.

    The present example is a well-preserved example with a beautiful lacquer dial, as was selected by Blancpain for inclusion in the Fifty Fathoms Exhibition help in conjunction with the celebration of Blancpain's 27th anniversary.

  • Artist Biography

    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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196

A rare and attractive stainless steel diver's wristwatch with black dial and presentation box, made for the German Armed Forces

Circa 1968
41mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed, outside caseback with NATO code 6645-12-149-5012 and signed BUNDESWEHR

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€30,700-61,300
$32,800-65,600

Place Advance Bid
Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection

Geneva Auction 11 - 12 May 2024