The legendary dive watch collection surfaces with a touch of glamour and femininity

Call it a match made in maritime heaven—the world’s most storied dive watch has finally found its feminine aesthetic equal. The iconic Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, a standard-bearer for underwater tool watches since its debut in 1953, now comes in two unabashedly ladylike iterations, each bearing a gorgeous mother-of-pearl dial.

Having pioneered the category of dive watches with groundbreaking features to guarantee optimum water resistance, legibility, and performance for professional underwater expeditions, the Fifty Fathoms has evolved in myriad ways over the decades. From constantly pushing the envelope on performance specs—the Fifty Fathoms 500 Fathoms from 2011 could withstand depths of up to 1,000m is an example—to reinterpreting the watch with new materials and top-drawer complications, Blancpain has never stopped expanding the paradigm of what a modern luxury dive watch can be.

Mother-of-pearl’s iridescence, a luminous treasure from the sea, takes centrestage in these striking new models. Photo from Blancpain

Even so, the latest Fifty Fathoms 38mm models arrive as a pleasant surprise. Brimming with sun-kissed joy or sultry sophistication—depending on which model you prefer—the watches are designed with women in mind.

The black dial with dégradé effect is paired with a polished 18k red gold case that gleams like fine jewellery on the wrist. Photo from Blancpain

The pink model radiates youthful energy with its radiant petal mother-of-pearl dial framed by a brushed titanium case with a subtle greyish tone. Photo from Blancpain

As the name suggests, the watches are housed in 38mm cases for the first time in the collection, offering a snug fit for slender wrists. Also making a rare appearance in the Fifty Fathoms are mother-of-pearl dials. From harvesting the raw material from the inner shell layers of molluscs, to fashioning them into watch dials, and polishing them to achieve their signature iridescence, the making of mother-of-pearl dials is a painstaking process—and one that feels intrinsically connected to the aquatic spirit of the Fifty Fathoms.

The pink model is paired with a white strap accented with electric and petal pink stripes, which adds a playful, sporty twist. Photo from Blancpain.

For those who desire regality, the version in pink gold with a black domed sapphire bezel makes an ideal all-day companion that effortlessly transitions from office hours to evening soirées. The brushed titanium model, on the other hand, exudes casual glamour and a sense of fun. Featuring a pink domed sapphire bezel, with hands, markers, and a gradated dial in the same lively hue, and paired with a lovely pink striped fabric strap, the watch expresses the Fifty Fathoms in a never-before-seen—and much-welcome—ladylike exuberance.

These timepieces pay tribute to the women taking action as part of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, especially through the Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, and the Female Fifty Fathoms Award. Photo from Blancpain

That said, the new watches remain true Fifty Fathoms thoroughbreds, fully equipped to perform under the most demanding underwater conditions. Dive-ready features such as 300m water resistance, a unidirectional bezel to measure elapsed dive times, and uncompromising legibility with Super-LumiNova-coated hands and markers—all hallmarks of the collection—are present and accounted for. Powered by Blancpain’s in-house automatic Calibre 1153, with a 100-hour power reserve and visible through a sapphire caseback, these timepieces prove that it’s entirely possible for a watch to have beauty, brains, and brawn all at once.

Blancpain

#B2M-237, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands,
2 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018972
Tel: (65) 6634 8771