The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment II (BOCII) In Blue
Divers will soon be spotting a new and very rare creature beneath the ocean waves. Two years after the successful introduction of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment with a grey ceramic case, Blancpain is introducing the second edition, (BOCII) this time with an all-blue ceramic case with grey dial and strap. As for the first series, for each timepiece sold in this 250-piece limited edition, Blancpain will donate 1000 Euros towards scientific expeditions, resulting in a contribution of 250,000 Euros in support of the oceans.
Blancpain has taken diving seriously since 1953, when it introduced the original Fifty Fathoms. The Bathyscaphe, measuring 43.60 mm x 15.25 mm followed 3 years later, to provide a smaller diameter diving watch alternative better adapted to everyday wear; Fifty Fathoms watch cases can measure 48, 50 or even 55.65 mm in diameter.
The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment II boasts the same technical characteristics as its predecessor. A fully featured underwater chronograph, its unidirectional ceramic rotating bezel is marked with blue ceramic insert and Liquidmetal® hour-markers. The crown and chronograph pushers are also in ceramic. On the dial, we see the date between 4 and 5 o’clock and three subdials for the chronograph counters and small seconds display. On the back of the watch, the movement and 18 carat gold winding rotor are visible through the clear case back. The winding rotor has been specially decorated for this limited series bearing the logo for the Ocean Commitment.
This timepiece is equipped with the in-house automatic movement Caliber F385, with 50 hours of power reserve. The column wheel controlled flyback chronograph movement runs at a frequency of 5 HZ – 36’000vph, dividing each second into 1/10th of a second intervals, and is anti-magnetic with its silicon balance wheel spiral. Unlike most diving chronographs, which forbid chronograph use underwater and require that the chronograph pushers be “locked down” when the watch is submerged, the Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph has been equipped with sealed chronograph pushers allowing use of the chronograph during dives to a depth of 300 meters. And the flyback function is particularly useful for divers’ decompression stops.
Each timepiece is individually numbered and every client will automatically be enrolled in the Ocean Commitment Circle. With a suggested price of EUR18,760, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment II (BOCII) in blue ceramic is in stores now.
Over the past two years, Blancpain has co-financed ten major scientific expeditions, contributed to doubling the surface of marine protected areas around the world, and presented award-winning documentaries, underwater exhibitions and publications.
Further information is available on the Ocean Commitment website.
