Watches & Wonders is over and we’ve had notably fewer new watch releases than normal during this annual hangover following the Swiss trade show. However, one bright light comes from Blancpain, who announced a Fifty Fathoms Automatique in stainless steel — yes, stainless steel.
Steeling the Show
While most new watch announcements sound more like, “now in titanium,” or, “now in ceramic,” the 42mm version of the Fifty Fathoms has actually never been made in stainless steel. But now, the Swiss watchmaker has decided to add the ever-present metal to a model typically made with either titanium or gold cases.
Steel, while not as trendy as titanium or ceramic, is ubiquitous for a reason. Albeit heavier than its metallic brethren, steel has a better hardness and overall strength (although titanium wins when it comes to strength-to-weight ratio). Some purists would argue that stainless steel, being more classic, actually looks better than the very specific hue of titanium. And best of all, steel is almost always more affordable, which is a game changer when it comes to the luxury watch world.
Business as Usual
Aside from the case material, this is the same classic Fifty Fathoms we’ve seen in the past. Presented here in a very non-titanium polishing, the stainless steel watch measures, like we said, 42mm across and has the same thickness as its predecessors at 14.3mm. This will get you an incredible 300m of water resistance.
Under the domed sapphire crystal is the black sunburst dial with lumed hands and Liquidmetal hour markers, along with a date window at 4:30. Around the dial is the classic unidirectional diving bezel with ceramic insert — however, the steel here is satin-brushed.
Housed inside the steel case is the in-house Caliber 1315 automatic with a whopping 120 hours of power reserve. Viewed through the caseback, the movement features a blackened gold rotor.
Lastly, the watch comes with four band options: a stainless steel bracelet, a NATO strap, a Tropic-style rubber strap, and a sailcloth fabric strap.
What We Think
Blancpain added the downsized 42mm Fifty Fathoms watches to its range a year ago (as opposed to the 45mm FFs). But currently, there aren’t any non-limited 42mm versions available on Blancpain’s product listings. So this steel version is a refreshing addition to the brand’s permanent collection.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 42mm
Case Thickness: 14.3mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 300m
Movement: In-house caliber 1315 automatic
Band: Stainless steel bracelet, NATO strap, Tropic rubber strap, or sailcloth strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Priced starting at $15,500, and up to $18,000 for the steel bracelet version, the Fifty Fathoms Automatique in stainless steel is not limited in edition size. Head over to Blancpain’s website to learn more.
Recap
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm Steel
A year after downsizing the diver, Blancpain adds to its arsenal with the first 42mm Fifty Fathoms models in stainless steel, to go along with the titanium versions previously released.
