Only Watch 2017 – Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC “Only Watch unique piece” accented with yellow touches

Yellow Submarine – Blancpain has been a longtime supporter of AMM (Association Monégasque contre les Myophaties), and it is no surprise to see the Manufacture taking part in Only Watch 2017, the biennial fundraiser for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. For the occasion, Blancpain has decided to customize the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC.

For the occasion of Only Watch 2017, Blancpain presents a unique piece based on the cool reinterpretation of the Fifty Fathoms watch, with water tightness indicator that was presented at Baselworld earlier this year (read our review here). As the color theme of this year’s Only Watch event is yellow and black, the ‘MIL-SPEC’ has been detailed with yellow accents. The indexes and hands feature yellow superluminova. The date and the marking on the bezel are also rendered in yellow.

A 1958 Blancpain Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC – 41mm steel case – selfwinding movement

Designed in the early 1950s by Jacques Fiechterto and later refined to meet the requirements of Captain Bob Maloubier of French elite combat frogmen, the Fifty Fathom is one of the watches that defined the standards of the modern dive watch. The MIL-SPEC was introduced in 1957-58 and was adopted by American Navy Seals. It incorporates a humidity indicator. The color disc on the dial allows to check the integrity of the watch. If any water were to seep into the case, the disc color would change from white to red as a warning to the wearer.

The 2017 edition is rendered in steel. At 40.3 mm in diameter, the case features a unidirectional sapphire rotating bezel and is water resistant to 300m. It is powered by the automatic caliber 1151, a twin barrel movement offering a healthy 96 hours power reserve. The movement is visible through the transparent case-back and is personalized with the caption ‘Only Watch’ engraved on the NAC-coated gold rotor.

At CHF 13,000, the estimate matches the retail price of the watch and therefore, in our opinion, seems conservative for a unique piece of this cool model. For more information please visit www.blancpain.com and www.onlywatch.com.

In addition to the watch, Gianluca Genoni (18 apnea world records, including 160 meters in depth and a time of 18 minutes, 3 seconds) will serve as an instructor, for you and four of your family members or friends, thus enabling you as a group to go beyond your limits. Blancpain, the world’s oldest watch brand, offers an opportunity to discover the workshops where the Manufacture’s horological complications have been created for more than 280 years.

Only Watch is a biennial fundraiser for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy –  Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (AMM). Organized under the patronage of HSH Albert II de Monaco, the 7^th edition gathers a record 48 participants. Only Watch 2017 will be auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva in November 2017. For more information, please visit www.onlywatch.com.

Technical specifications – Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC “Only Watch unique piece”

• Case: 40.3 mm diameter x 13.23 mm thick – steel case – rotating bezel –sapphire crystal – Water resistant to 30 ATM / 300m – black dial with water-resistance indicator.
• Movement: calibre 1151 mechanical movement with automatic winding – – 27.40 mm x 3.25 mm – 96h power reserve – 28 jewels – Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date.
• Strap:  black NATO strap
• Unique piece for Only Watch 2017
• Estimate: $15,100 / CHF 13,000
• Ref. 5008A-1130-NABA.