Blancpain

My vintage BP collection. Part 4: Bundeswehr 'no radiations'

 

Sometime around 1964, Blancpain recognised that it needed a way to distinguish its military Fifty Fathom production from its civilian production, and the particular problem it had in mind was the use of radioactive coatings. To demark civilian watches, that of course used no radioactive products of any kind, Blancpain seized on the idea of a special dial legend. Using the universal symbol for radioactivity, the three semi-triangles arrayed around a circle, Blancpain indicated the absence of such products by using the red strike through the symbol and placed this legend in a prominent place, above 6 o’clock, on the dial. As the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms established itself as the worldwide standard for military divingwatches, it achieved similar success in the civilian arena. At the time, mechanical divingwatches were not considered as an horological luxury. They were serious instruments and part of the required kit for any diver. Logically, then, diving watches were principally not sold in fancy jewellery stores, but instead in the same shops where a diver would source his tanks, scuba regulator, suit, face mask and other diving equipment.

T<25MC means that it was not more then 25 Millicurie Tritium used for the luminous parts

The first large size, 41mm, civilian Fifty Fathoms with the 'no radiations' dial was issued under the reference RPG1 in 1965. This watch was produced until 1970. It had NO DATE function and came, as I believe, with two different kind of bezels, the non-minute bezel with the triangle, and the standard 60 minute bezel.

In 1967 Blancpain released the RPGA 1 version. This version had the date indication (like nearly all the civilian Fifty Fathoms at that time) and came in many different styles, with 3 kind of bezels and different hands. I believe that the A in the reference number stands for the date function. Other FF versions like the PGA7 36 mm diameter, PGA5 34mm, PGAN5 34mm also have the date function.

In 1971 slightly before, or just after the production stop of the civilian RPG1, the German Bundeswehr ordered these FF for their underwater units, and was so the only army worldwide using officially the no date and 'non radiations' FF. IMO the serial number always started with 208...! I believe that they all had issued military papers dated on december 1971. The lowest number I have found is 208145 and the highest 208337. I have seen two other Bundeswehr with the numbers 208254 and 208263.

military engravings on the caseback

polished 41 mm diameter case with non drilled lugs

nice tritium dial and hands

bakelit bezel '60 minutes'

comes with the original thick military nylon strap

cool stainless steel buckle !! Love it !!

Original fat and long Waffle rubber Band by 'La Spirotechnique' ! Was worn by the divers over their swimsuit.

The watch itself is very rare and difficult to find because only a few hundreds were made! Finding them with the original strap is a sexy catch!!

With original strap and box is fu..... crazy !!

With the original strap, original box and original military warranty papers is just Hardcore Porn as its best!

Two more original military straps! ;-)

best regards --- claude

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