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I am quite sure that Blancpain only looked back to their own history on this one...

 

... with the dial and hands originating from the early 1950‘s models. The Rotomatic Incabloc indeed had a diamond and not a triangle at the 12 position, which in the Blancpain world is a reminiscence to the Tornek, which had exactly that triangle. The dots and stick markers are like those featured on the Rotomatic Incabloc from 1953 as well... and when it comes to that our dear Nicolas or Brian know much more about that and can maybe elaborate a bit more 😉
What I particularly like about this one: it is (for a long time) the first Blancpain that was created and designed in collaboration with a combat swimmers unit to create a watch for them (approximately 20% of the 300 pieces went to the French unit), let alone the same Commando Hubert that initiated the original Fifty Fathoms and therefore the first professional diving watch as we know it today.
Cheers
Henrik

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18 Comments view entire thread 

Some first impressions of the Fifty Fathoms Nageurs de Combat

 
By: shortys home : December 25th, 2019-03:09
I immediately changed from the original sailcloth to a Bathyscaphe green Nato with steel hardware. Since there is no brushed 23mm steel buckle available (at least not yet), I chose a titanium buckle, which is close enough in terms of aesthetics. Hope you ...  

Henrik... crazy stunning pics

 
By: Mostel : December 25th, 2019-16:15
I cringe ever so slightly at the Rolex-ish 12 reverse triangle... and frankly other Rolex dial design cues... at 3 and 9... these are serious quibbles.....a brand so deeply historic might find its own design cues... or else why not buy a Rolex... but this... 

I am quite sure that Blancpain only looked back to their own history on this one...

 
By: shortys home : December 25th, 2019-22:37
... with the dial and hands originating from the early 1950‘s models. The Rotomatic Incabloc indeed had a diamond and not a triangle at the 12 position, which in the Blancpain world is a reminiscence to the Tornek, which had exactly that triangle. The dot... 

Henrik, as usual

 
By: Mostel : December 28th, 2019-18:47
your reply and comments are watch-literature. Thanks very much as usual for your unbelievable pictures and in depth knowledge--you know, as an obsessed collector, in the last 24 hours or so... all I thought was, DAMN that Blancpain is SO COOL!!!

Thank you!

 
By: Mostel : December 31st, 2019-16:42
Happy New Year! Dial is very clean, almost minimal, vintage looking. Cheers!!

No need to cringe ....

 
By: dizzyhorophile : December 26th, 2019-06:21
Blancpain milspec models from the early 60’s also had the reverse triangle - this certainly wasn’t just a Rolex thing. I’m totally ok with Blancpain giving a nod to their past.

Slashd0t...

 
By: Mostel : December 28th, 2019-18:49
agree...no need to cringe, but... I wish at the end of the day... regardless of technical nitty gritty watch history--- (and I say this frankly wanting this watch) that it just did not in any way in terms of dial, remind one of Rolex. Cheers.

yes, I understand that the reverse triangle...

 
By: Mostel : December 31st, 2019-16:52
is not proprietary to Rolex... but despite whatever is true and factual about watch design, Rolex still first comes to mind when the reverse triangle is seen. This is unfair, bc of the true history of various brands, but...

The 7 (executed black on black) was a wish of the French combat swimmers team...

 
By: shortys home : December 30th, 2019-00:34
... reflecting on the historical importance of that number for divers when using pure oxygen in old times. For oxygen turning toxic at a depth of 7 meters or a pressure of 1.7, this number was essential to know at the time. Cheers Henrik