Blancpain

In the 1950's, besides the Fifty Fathoms, Blancpain issued a smaller, 34mm diameter, dive watch, called Bathyscaphe. This version was in it's first years of it's release only available with an automatic movement, and was offered for the same price as the big size 41mm version (198 DM) . In 1959 Blancpain starts to offer their Bathyscaphe also with an AS 1187 manual movement. The official nomination for this dive watch was Blancpain Bathyscaphe MC4. It was waterresistant to 60 meters, had an nickel/steel case and costs 137 DM. They got sold in different professional dive shops. This version was very famous in Europe and so the U.S. Waltham Watch Company ordered exactly the same version from Blancpain. They only changed the name on the dial! After +- 7 years, Blancpain stopped the production of the manual Bathyscaphe in 1967, but the automatic version was still available until 1969. These Blancpains are very hard to find now, especially in all original and good condition, because these were professional sports and tool watches and so only very few survived. :-(

Radium was used on the hands an on the wonderfully, gilt surrounded, indexes.

Bakelit bezel and big crown.

I love so much the style of the hands...

and the indexes!

The Waltham version

Hi Claude,

Interesting watch and good overview. Yes they are rare to find. Every two years there is one in the bay, but you know " buy the seller"...


Thanks for sharing Stephan

How do you proceed with your next watch ;-) Do you have news already?

regards

Claude

Nice piece of History, too.

Thanks for filling the blanks of my knowledge on these watches, my friend.

Best,

Nicolas

Very attractive watches!  I love these old divers.  They have so much character, and seem to have endured expansive lives full of adventure!  May they keep ticking away for many, many years to come!  Thanks for sharing this post!

Cheers,

Daos

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You really have something special there. Wear them all well and with pride.

...I learned something new today on BP watches

Thankyou for a superb post and some great pictures

Best

Hans