Introducing: The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3

September 23, 2023

This weekend in Cannes, France, Blancpain is celebrating "Act 3" for the 70th anniversary of their Fifty Fathoms dive watch, and, as we got with Acts 1 and 2, they've released a brand new Fifty Fathoms to mark the occasion. For Act 3, Blancpain has dropped a vintage-effect nod to the original "Mil-Spec" Fifty Fathoms. Rendered in Bronze Gold, it's the limited edition Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3.? The reference number for this new limited edition model is 5901-5630-NANA, and its satin-brushed 9K Bronze Gold case measures 41.3mm wide and 13.3mm thick (no word yet on lug-to-lug, but I'm on it). Finished with a black dial with a grey-white moisture indicator, the Act 3 has a black ceramic bezel insert, vintage Super-LumiNova throughout, and a display case back showing the Blancpain 1154.P2 within.? Ticking at 3 Hz and offering a power reserve of 100 hours, the 1154 is an automatic movement that is essentially the no-date version of the 1151. It's the same movement used in another rather handsome Fifty Fathoms LE.? The Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 is limited to 555 pieces and has a retail price of $32,000.? What We Think I mean C look at it C it's gorgeous. While I might have had my fingers crossed for a very similar watch in steel, it's hard to argue with this execution, and it especially fitting for an anniversary-themed limited edition.?Plus, if the alternative would be to have a possible steel version be a limited edition (rather than a production model), then I like the Bronze Gold choice even more.? In a similar fashion, I'm pleased to see that Blancpain's designers have opted for no-date and a sizing closer to 40mm C at 41.3mm it's the same size as the original Mil-Spec Fifty Fathoms C rather than the 43+ that can/has been common to many Fifty Fathoms of the past. Matched with the nylon NATO-style strap, I dig the contrast of the black with the Bronze Gold and the somewhat stark application of the white/grey moisture ingress indicator. With minimal text on the dial and the massive font for the bezel numerals, it's a watch that couldn't be confused for anything but a Fifty Fathoms, and the Bronze Gold makes it something special, which again makes sense for an anniversary LE.? For those who haven't been tracking Blancpain's 70th Anniversary releases, Act 1 was a 42.3mm Fifty Fathoms in steel that was limited to 210 pieces, and Act 2 was the seriously cool Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa, which measures 47mm wide and is not a limited edition. With Act 3, Blancpain draws direct inspiration from the Mil-Spec history of the Fifty Fathoms and completes a trilogy of watches that display the breadth of Blancpain's dive watch designs, from the modern and very toolish to the downright old-school.? I Googled a list of those anniversary metals C you know, like how tin is for a 10th anniversary (weird flex). ?As it turns out, there doesn't appear to be a metal for a 70th anniversary; maybe we can all agree that it should be Bronze Gold.? The Basics Brand: BlancpainModel: Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3Reference Number: 5901-5630-NANADiameter: 41.3mmThickness: 13.3mmCase Material: Bronze Gold (9K, satin brushed)Dial Color: BlackIndexes: PaintedLume: Vintage-effect Super-LuminovaWater Resistance: 300 metersStrap/Bracelet: Black/Gold NATO-Style strap The Movement Caliber: Blancpain 1154.P2Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds Diameter: 27.4mmThickness: 3.55mmPower Reserve: 100 hoursWinding: Automatic Frequency: 21,600 VPHJewels: 28 Pricing & Availability Price: $32,000Limited Edition: 555 pieces.?For more, click here. Shop this story The Hodinkee Shop is an Authorized Retailer of Blancpain watches; explore our collection here.