Today Blancpain unveiled a new Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in titanium with a green dial and ceramic bezel. This timepiece is made in connection of a Blancpain Ocean Commitment initiative with aquatil and Jordsand on German island of Sylt and limited to only 25 pieces. Let’s get up close and personal with this new and rare beauty.
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The BOC x aquatil initiative
With its Blancpain Ocean Commitment initiative, the manufactory supports numerous projects dedicated to marine conservation and ocean-related research around the world since many years.
For the first time, Blancpain is now involved in a German nature conservation project. In the Rantumbecken nature reserve on the island of Sylt, on the edge of the Wadden Sea, the non-profit organisation aquatil and the Jordsand association are jointly building protected breeding and resting places for migratory birds. As part of the unique biosphere of the Wadden Sea, these are indispensable for its healthy balance. Blancpain supports this project, which includes not only the construction of breeding grounds, but also the construction of a viewing platform from which interested parties can observe the approximately 50 bird species breeding and resting. Over a period of three years, aquatil will scientifically accompany the project and assess how the establishment of the protected breeding grounds affects the population of migratory birds. In addition, in cooperation with a school hostel located at the Rantum basin, numerous children and young people are enabled to experience the importance of nature conservation and to actively participate in the preservation of the breeding grounds through direct cooperation.
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The initiative and the designated timepiece were celebrated on the island Sylt in coordination with the Haute Cuisine ambassador Holger Bodendorf and the local authorized Blancpain dealer Splieth. Here are some impressions of a memorable day:
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A second unofficial Ocean Commitment edition
The sequence of biannual official Ocean Commitment editions, each limited to 250 pieces, ended with the Fifty Fathoms OC III. But the series did not stop entirely.
Apparently Blancpain opened the idea of Ocean Commitment timepieces to small local editions, accompanying individual projects, but not listed as official Ocean Commitment IV or V models.
The first was the 2020 Bathyscaphe Mokarran, limited to 50 pieces. Now, in 2022, there’s a second timepiece linked to a Blancpain Ocean Commitment initiative. And those two watches outside the official lineup have something in common, but first let’s refresh our memory with the Bathyscaphe Mokarran.
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Apparantly the color green seems to stand for the unofficial OC timepieces, while the OC I, II and III were defined by the color blue. And they both were realized for specific projects in designated territories: the Bathyscaphe Mokarran was available in the USA only, now the brand new Bathyscaphe Sylt is available in Germany only.
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A distinct look
Let’s start with the green dial and bezel, the defining elements of this special Bathyscaphe with the reference number 5000-1253-H52A.
It is a very different green than we know it from the Mokarran or the Bathyscaphe Chronographe Ceramic. It lacks the blue shades and is a purer green color without a gradient effect on the dial.
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The vertically brushed finish of the dial and radial brush of the bezel make it difficult to decide whether it is possibly the same green of the Bathyscaphe 5000-1153-H52A, a limited edition that was launched last year for the Chinese online shop only, especially since I never had the opportunity to see that one in the metal and only on renderings and a few live photos on the internet.
What I can confirm, though, is the strong expression this green dial offers. Subtle in the shade, extrovert and vibrant under bright sunlight, it is a pleasure to look at and a welcome new look.
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A nice touch, as always, is the perfectly fitting color of the date disc. It’s just not Blancpain’s approach to pick something from a drawer and use an existing part that almost fits, they go the long way even for a limited to only 25 pieces watch.
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The grade 23 titanium case is identical to the standard collection model and a perfect fit for dial and bezel with its satin brushed finish. The specs of the case are 43mm in diameter, 13.45mm in height and 49mm lug to lug.
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When we turn the watch we find the well known caliber 1315, albeit with a special 18ct gold rotor, showing a stylized arctic tern and the names Blancpain and Sylt on a green background.
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Blancpain also made the Sailcloth strap in a new color, and it fits the watch perfectly. There’s no specific optional Nato strap specifically for this limited edition, but any existing Nato would certainly work, as would the titanium bracelet.
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On the wrist
The green titanium Bathyscaphe is a looker, no doubt. Especially under bright sunlight it catches the eye and provides a strong expression. Under indirect light conditions the watch appears more subtle. Like we know it from the other Bathyscaphe versions, bezel and dial work together in harmony, the react to the different light conditions in a similar way.
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The 43mm timepiece wears comfortable also on smaller wrists like mine. The large diameter of the dial in combination with the same color ceramic bezel makes it look a bit larger than its nominal size.
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Conclusions
Yet again Blancpain chooses titanium over stainless steel for this Bathyscaphe, it clearly appears to be the metal of choice recently.
The new vertically brushed dial finish has its third appearance with this watch, after the standard collection titanium Bathyscaphe and the bicolor edition made for Cortina Watch to celebrate their 50th anniversary. It is a nice fit for the Bathyscaphe and allows for a very unique play of light.
The limitation to 25 pieces and the fact that this watch is available in Germany only may disappoint some enthusiasts, on the other hand Blancpain created a new rare bird which may trigger the hunting instinct of some collectors.
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At this point you don’t yet find the Bathyscaphe Sylt on the Blancpain website, but the standard collection titanium Bathyscaphe can be found here. Maybe you enjoy this comparative shot with the standard titanium Bathscaphe and the new Sylt edition under bright sunshine.
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The Blancpain Ocean Commitment initiative is explained here on a dedicated website. If you want to learn about the nature conservatory in the Rantumbecken on Sylt you find it here on the Jordsand website. You can also learn more about aquatil here.
My hands-on essays on the standard collection titanium Bathyscaphe on titanium bracelet can be found here and on Nato strap here. The previous unofficial OC Bathyscaphe Mokarran is featured here, an overview on all official Ocean Commitment editions available here in the blog.
I hope you enjoyed this hands-on report and the photos.
Cheers
Henrik