In 2021 a second collaboration between Blancpain and Bucherer saw the light of day, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe ref 5000-0140-NAOA as part of the Bucherer Blue collection. Let’s get up close and personal with this beauty.
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Black and blue, an unusual yet compelling combination
The Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue is a limited edition of 188 pieces, exclusively sold through Bucherer on a worldwide basis.
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It combines the well known black satin brushed ceramic case with a blue dial and bezel, a configuration that needs to be seen in reality to fully appreciate its extraordinary beauty.
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It was often said the Bathyscaphe 5000 dials carry a lot of “negative space” given its large diameter and the comparatively small applied indices. The Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue addresses this issue with an aesthetically convincing “solution”.
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The dial combines the typical sunburst finish from the center with a radial brushed outer rim. This creates the optical effect of a two level dial, with the radial brushed outer ring building a frame for the applied indices.
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The dial is very responsive to different light conditions. In darker environments or under dimmed artificial light we can call it a deep midnight blue.
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Under bright natural light the color changes to a bright blue in perfect alignment with the ceramic bezel.
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Under all circumstances the black ceramic case is behaving subtly and it even more emphasizes dial and bezel as the prominent aesthetic elements of the watch.
But let’s talk a bit about the satin brushed black ceramic case. It is a part of the Blancpain catalogue since 2014, and it still amazes me how a ceramic case can be so perfectly finished.
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The case has a diameter of 43.6mm, a height of 13.8mm and a lug-to-lug measurement of 49mm. It features a pressed ceramic case back and a large screw down crown, both supporting a water resistance of 300m.
The Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue is of course powered by caliber 1315, oscillating with 4Hz and providing a power reserve of 5 days. This sturdy yet refined movement is decorated in the typical way and it features a dark blue coated 18ct gold rotor with the Blancpain and Bucherer signatures.
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On the wrist
The Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue comes on a dark blue Nato strap with fabric keepers and a black ceramic tang buckle.
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In its standard length the Nato strap works for wrists up to approximately 19cm, for a larger wrist circumference a longer version of the Nato strap exists.
The black and blue Bathyscaphe for Bucherer wears comfortably and with a lot of presence. The color code is unique within the Fifty Fathoms lineup, and one can clearly say that this watch is standing out in a very positive way.
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You find the Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue here on the Bucherer website. The non limited Bathyscaphe ref 5000 watches can be found here on the Blancpain website.
My 2018 blog post on the Bathyscaphe Chronographe Bucherer Blue is available here in the blog. If you like to take a look at other black ceramic Bathyscaphe models, you find the all black Chronographe Flyback here, the black/green Chronographe here and the Bathyscaphe Mokarran here in the blog.
I hope you enjoyed this hands-on blog post and the photos.
Cheers
Henrik