They have long been anticipated and now we finally witnessed the introduction of the regular collection 42mm Fifty Fathoms. Offered in no less than 14 references (22 when you count the clasp options) with the options of grade 23 titanium or red gold case featuring two dial variants and many strap/bracelet options the medium sized FF will no doubt conquer a lot of hearts. Let’s get up close and personal with them.
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The FF 70th Anniversary Act 1 introduced one year ago gave us a strong hint that the new 42.3mm case wouldn’t stay exclusive to this commemorative limited edition. The cooperation with Swatch on the Scuba Fifty Fathoms used the same case dimensions already, those 6 fun timepieces however would not fill the void.
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But how would a regular collection FF 5010 look and feel like? With respect to the Act 1 gladly the regular collection models honor the limited edition by keeping key aspects exclusive to it. The satin brushed case finish as well as the applied numerals and sword hands of the new 5010 models give it enough of a difference in the visual and haptic appearance.
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The second (and probably more important) internal reference point is of course the well known 45mm Fifty Fathoms 5015 which has been the key reference since 2007. I will touch on this comparison throughout this hands-on and in the conclusions.
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So here are the 5 versions I encountered during the launch event in the Munich Boutique, all four main configurations on Tropic strap plus the blue dial titanium 5010 on titanium bracelet:
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The grade 23 titanium FF 5010
The new regular collection 42mm Fifty Fathoms in grade 23 titanium stays very close to its larger sibling, the 45mm FF 5015 in titanium. Actually it is hard to tell which one you’re looking at when seen in isolation, although there are a few notable differences.
The dial colors and basic configuration are similar between the 5010 and 5015. The hour and minute hands are the same design with the characteristic bevel.
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The applied indices on the dial are also similar in basic design but with some minimal difference in detail execution. They offer a similar bevel as the hour and minute hands, which is not only a nice touch but a very intriguing design differentiator.
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The 5010 does not have the contrast finish ring on the dial as we know it from the 5015. This makes a real and in my opinion positive difference since the dial appears visually larger in relation to the sapphire bezel while the stepped dial did the opposite with the FF 5015, a smart solution.
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I have the impression that the size of the applied 3/6/8/12 numerals on the dial is identical with the larger FF 5015 and therefore larger in relation to the bezel numerals with the 5010. This enhances the aesthetic harmony quite substantially, at least in my humble opinion.
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The case shape hasn’t changed and was scaled down precisely from the 5015 to the new smaller version of the FF (which results in the rather unusual 21.5mm lug width). And that’s good news since the rounded shapes of this characteristic Fifty Fathoms case have always been an utterly beautiful aspect of this masterful dive watch which put it in a league of its own. The precise case measurements are 42.3mm in diameter at a height of 14.2mm and a lug-to-lug of 47mm.
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Titanium grade 23 is a beautiful choice of material for the new FF reference: it is light, antiallergic, comfortable to wear and with its satin brushed finish a visual and haptic delight.
As with the titanium 5015, the 5010 offers a sapphire case back so you can admire the trusted caliber 1315, which is not only the class leader in precision but also durability and sturdiness.
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The movement is surrounded by the case like a perfect fitting glove, its finishing is widely similar to the other Fifty Fathoms and Bathyscaphe hosts, but the rotor shows a nice little difference: typically all caliber 1315 feature an 18k gold rotor, albeit with an anthracite DLC coating. Here parts of the rotor are spared from the coating and the rotor shape is the one we know from the Act 1 or 5008 limited editions.
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The new regular collection Fifty Fathoms in titanium is available with black dial and sapphire bezel (5010-12B30) or blue dial and sapphire bezel (5010-12B40). The watches come on a titanium bracelet or a variety of straps.
Both versions are available on Nato strap with tang buckle as well as sailcloth or Tropic strap with the choice between tang buckle or deployant clasp. All buckles/clasps are of course made from titanium, too.
The deployant is done differently than we know it from the FF 5015: there’s no longer the need to adjust the correct hole with a screw, which offers a lot more comfort with this new clasp.
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The optional titanium grade 23 bracelet is similar to the one we know from the larger sibling, the features are identical with the hidden adjustment and the still lacking quick fine adjustment. The bracelet tapers from 21.5mm to 19mm.
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The red gold FF 5010
Starting the new regular collection 42mm Fifty Fathoms with two precious metal versions right from the start shows the dedication of Blancpain to this new size.
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There have been precious metal versions of the modern FF since the introduction of the 45mm 5015 in 2007. Since dive watches have become more or less synonymous with modern day sports watches there’s no argument whether those make sense… of course they do.
Satin brushed red gold works beautifully with the FF 5010, with the blue dial version being a bit more flamboyant than the black dial one.
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The 4Hz caliber 1315 with its 120 hours of power reserve is decorated in exactly the same way as with the titanium 5010, the red gold case is just a more opulent tailor made suit around it.
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There’s no bracelet option for the 5010-36B30 and 5010-36B40, but the sailcloth, Tropic and Nato straps offer nice solutions as well. A red gold deployant is available for the Sailcloth and Tropic straps. Here are some lateral shots that end this segment on the red gold 5010 by (hopefully) showcasing its stunning beauty:
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Conclusions
The cry for a medium sized Fifty Fathoms has been loud and clear for quite a few years now. And yes, Blancpain took their time to make this wish a reality… but boy did they deliver!
I made my sentiment on the 42.3mm size very clear with my deep love for the FF 70th Anniversary Act 1, so it won’t come as a surprise to you that I am a big fan. It’s still a large watch, but it is very comfortable to wear with smaller wrists and also prominent enough on a large wrist.
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The comparison to the larger 45mm Fifty Fathoms 5015 is important in multiple aspects. For one, a design that’s 17 years old and still as good, convincing and up to date is an enormous achievement.
The 5010 however proves that even the strongest timeless design needs careful adjustment for a different size and can even be improved a bit: the dial without the outer ring paired with the (in relation) larger numerals works recognizably better with the bezel numerals. Here we find an aesthetic harmony that is making the 5010 very special and not simply a smaller version of the 5015.
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The execution of the watch is flawless, caliber 1315 is probably the best sports watch movement in the industry, the choice between different straps is there and, last but not least, the FF 5010 is offering the outstanding timeless beauty you can rightfully expect from Blancpain.
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Last but not least let me share my thoughts on the haptic impressions. The silky smooth brushed finish is sublime, the rounded case shapes of the Fifty Fathoms have always been a delight to explore with your fingertips. Apparently Blancpain have changed the bezel spring technology a bit, and just as with my 5010 Act 1 the bezel action is perfect: clear, very precise and with a nice haptic and audible feedback.
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Launching the new sized Fifty Fathoms with 14 references offers the watch enthusiast a lot of choices, and all are very strong additions to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms family. Especially for medium or smaller sized wrists the FF 5010 is a splendid choice. Due to the short lugs the watch actually wears like many 40 or 41mm timepieces, so give it a try… I guess you won’t be disappointed.
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The new Fifty Fathoms 5010 is available immediately and featured here on the Blancpain website. For all spec sheets find my initial post on the launch here. The 42mm FF 70th Anniversary Act 1 is featured here, the titanium FF 5015 versions here in the blog.
I hope you enjoyed this introduction and the photos.
Cheers
Henrik