During a recent visit I had the chance to spend time with the prototypes of two rare Bathyscaphe models. Since both were available in selected markets only, getting up close with them for a photo session was a very welcome opportunity. So here they are, the Bathyscaphe Polar Green in stainless steel and the Bathyscaphe Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary in titanium and Sedna gold.

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The Bathyscaphe Polar Green

This stainless steel Bathyscaphe with a stunning green dial was available through Blancpain‘s online shop in China only, a few specimen may have been distributed through selected Boutiques.

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Green dials have been a trend since 2020, and Blancpain has contributed some exceptional Bathyscaphe models over the past 3 years. The first Bathyscaphe with a green dial was the limited to 50 pieces Mokarran, swiftly followed by the regular collection Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback with the same dial color, both with black ceramic cases.

The Bathyscaphe Polar Green featured in this essay was the third green dial watch, followed last fall by the limited to 25 pieces titanium Bathyscaphe Sylt.

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As you can see from the photos the Bathyscaphe Polar Green shows a different shade of color. There’s no blend between green and blue shades like we know it from the first two green dial models. The same is true for the color of the ceramic bezel insert.

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The Bathyscaphe Polar Green comes in a stainless steel case, which is another significant difference to the other watches mentioned. The sharp lines of the Bathyscaphe case and the beautiful bezel rim provide a plentiful of nice details.

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The timepiece features a sapphire case back so you can observe the superb caliber 1315 at work. The movement finish is similar to the standard collection Bathyscaphe, there’s no unique rotor design, the individual numbering as a series of 100 is found on the steel case back rim.

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Of course the sailcloth strap is executed in a fitting green color, again different from the green sailcloth straps known from other Bathyscaphe timepieces.

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It is a very good looking timepiece, that’s for sure. I must admit that I wished this configuration would have been available worldwide, I think it would have found many happy buyers.

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The two-tone Bathyscaphe Cortina 50th Anniversary

This timepiece came as a total surprise (at least to me) since it has been almost two decades since Blancpain made their last two-tone watch (the Leman GMT Reveil titanium/red gold).

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As its name suggests the watch was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Singapore based retailer Cortina Watch. To compliment the anniversary this Bathyscaphe was made in a quantity of 50 pieces. The sapphire case back has a commemorative print, which in this case obstructs the view on caliber 1315 a bit.

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It is very interesting how well the two-tone configuration suits the rather technical design of the Bathyscaphe. The combination of Grade 23 titanium with Sedna gold works beautifully without being too extrovert.

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The vertically brushed anthracite dial is known from the standard titanium Bathyscaphe, with the gold indices and hands it has a slightly different expression, though.

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The Bathyscaphe Cortina 50th Anniversary comes on a grey sailcloth strap with Sedna gold tang buckle, which works very well with the timepiece.

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It will be interesting to find out whether the two-tone aesthetic makes it into the regular Bathyscaphe collection at some point. This collaboration between Blancpain and Cortina Watch provides a strong argument for it.

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Conclusions

Both timepieces have been sold out almost instantly, and due to the geographically limited distribution the chances to run into one of these are less than slim. I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to get up close with the prototypes, and I was intrigued by both watches, the stainless steel green dial Bathyscaphe I actually fell in live with.

You find the Bathyscaphe Polar Green here on the Blancpain website. The Cortina Bathyscaphe can found here on the retailer’s website. My hands-on essay on the Bathyscaphe Mokarran is available here, the one on the Bathyscaphe Sylt here in the blog.

I hope you enjoyed this essay and the photos.

Cheers

Henrik