If you are after a „do-it-all“ modern Blancpain timepiece you may narrow in on this one: the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet in Grade 23 titanium reference 5054-1210. Let’s explore this beautiful timepiece in all its details and find out why it is one of the most popular watches in the current Blancpain catalogue.

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An every day watch you can dive with

Without getting too much into the history of the Blancpain Bathyscaphe, one aspect is vital to understand: in the mid 1950s the Bathyscaphe was created as a derivative from the pure and professional use driven Fifty Fathoms. It was meant to be an every day watch that combines the key virtues of a dive watch with the properties of an every day timepiece.

The modern Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe , introduced in 2013, has picked up that very approach and translated it into a new family of timepieces. Starting with a time and date only version, the line also offers a Flyback Chronograph, an Annual Calendar and the Quantieme Complet, a full calendar with moon phase indication, the topic of this essay. Last year a new version of this timepiece was introduced, with a titanium grade 23 case, a brushed ceramic bezel and a monochrome grey dial.

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The timepiece is available on sailcloth strap, on a titanium grade 23 bracelet or on a NATO strap, like this specimen with the reference number 5054-1210-NAGA.

This strap compliments the watch exceptionally well in my humble opinion. It emphasizes the casual feel of the watch and probably compromises the option to wear the watch in a business environment, but for those who love a very comfortable wearing experience it may be just right.

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A plentiful of beautiful details

But let’s focus on the watch itself first: the Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet Case measures 43mm in diameter and 13mm in height, the lug-to-lug is only 49mm. The titanium case has a beautiful brushed finish, the dark grey ceramic bezel insert also shows a radial brush and the anthracite dial with applied hour markers completes the .

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To keep water resistance rating at 300m and therefore preserve the dive watch properties the Bathyscaphe 5054 does not feature the patented under-lug-correctors but small corrector pushers in the case flanks. In the following photos you can also admire the fine machining of the bezel rim.

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The timepiece is powered by caliber 6654.P.4 , building on caliber 1150, albeit updated to oscillate with 4Hz which brings the power reserve down to 72 hours, which is still very comfortable. The movment is rather small compared to the watch size, so the back side crystal is surrounded by a comparatively broad titanium ring.

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The face of the watch is offering a lot, the monochrome appearance is creating a busy yet refined and beautiful appearance. The discs for weekday and month match the color of the dial, the moonphase indication is also executed in grey instead of the usual blue and the ceramic bezel works harmoniously with the sunburst dial.

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The face in the moon only appears under direct light, often the indication disappears. Since a moonphase indication is not that critical, this effect is rather lovely.

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Now let’s get back to the strap configuration: the color of the Nato strap seems a perfect fit for the titanium Bathyscaphe 5054. The strap shows the Blancpain branding on the lower side and is held on the wrist with a 23mm titanium tang buckle.

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The Nato strap (which is available in two lengths) is however increasing the height of the watch by at least 2-3mm. With the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe being a rather large watch this is not an issue aesthetically, it comes down to personal preferences whether one likes that configuration or not.

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Conclusions

The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet 5054 has been a best seller since it was introduced in stainless steel 5 years ago. With the titanium iteration the watch has become even more attractive in my humble opinion.

The combination of two essential traditions, the high end dive watch and the full calendar with moonphase indication, is so typical for Blancpain, executed in a beautiful and refined way. It is an excellent choice as an all day, all purpose timepiece, especially with the options regarding straps and titanium bracelet.

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You find the FF Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet 5054 here on the Blancpain website. A lot of photos of the titanium Bathyscaphe 5054 on the sailcloth strap option can be found here in the blog, an essay on the steel 5054 with the discontinued X-70 bracelet is available here.

I hope you enjoyed this essay and the photos!

Cheers

Henrik