A friend and fellow enthusiast had the opportunity to establish a significant pair in his collection: his new Fifty Fathoms Tribute to No Rad 5008 was accompanied by its ancestor, the Fifty Fathoms No Rad RPGA1. Let’s take a closer look at these two beauties, on get together took place in late 2021, the second one just a few days ago. In between the FF RPGA1 enjoyed a full service in the Blancpain Vintage Atelier, so we will see a very interesting before and after comparison.
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The modern tribute and its well worn inspiration
Seeing both watches side by side is a rare opportunity and a real treat. It proves that the transfer of key elements embodied in the 1967 Fifty Fathoms RPGA1 to the modern Fifty Fathoms 5008 has worked beautifully in my humble opinion. And being up close with an amazing specimen of a vintage icon is a huge pleasure anyway.
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With the FF 5008 it has not been Blancpain‘s approach to create a modern twin of the vintage timepiece. The Tribute to Fifty Fathoms is exactly what it’s name suggests, a modern FF with some design aspects that celebrate the original and its significance.
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Interestingly enough the 40.3mm FF 5008 looks a bit larger than the 41mm FF RPGA1 when they sit next to each other. This is primarily due to the smaller dial diameter of the vintage timepiece, but also the case & bezel architecture is totally different.
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The No Radiations symbol is significantly larger on the modern Tribute, the colors are a bit brighter. Especially the tone of yellow is different: a warm yellow on the modern watch and a colder, more greenish yellow on the late 1960s timepiece.
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Another distinct feature of both watches is of course the bezel. The vintage timepiece has a beautiful Bakelite bezel insert, which is in exceptionally good condition on this watch. The modern sapphire bezel insert shows the same full graduation, but since it is fully lumed it does not carry over the two different colors used on the FF RPGA1, where only every 5 minute step was luminous.
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I have already featured the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad in various previous blog essays, so let’s concentrate a bit more on the rarely seen Fifty Fathoms No Rad RPGA1.
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Before and after the restoration
Here‘s the watch prior to the service at the Vintage Atelier:
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The heavily scratched acrylic crystal shoes all the beautiful marks of a half century lifespan. Can you have more character with a beautiful vintage timepiece? The case also shows the usual marks of a respectable life time, but it is still in very nice shape.
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The result of a spa treatment in the Vintage Atelier is stunning. To ensure water resistance the crystal was replaced, as was the Teflon crown distance ring. Both original parts were of course returned to the owner, so they aren’t lost in the process.
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Now we have an unobstructed view ln this exceptional dial in all its glory. Each dial ages in its very own way, this one aged beautifully with unbroken Tritium and a patina that adds positively to the character. The white lacquered hands are also in very nice condition. The Blancpain Vintage Atelier did an amazing job on the subtle cleaning of all components!
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Case and case back have just been cleaned, all the beautiful marks that make the character have been left untouched. The case back engravings are still sharp.
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I think this pair is showing a very nice approach to collecting in a thematic way. It does not have to be purely focused on vintage or contemporary timepieces, it can put both worlds together.
Find out about the Vintage Atelier here on the Blancpain website, my own 2018 visit to it is featured here. Another essay on the before and after, featuring the FF RPG1, is available here in the blog. My hands-on report on the Tribute to FF No Rad can be found here, an overview on all 40mm FF editions here.
I hope you enjoyed this post and the photos.
Cheers
Henrik