Birth of a Legend – The Fifty Fathoms
Driven by a resolutely pioneering spirit since its founding in 1735, Blancpain’s historical connection with the Ocean reaches back nearly seventy years to 1953 with the presentation of the world’s first modern diving watch: the Fifty Fathoms. This now iconic timepiece reflected a shared vision, that of Jean-Jacques Fiechter, Blancpain’s then CEO, drawn from his own experiences and passion for scuba diving, and also that of the newly formed French combat diving corps, led by Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud. The ideas and concepts woven into that first Fifty Fathoms have defined diving watches for the entire industry ever since.
The original Fifty Fathoms, 1953
Fifty Fathoms advertising 1950's
Blancpain CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter testing a Fifty Fathoms prototype in the south of France, 1953
Captain Bob Maloubier wearing the Fifty Fathoms, 1953
Fiechter and Blancpain were granted three patents for features incorporated into the Fifty Fathoms
Jean-Jacques Fiechter and Blancpain were granted three patents for features incorporated into the Fifty Fathoms
President John F. Kennedy with U.S. Navy SEALs wearing the Fifty Fathoms, April 1962