Blancpain Honors Ernest H. Brooks II's 1962 Devils Hole Dive With Fifty Fathoms Desert Edition
Beige and brown on stainless steel.
In honor of underwater photography pioneer, Ernest H. Brook II’s historic dive in Death Valley’s Devils Hole back in 1962 (where he famously photographed the endangered Devils Hole pupfish 120 meters deep) Swiss luxury watchmaker Blancpain has reworked its Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe for an oversized, desert-tan edition.
Unlike its usual 38mm Bathyscaphe collection, the current iteration’s satin-brushed stainless steel case comes in a much larger 43mm measurement. Sitting atop is a dive bezel with a deep brown ceramic bezel, complementing a sandy sunburst dial incorporating a smoky effect around its periphery, no doubt a nod to the retro design sensibilities of the ’60s and ’70s.
Powering the timepiece itself is a 35-jewel in-house 1315DD automatic movement with day-date complications, boasting an impressive power reserve of five days even when operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Wrapping things up is a sandy-beige sail canvas strap.
Limited to just 500 pieces made, Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Day-Date Desert Edition will retail for $12,700 USD.
Elsewhere in watches, Seiko is offering another more affordable “Captain Willard” alternative.
