Years ago when I first got into timepieces I stumbled upon a previous generation BlancpainFifty Fathoms watch and fell in love it with. It remained an idle love for quite a while and eventually Blancpain decided to release a brand new version of its base Fifty Fathoms Automatique which has remained the cornerstone of its sporty dive watch collection ever since. I now have the pleasure of offering a hands-on review of a deliciously designed Swiss diver with a great design, great character, and matching "great" price.
You aren't the first person to notice that indeed this watch is water resistant to more than 50 fathoms. The Fifty Fathoms name is derived from the original version of this watch that dates back to the middle of the 20th century during the great dive watch race among major watch makers of that era. Brands such as Rolex and Blancpain pushed the limits of the then available technology to equip those engaged with the emerging world of SCUBA and other sport diving. It was in the 1950s that the modern dive watch was born - a timepiece designed for professional use, but also suitable (and available) for hobbyists. In fact, if you think about it, the dive watch is a unique creature because it is among the few items originally designed as a professional instrument that transcended into one's normal life without undergoing any real changes. It would be like someone wearing a construction yard hardhat out on the town - and while it didn't work with most things, it did with diving watches.
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