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Blancpain goes in deep with the X Fathoms
New Models

Blancpain goes in deep with the X Fathoms

Tuesday, 08 November 2011
By Mathilde Binetruy / BIPH
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Mathilde Binetruy / BIPH

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4 min read

Blancpain proved watchmaking still has ample room for superlatives when it presented the X Fathoms, its new dive watch and worthy successor to the legendary Fifty Fathoms. The launch took place among the 30,000 fish and 400 sharks in the world’s biggest aquarium, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Taking the plunge was Mark A. Hayek, CEO of Blancpain.

What more original way to present a new watch than inside a giant tank, 33 metres wide by 8 metres high, with the CEO in the role of the diver? A hundred international journalists and a crowd of curious onlookers gathered at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall to see Mark A. Hayek emerge in snorkel and fins, wearing the new X Fathoms watch on his wrist. He was joined by two other divers to time world freediving record-holder Gianluca Genoni, who donned a watchmaker’s white coat for the occasion, for the 4 minutes and 51 seconds he sat at a workbench submerged in the tank.

Admiring the show from the front row were Nayla Hayek, Chair of the Board of Directors of Swatch Group, and Prince Mohammed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar, the largest global property developer. “Launching this watch here in Dubai has been a fabulous opportunity,” declared Marc A. Hayek as he thanked the prince for his hospitality. “The X Fathoms was designed not just as a watch but as a dive watch, and what more legitimate place to unveil it than a city that can claim every possible superlative. This is a gigantic aquarium, the watch measures an impressive 55mm in diameter, they’re a perfect match!”

Surrounded by 30,000 fish, Marc A. Hayek presented the new X Fathoms by Blancpain © Blancpain
Surrounded by 30,000 fish, Marc A. Hayek presented the new X Fathoms by Blancpain © Blancpain
The legendary Fifty Fathoms

The X Fathoms looks to its predecessor, the Fifty Fathoms, launched in 1953 and water-resistant to 91.45 metres or fifty fathoms. According to Blancpain, the addition of a mechanical depth gauge makes it the most high-performance mechanical dive watch ever. “The idea was to incorporate the latest technology into a watch that respects the spirit of the original,” Mark A. Hayek explained. “The first question had to be, what does today’s user need? Our brief was to imagine a 21st-century watch that would be true to the 1953 model. Never to lose sight of our origins.”

The watch, which was a full four years in development, is packed with world-firsts: a depth gauge that measures up to 90 metres; maximum achieved depth memory; separate 0-15 metre scale with exceptional +/- 30cm accuracy; and a five-minute retrograde countdown timer for decompression stops. The movement, Ref. 9918B based on the 1315 Manufacture calibre, has already earned its stripes with the Fifty Fathoms Automatic collection. Its three barrels develop a five-day power reserve while the silicon balance spring withstands magnetic fields. The impressive 55.65mm satin-brushed titanium case is water-resistant to 30 bar. Additional features include a helium escape valve for saturation diving and the unidirectional bezel which has been a hallmark of the collection for almost 60 years.

"The first of these watches will be for Dubai"

Blancpain’s research has shown that the elastic properties of amorphous metal and its resistance to permanent deformation make it the ideal material for the depth gauge membrane, as it reduces its thickness by half compared with steel and therefore increases precision. The long-term stability of the alloy also prevents hairline cracks from forming. “We have here the result of years of research and development, which is one of the areas where we are investing the most,” said Mark A. Hayek. “If you no longer invest time and money in the future, you’ll go nowhere. New technologies are extremely important for Blancpain.”

Clearly Blancpain is going places with the X Fathoms, which will come to market in 2012. Annual production will be limited to small quantities, with a price point of CHF 30,000 to CHF 40,000. Marc A. Hayek has promised that the very first X Fathoms will be for Dubai: “It was launched here so it’s only right that it should be proposed here first.”

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