Table of Contents
During the closing months of the year, it looks like titanium is a trend in watchmaking, at least across the Swatch Group, with luxury watchmaker Blancpain adding a new timepiece and unique technical specifications. The new Bathyscaphe in Titanium is the latest addition to the Fifty Fathoms offering and the most avant-garde, thus setting the Bathyscaphe apart from its vintage-classic Fifty Fathoms sibling. I guess that the Bathyscaphe is ground to innovations with its older brother safeguarding the first-ever diving watch’s pedigree instead.
According to the official statement, The new 43 mm Blancpain Bathyscaphe in Titanium comes in Grade 23 titanium, a first in this class of products, which looks mysterious and just a different code on top of Grade 2 and Grade 5 titanium, without any further explanation. Additionally, you can now opt for the same three-link bracelet found on the classic Fifty Fathoms and whose design looks smooth, with flat sides and no visible screws (they’re on the inside) as initially seen on long-gone Léman timepieces. Not only is this new bracelet a better fit for a Bathyscaphe, but it also adds to the timepiece’s sturdiness and premium perceived quality like never before. Unfortunately, it won’t offer any micro-adjustment mechanism, which is ubiquitous in this product category.
What is Grade 23 Titanium?
Blancpain has claimed the new model adopts Grade 23 Titanium alloy without any additional details, which sounds great if you’re an engineer (like the undersigned) and are familiar with alloys and their properties. I believe they want us to explore more about such an uncommon choice, and that’s what we did. When you’re approaching titanium, there are several options, and, as far as watchmaking concerns, enthusiasts are now familiar with those on offer. Grade 2 Titanium, for instance, is not an alloy, while Grade 5 Titanium is an alloy containing 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. When making alloys, the aim is to improve the material’s performance; base titanium is usually too soft compared to steel, prone to scratches and somehow affected by pitting phenomena. Combining titanium with specific materials in assigned quantities helps improve some properties. In brief, Grade 23 Titanium is an evolved Grade 5; it shares the same combination while reducing the maximum oxygen threshold.
Its commercial code is Ti-6Al-4V-ELI or TAV-ELI, where ELI stands for “Extra Low Interstitial”; in an ELI alloy, reduced interstitial oxygen and iron improve ductility and fracture toughness. The Grade 23 titanium is, like for like, more resistant to fatigue loads, wear and corrosion from saltwater and guarantees enhanced resistance to micro-cracks than Grade 5. Thumbs up, Blancpain, for introducing something new and performance-oriented; it adds to the product’s uniqueness.
Case, dial and movement
The 43 mm large case comes with a thickness of 13.45 mm; it is just 0.05 mm over a standard Bathyscaphe in steel. The bezel is in titanium, too, and the inlay is a ceramic ring with Liquidmetal-applied marks and numerals, a hallmark of the Swatch Group‘s premium-luxury brands. The dial showcases a hand-made vertical satin finish and in-house calibre 1315, the most refined self-winding calibre on any professional diving watch to date, including subtle snailed-decorated bridges and bevelled angles.
It offers “Haute-Horlogerie” specs and a total 5-day power reserve; nonetheless, I’d go for a solid case back on any timepiece this professional and with such an enhanced “tool watch” appeal (the Bathyscaphe is a 300m professional diving watch). As an option, the new Blancpain Bathyscaphe in titanium either comes with a classic sailcloth fabric strap with pin buckle or a beautiful NATO strap with personalized and squared pin buckle.
Final thoughts
I didn’t consider the Blancpain Bathyscaphe as an option so far, except for the Sedna Gold Bathyscaphe, since it looks too minimalistic, with the most classic Fifty Fathoms being my cup of tea. The truth is that the new Grade 23 Titanium is a rare mixture of understatement and technology, making the proposition far more compelling than in the past, especially on the new integrated Titanium matching bracelet.
The only feat I’d potentially improve on any Fifty Fathoms is the rotating bezel’s detenting, which the global watch community points out as the weakest point, from a “touch and feel” perspective. The Blancpain Bathyscaphe in titanium retails for 13,400 Euros (on the bracelet); it’s pricey for a three-hander, but I won’t forget build quality and finishes are top-notch and very boutique, and the new material adds to the product’s uniqueness, given that such a refined stripped-down no-frills design is in the target.
(Photo credit: courtesy of Blancpain)
Gaetano C @Horbiter®
