{"id":26606,"date":"2021-04-03T16:08:37","date_gmt":"2021-04-03T16:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/the-blancpain-tribute-to-fifty-fathoms-no-rad\/"},"modified":"2023-07-09T09:40:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-09T07:40:31","slug":"blancpain-tribute-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-watch-hands-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/blancpain-tribute-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-watch-hands-on\/","title":{"rendered":"The Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad watch hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

Intro<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a class of watches whose charm won\u2019t fade any easier: diving watches. That category includes a yet more desirable subset: luxury diving watches. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> fits in the second, boasting a premium feel with unrivaled pedigree, and its recent story ranks among the best case studies in Haute- Horlogerie. I\u2019ll never forget when Blancpain<\/strong> unveiled their commemorative timepiece, the 50<\/strong>th<\/sup> Anniversary<\/strong> Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> celebrating fifty years since the first professional diving watch hit the market<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. The Fifty Fathoms<\/strong>\u2018s modern chapter started, therefore, in 2003<\/strong>; the end of that story is a collection whose reputation has grown alongside sales volumes.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-2021-1\"The brand outperformed without investing in massive ad campaigns, like most premium and high-volume competitors do when introducing a new collection. The brand adopted an unconventional tone of voice, geared towards listening to the finest collectors\u2019 expectations and crafting the finest diving watch.<\/p>\n

As a result, some Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> have raised their value to the extent that was hard to predict ten or even five years ago. You won\u2019t find a Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil<\/strong>\u2013Spec<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, an Ocean Commitment<\/strong>, or a Tribute to Aqualung<\/strong> anywhere on the Internet. The ultimate collectors won\u2019t miss the latest Limited Edition Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> watches and be sure they\u2019re not going to mark them up and re-sell them the day after tomorrow.<\/p>\n

The Barakuda and the\u00a0Nageurs de Combat.<\/h2>\n

Scrolling through the brand\u2019s catalog, I reckon the Fifty Fathoms Nageurs de Combat<\/strong> is my cup of tea and the pinnacle of the limited editions Fifty Fathoms<\/strong>\u2018 saga. However, it\u2019s not entirely in keeping with the original Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> in either size and \u201cfeel.\u201d With this specific case excluded, the 40mm<\/strong> models are the most sought-after and collectors-ready Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> on sale. The Barakuda<\/strong> was a proving ground for marketers; a small case with knurled crown protected by tiny square shoulders and a quintessentially vintage feel is all you need to hype things up.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-2021-4\"The Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad<\/strong> feels like a follow-up to the Barakuda\u2019s<\/strong> outrageous success. Once unveiled, the 500 units<\/strong> disappeared in a blink of an eye; in allocating each of the five-hundred pieces, I\u2019m sure that Blancpain\u2019s<\/strong> priority was to please the brand\u2019s long-established collectors and owners.<\/p>\n

The Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad<\/h2>\n

The teaser announced ahead of the official presentation was not hiding the \u201cNo Rad\u201d<\/em> insignia at all. The contemporary No Rad<\/strong> pays homage to a timepiece released in the mid-sixties, adopted by various military corps, including the respected German Navy<\/strong>\u2018s frogmen. The Fifty<\/strong> Fathoms<\/strong>\u2018 legend began with the French Navy <\/strong>to quickly extend to other military corps moving forward.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-vintage-model\"The original No Radiation Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> marked a new generation of timepieces using a replacement to the harmful radium-based luminescent material for the first time. The 2021 Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad<\/strong> combines a kind of underwater military operations pedigree with the unmistakable luxury sports watch design that makes any Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> a connoisseur diving watch.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-2021-8\"The dial showcases painted dots, and a diamond-shaped index at twelve, all filled with the same vintage Super<\/strong>\u2013LumiNova<\/strong>\u00ae you\u2019ll spot on indexes and numerals of the sapphire-crystal equipped rotating bezel (which glows a full green in the dark); the case features exquisite mirror polishing and craftsmanship all around.<\/p>\n

The Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> is old-school and miles away from any mass-produced luxury diving watch to sum things up. The formula combines fascinating history, a vintage design, and state-of-the-art engineering packed to offer a \u201cboutique\u201d experience.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-2021\"The Tropic-type rubber strap is the icing on the cake and more durable, it seems, than the ordinary rubber or canvas strap. Measuring 40.3mm<\/strong> in diameter, with a thickness of 13.23<\/strong> and the in-house caliber 1151<\/strong> to power the watch for at least three days, the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad 2021<\/strong> is halfway between a seventies\u2019 looking sports diving watch with a somewhat military feel to it. The Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad<\/strong> also comes with a 20 millimeters lug-to-lug distance<\/strong>\u00a0and short lugs to enhance wearer comfort. As a consequence, it wears smaller than any steel 40 mm large luxury watch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-2021-5\"Are we, therefore, close to perfection? We are not, since there\u2019s no perfect watch, and neither is this Blancpain<\/strong> for reasons regarding the product, the brand image, and the strategy the brand is pursuing, which looks dangerous in the long term. Build quality and details are top-notch: if you\u2019re buying one, you won\u2019t be disappointed; such is the refinement inside and out.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never stop repeating there are areas of improvement, one being the \u201ctouch and feel\u201d<\/em> of any Fifty Fathoms<\/strong>\u2018 rotating bezel: it sounds metallic and not as crisp as you would expect on a timepiece this class and price. It primarily has to do with the \u201cperceived\u201d quality, and not with reliability or build quality; you\u2019ll find a far better detenting on timepieces costing half this Blancpain<\/strong> and less.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-2021-10\"Regarding the strategy: does it make any sense to keep producing 40mm<\/strong> vintage-mimicking limited edition pieces without considering how it will affect the standard offering? I see that people (and speculation) keep approaching only 40 mm Limited Edition Fifty Fathoms<\/strong>, involving the classic 45mm<\/strong> offering whose average price is almost the same and is losing attractiveness in comparison.<\/p>\n

I think Blancpain<\/strong> should better cluster the 40 and 45 mm Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> offering and avoid product cannibalization. Be aware of what happened at Patek<\/strong> and Audemars Piguet <\/strong>along the way; the story goes that PP has phased out the 5711<\/strong>, and the second one is about to do the same with 15202ST<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

In summary, I do like the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad<\/strong>, and I would take one, but all the 25 pieces out of the total 500<\/strong> allocated across the Italian retailers are gone already. The LE Fifty Fathoms <\/strong>have become highly collectible over the years, the No Rad<\/strong> is no exception, and prices have skyrocketed to impress Mr<\/strong>. Hayek<\/strong> himself, as he stated in an interview.<\/p>\n

\"blancpain-fifty-fathoms-no-rad-2021-7\"The Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad<\/strong>, whose price list is 13.400Euro<\/strong>, is about to beat any modern re-edition in appeal and value. It is by no means an affordable\u00a0watch, but how much would you value history and pedigree?<\/p>\n

From a different perspective, it\u2019s a collector\u2019s item and an excellent investment, as quotations are well above retail price already. It is as unique as a fine bottle of wine you\u2019re opening to mark a great event, but great wines deserve further improvement too, and I genuinely hope that Blancpain<\/strong> will listen to my suggestions and improve the Fifty Fathoms<\/strong> collection further.<\/p>\n