BLANCPAIN - X Fathoms

A notable timepiece for keen divers and Blancpain collectors.

AsianTatler.com - 21 February 2012

Sean Li


 
Known for its classical mechanical horology, Blancpain’s first concept watch, the Blancpain X Fathoms, associated with the world of diving, given CEO Marc Hayek’s affinity for the sport, takes the cues from one of the world’s first ever diving watches that can be traced back to 1953.

 X Fathoms. © Blancpain

While some of these cues can be found on the new X Fathoms, it’s a very different beast, developed with very functional intent. The satin-brushed titanium case is a hefty 55.65mm in diameter, to give the dial considerable breathing space for the multitude of hands and improve the legibility.

Three of the hands are devoted to the normal hour, minute and second display, with green luminous hands and numerals on the dial and bezel. The outer track on the dial shows a depth scale up to 15 metres in blue; the orange markers between 3m and 6m are highlighted to help the diver during decompression. The inner track’s scale shows depths from 0 to 90 metres in orange.

Back of the watch. © Blancpain

Hidden under that depth gauge’s hand is another hand that will remain fixed at the maximum depth attained after the diver starts the ascent. Finally, a five-minute countdown timer is shown at 10 o’clock via a retrograde hand, activated by a pusher at 10 o’clock; this helps the diver time the necessary decompression stops during the ascent. Also, hidden inside is the amorphous metal membrane, whose deformation under pressure is used to drive the rack and pinion responsible for the depth indications. Each watch is precisely calibrated, so that a 0.01mm deformation of the membrane equals a depth of one metre, with a precision of +/- 30cm.


In terms of its movement, the X Fathoms is driven by the 9918B caliber, derived from the well-proven 1315 calibre that powers the Fifty Fathoms collection. Its triple barrel gives it an autonomy of five days. Keen divers and Blancpain collectors will be able to strap it to their wrists from the middle of 2012.

BLANCPAIN X Fathoms

Movement:
9918B Calibre; self-winding; triple barrel; 5-day power reserve

Functions:
Hour, minute, second; mechanical depth gauge; retrograde 5-minute counter,

Case:
55.65mm; satin-brushed titanium; water-resistant up to 30 bar

Dial:
Green luminous hands and numerals on dial and bezel; depth scale in a blue tipped hand

Strap: Injected rubber strap