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Blancpain/english * Attention: These watches are NOT for sale, this is just my gallery (View Home)
At this place I like to introduce my small collction of the Blancpain 50 Fathoms wristwatches. A sporty and very robust series, launched in the 50?s for military purposes but also for civic use. These watches were almost forgotten and unknown by the time and their revival was just caused by the presentation of the new Blancpain trilogy (water, earth, air). As I learned, there are a lot of people appreciating my passion for these watches. During search of hard to find and historical watches, I started to collect these interesting 50 fathoms watches (long before the relaunch by the SMH group). Naturally the movement and the construction of the 50 fathoms series can never be comparable to the elegant and classic Blancpains, but you have to consider that the 50 fathoms were designed for other tasks. Due to different ideas of many military institutions Blancpain released many different models in very small numbers. During use by the military the models still were improved and modified again. Big collections of these wonderful watches will be hard to find, because the destiny of the watch was the extreme use in work and military. Few watches survived the brutal treatment over the years and the condition of some of these remaining 50 fathoms would tell an interesting story. Most of my information comes of the very few literature and talking about experiences with other 50 fathoms collectors. I will be happy about any new information and please do not hesitate to contact me, if something on my website seems to wrong. But now please enjoy my personal Blancpain gallery. Hans Friedrich
	Blancpain 50 fathoms Milspec 1, from the 70's A very special watch of the Blancpain Aera. This model in excellent condition is very hard to find. Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back, turnable bezel, condition 95 Dial: black, humidity indicator (perfect dial) Strap:Military strap, synthetic (not orginal) Movement: ETA Note: These series were constructed for the military purposes and only few have survived.
	Blancpain Aqualung, from the 70's A real collectible of the very early Blancpain Aera. These models in outstanding condition is very hard to find. Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back, turnable bezel, condition 90-95 Dial: black, arabic numbers, no radiation symbol (very beautiful) Strap: Leatherstrap (not orginal), on demand with german military leatherstrap Movement: ETA Note: I have seen 3 models of these since collecting the Blancpains and not one was in the condition like this one. One of the most interesting Aqualungs.
	Blancpain GMT, with box and papers. Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back, turnable bezel, black dial, steelbracelet Movement: Blancpain Kal. 5A50, 2nd timezone. Condition: This watch is almost like a new one.
	BLANCPAIN Barracuda Movement: Based ETA 17 Jewels, automatic – condition 90 % Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back, turnable bezel – condition 90 % Dial: Original, indices in two colors – condition 90% Strap: Military leather strap, not by Blancpain Note: The Barracuda was produced for US Forces. The most important characteristic are the two colored indices (the outer part is red)
	BLANCPAIN Cushion shaped with 2 crowns Movement: Based ETA, 17 jewels, automatic, condition 90+% Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back, turnable bezel inside – condition 85+ % Dial: Original, silver with red hands, shows day of month and weeks day, condition 90+% Strap: leather strap, not by Blancpain Note: An interesting variation with 2 crowns. One is for the normal functions, the second one is designed to move the bezel, that is located inside the watch. This shape was designed for the eastern countries in Europe. The case back shows a mark, which might be of military origin.
	BLANCPAIN, Eastern Europe model with 2 crowns Movement: Based ETA, 17 jewels, automatic, condition 95 % Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back, turnable bezel inside – condition 95 % Dial: Original, black with red hands, shows day of month and weeks day, condition 95 % Strap: Military leather strap, not by Blancpain Note: this is the classic military Blancpain of the eastern europe forces. Variation with 2 crowns. One is for the normal functions, the second one is designed to move the bezel, that is located inside the watch. The important characteristic of this watch is the no radiation symbol indicating the luminiscent not to be radioactive.
	BLANCPAIN, Combat Divers of the german Bundeswehr Movement: Based ETA, 17 jewels, automatic, condition 90+ % Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back, turnable bezel – condition 85 % Dial: Original, minute hand orange (this is original) – condition 85% Strap: Rubber strap, not by Blancpain Note: The combat divers watch is the most common 50 fathom in germany. ist typical high built case (cushion shaped) and the crown at the 4 o clock position make this 50 fathoms unmistakable. the bezel shows a not marked design with a triangle at 12 o clock.
	BLANCPAIN 50 fathoms Bundeswehr Movement: AS 1700, 17 jewels. automatic – condition 95 % Case: Stainless steel, screwed case back with engraved BUNDESWEHR, condition 95 % Dial: Original, no radiation symbol, The Blancpain 50 fathoms character is embossed condition 90 % Strap: strap, not by Blancpain Note: the classic Bundeswehr Blancpain, see Imai book. It shows the no radiation symbol indicating the luminiscent not to be radioactive. The bezel has the fine graduation.
	BLANCPAIN LIP in the big case Movement: AS 1369N, 17 jewels. automatic – condition 90 % Case: Stainless steel, the big sized case also known as the Jacque Cousteau size, screwed case back with LIP Blancpain case back and inner cover (also engraved), condition 85 % Dial: Original, LIP Blancpain is written in two colors on the dial, arabic numnbers 3, 6, 9, 12 condition 90 % Strap: leather strap, not by Blancpain Note: Hard to find version in the big case. the watchmaker LIP in France was cooperating with Blancpain a long time and during their cooperation this model was designed. One of the few arabic numbers dial! All parts of this watch show the LIP Blancpain sign.
	BLANCPAIN Civic Version of the big case Movement: AS 1361N, 17 jewels. automatic – condition 95 % Case: Stainless steel, the big sized case also known as the Jacque Cousteau size, screwed case back (Blancpain engraved) and inner cover (also engraved), condition 90 % Dial: Original, condition 90 % Strap: leather strap,not by Blancpain Note: This 50´s is one of my favorites in an excellent condition and I wont find anotherone like this. This shape and size of case is the mother of many famous different 50 fathoms like the Milspec, the Aqualung and the Tornek Rayville.