The original Fifty Fathoms wristwatch replica was one of those replica watches that helped to define the original, mid-20th century idiom of the modern dive replica watch: stainless steel case, timing bezel, simplicity in design with every other consideration subordinated to practicality (which is what you generally should do when you make something someone’s life might depend on). It’s common nowadays to say that the mechanical diver’s replica watch is obsolete, and unlike many commonly held views this one is actually partly true; the primary wrist instrument for marine exploration is the digital dive computer. However, depending on which diver you ask, an analog dive replica watch is a great backup, with mechanical movements often preferred for their non-reliance on a battery.
Though I’d be comfortable betting heavily that the majority of diver’s replica watches will never dive, the non-divers who buy them do so for a reason, or reasons – among these, that they want something that has all the technical properties of a real diver’s replica watch, including toughness, reliability, accuracy, and of course, a no-frills style that says, I’m such a man’s man I can’t be bothered with style. Therefore, whatever else a diver’s replica watch has or does, we expect it to conform to what, to dive replica watch enthusiasts, is Holy Writ: that series of specifications known as ISO 6425, and its commandments. There being many ways to skin a cat, however, manufacturers nowadays often start with the ISO and end up in an almost infinite number of different destinations. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Plasma Grey Ceramic is a Fifty Fathoms in name, but it’s a thoroughly modern dive replica watch in materials, design and execution. What I was curious about was whether, being a Fifty Fathoms in name, it was, if not in physical details, a Fifty Fathoms in spirit as well.
The ISO lists minimum specifications, and nowadays, manufacturers like to push past those anyplace from a little to a lot. The minimum depth qualification required is 100 meters, which, when you can buy a 200m mechanical diver for under $500 easily, seems barely adequate. However, even for the few dive replica watch owners who are going to actually do some recreational diving, 100m is overkill; recreational diving typically takes place at much shallower depths. Subscribing to the idea that it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it, nowadays most makers will go for something over 200 meters, and the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Plasma Grey Ceramic is rated to 300m. The movement is the self-winding Blancpain caliber 1315 which has a a five day power reserve out of three mainspring barrels, and a silicon balance spring which certainly gives the replica watch resistance to magnetism better than the minimum requirement of the ISO (4,800 A/m).
An extremely pleasant surprise is just how good looking this movement is; after all this is a diver’s replica watch. We’ve seen this caliber in other replica watches from Blancpain but still, it’s fantastic to see how well it holds up under close inspection. It’s extremely difficult to find any manufacturing flaws or defects at all, even under high magnification, and the sober sheen of the bridges contrasts beautifully with the subdued glow of the rotor, which is 18k grey gold (a great stealth-luxury feature that while present, doesn’t seem out of line with the general technical flavor of the replica watch). Sure, you’re not going to see hand finished sharp inner corners but to be honest, in a technical replica watch I think that sort of thing would be more of an affectation than anything else.
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Thanks to the ceramic case, this is a very easy replica watch to wear, even at 43.60mm x 13.83mm. This is where, however, I have to repeat my plea to Blancpain to please re-introduce smaller versions of the Fifty Fathoms. Manufacture caliber 1315 is a terrific piece of work but it’s a large movement, at 5.65mm thick and 30.60mm in diameter (about 5mm more than the ETA 2892/2824 calibers) and while the three barrels and 120 hour power reserve are great, using this movement throughout the 50 Fathoms line, which includes (hold onto your seat) 57 different models right now, means Blancpain is a bit painted into a corner in terms of bringing in something under 43mm.
There’s nothing wrong with a 43.60mm dive replica watch in itself, of course, but having something smaller available as well, in the style of the original FF, would be fantastic (they could sell one to me in a heartbeat, especially if it were along the lines of the Fiftieth Anniversary model, which bore a very, very close resemblance to the original, but with a sapphire bezel; it used the Blancpain/Piguet caliber 1151 and it was just delicious, at 40mm).
However, that quibble doesn’t have anything to do with this replica watch per se, which taken on its own merits is pretty terrific. It’s a lot of fun to wear; Blancpain not only got all the details right but they also made something that has fantastic aesthetics, while at the same time, not seeming too designed per se, which is a fault a lot of luxury mechanical dive replica watches unfortunately have. Depending on how the light hits it, the dial can look anything from an almost peacock blue to nearly black but the shifts in hue never cross the line into looking flashy just for the sake of being flashy.
As good as it looks, a dive replica watch always has an obligation to deliver on its utility as a tool replica watch. There are no issues there with this piece; as has been our experience in the past with the caliber 1315, accuracy is a given (+2 seconds over an entire week, worn on the left wrist during the day and left crown up at night) and you can read the time easily under any conditions, day or night.
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Overall, I think this is a great addition to the Bathyscaphe lineup, and a replica watch worth looking at seriously if you’re in the market for a luxury level dive replica watch. It’s not necessary, of course, to spend twelve thousand dollars to get a useful, tough diver’s replica watch, whether you’re a diver who wants a backup to a digital dive computer or a landlubber. But it’s always nice to see a luxury level tool replica watch that brings a lot to the table technically. Blancpain really got the balancing act between luxury and technical qualities right here; there’s great attention to detail all the way through, and while this definitely feels like a luxury replica watch, its luxuriousness doesn’t feel imposed on it, but rather like the natural consequence of thoughtful design and careful manufacturing.