In the early 1960s Blancpain began marking its timepieces with a special graphic to clearly indicate they were radium-free. A radioactive element used in watchmaking for its luminescent properties, radium had recently been declared harmful to health. Designed to ensure that the message was easily understood, the graphic consisted of three red segments on a yellow background with a black cross accompanied by the words no radiations. Today, dive watches with the no radiations graphic are sought-after collector’s items.
The new Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad is a modern interpretation of the historical model that inspired it. Its matte black dial is punctuated by round and rectangular hour-markers, with a diamond-shaped mark at 12 o’clock. The Super-LumiNova coated chapter ring, hands and the time scale on the bezel all have the beige-orange ‘patina’ of vintage indicators. The unidirectional rotating bezel features a graduation typical of mid-century Fifty Fathoms models along with a distinctive sapphire insert found in contemporary models. The 40.3mm stainless steel case is water-resistant to 300 meters. It houses Blancpain’s Calibre 1151 self-winding movement, equipped with a silicon balance spring. Issued in a 500-piece limited series, the watch comes with a ‘tropic’ rubber strap, a style popular with divers in the 60s because of its comfortable fit and durability.
Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad ($14,100), from blancpain.com
