Blancpain's relationship with the oceans is nothing new, it is not in vain that it can boast of having built the first submersible watch for professional use in 1953 (although this raised controversy with supporters of the crown brand for a few months). Indeed, we are talking about the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, which on the occasion of theBlancpain Ocean Commitment IIIIt is presented in a limited edition of 250 copies at the price of €16,100.
And what is the Blancpain Ocean Commitment? Basically it is the reunification under a single name (“commitment to the oceans”) of all the projects that Blancpain was carrying out on different fronts related to the exploration and conservation of the seas around the world. Since 2014, Blancpain has financed ten major scientific expeditions, contributed to doubling the surface area of marine protected areas in the world and presented several documentaries, exhibitions and publications worthy of numerous awards. Here you can see all the actions: http://www.blancpain-ocean-commitment.com/es#!/home/
This Blancpain Fifty Fathoms BOC III is, as its numbering indicates, the third of the watches dedicated not only to commemorating but also contributing to these activities, since €1,000 of the price of each unit will go directly to finance them. The arithmetic operation is simple: a quarter of a million euros for ocean research that will be added to the usual contribution that Blancpain makes each year. The success of the previous editions (BOC I and II) predicts that this third edition will hit the streets with all the pieces pre-sold.
And it's no wonder. Beyond the indisputable quality of the product (it's a Blancpain, gentleman!), the appearance of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms BOC III is impressive, or at least it seems so to me: satin steel case with a 40mm diameter, a feature - the 40mm measurement - exclusive to the limited series, with a unidirectional domed sapphire bezel (something that Blancpain already presented in 2003) and in a very attractive blue color, at just like the sphere. In both cases, and in that of the hands, the generous amount of luminescent material (SuperLuminova?) guarantees excellent visibility in low light conditions.
Being water-resistant to 300 meters, it has a transparent caseback with sapphire crystal, something unusual in professional diving watches, especially if the watch is protected against magnetism. This is explained because the Blancpain-manufactured 1151 movement, self-winding and with a 4-day power reserve, is equipped with a silicon hairspring. Silicon is a completely non-magnetic material (immune to magnetic fields) which makes it unnecessary to protect, as in the past, the caliber with a soft iron “cage”… which would prevent its view.
Blancpain's caliber 1151 features haute horlogerie finishes: Geneva (Côtes de Genève) bands and a gold oscillating weight or rotor engraved with the BOC III logo and coated in a NAC treatment, which contains platinum. This rotor is engraved with the BOC project motif, while the ring surrounding the sapphire crystal on the back is inscribed with the series number XXX/250. Also on the dial, at six o'clock, the BOC logo appears. Each watch comes with a sailcloth strap and includes an additional NATO strap. Likewise, each watch is also accompanied by a copy of the Edition Fifty Fathoms book, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary, marked with the same number as its corresponding watch. Lucky holders will have access to the Blancpain Ocean Commitment Circle and its exclusive benefits, such as invitation to private BOC events and conferences related to scientific expeditions funded by Blancpain.
They told us all this in a meeting with the Press at the beginning of June 2018, in an environment as suitable as it is attractive on the island of Gran Canaria, a biosphere reserve. Thanks to Blancpain Spain and MRA Agencia for having, once again, Special Watches.
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