Blancpain now has a steel Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm in its permanent collection
Zach Blass- A steel Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm finally enters the permanent collection.
- It’s strictly available with a sunburst black dial, but with four strap options: NATO, Tropic-style rubber, sailcloth, and steel bracelet.
- Pricing ranges from US$15,500 to US$18,000, depending on the strap and clasp style.
In the modern era, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was long known for having a larger, 45mm diameter in regular production, and scarce irregular limited editions that harkened closer to the original 41mm size from 1953. Smaller-wristed watch buyers like myself championed the idea of Blancpain debuting a smaller Fifty Fathoms, begging the brand to make the smaller sizes of its limited editions a part of the permanent collection. But Blancpain was steadfast in its belief that those who wanted smaller should turn to the Bathyscaphe segment of the Fifty Fathoms range. Last year, in the wake of the success of the 70th Anniversary Act 1 from 2023, Blancpain finally brought a 42mm size into regular production, but strictly in titanium and red gold… Until today. We now have a stainless steel Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm model in the permanent collection that’s finally not a limited edition.
This steel variant, at least for now, is strictly paired with a black sunburst dial and a colour-matched uni-directional bezel. To refresh your memory, the Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42 measures 42.3mm in diameter, 14.3mm thick, and 47mm lug-to-lug (down from 50.8mm lug-to-lug for the 45mm size). This steel model, like the titanium and red gold Fifty Fathoms Automatiques that preceded it, is still driven by Blancpain’s five-day, in-house calibre 1315 that is self-winding thanks to a NAC-treated 18k rose gold rotor executed in the original 1950s style.
Though there is only one colour variant at this time, the new steel Fifty Fathoms 42mm can be purchased on four different strap options: a NATO strap, sailcloth strap, Tropic-style rubber strap, or a case-matching steel bracelet, with the price dependent on your choice.
This evolution within the collection may not be as hyped as a new MoonSwatch, but it is still an important one. Having a readily available steel model in this size is not only something people have been asking for, but it’s also naturally less expensive than its titanium and red gold counterparts. Along with some preferring the heft of steel over lightweight titanium, the new Automatique 42mm also exhibits more polished surfaces, adding a further sense of elegance should that be your preference. I can’t imagine anyone would feel anything other than happy with this debut.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm stainless steel pricing and availability
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm in stainless steel is now available for purchase. Price: US$15,500 (NATO, Tropic rubber w/ pin buckle, sailcloth w/ pin buckle), US$16,800 (Tropic rubber or sailcloth w/ deployant), US$18,000 (steel bracelet)
| Brand | Blancpain |
| Model | Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm |
| Reference | 5010-1130-NABA (NATO strap) 5010-1130-B64B (Tropic) 5010-1130-B52B (sailcloth) 5010-1130-71S (bracelet) |
| Case Dimensions | 42.3mm (D) x 14.3mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Black sunburst |
| Bracelet and strap | NATO-style fabric strap, steel pin buckle Tropic rubber, steel pin buckle or deployant clasp Sailcloth fabric, steel pin buckle or deployant clasp Steel bracelet, triple folding clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 1315, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 120 hours (5 days) |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$15,500 (NATO, Tropic rubber w/ pin buckle, sailcloth w/ pin buckle) US$16,800 (Tropic rubber or sailcloth w/ deployant) US$18,000 (steel bracelet) |