Blancpain wants you to know that it’s World Oceans Day

Time+Tide

In 1953, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms became the first modern dive watch that was readily available to consumers. Tackling the practical requests of French Navy combat swimmers, the original Fifty Fathoms set the default style for modern diving watches by offering guaranteed water resistance, a large 41mm case, a rotating timing bezel and a luminous radium handset, all set against a black dial for easy legibility. At the time, these markers were nothing short of revolutionary. But ever since, nearly every dive watch has contained a little piece of Blancpain DNA.

But having made it safer for man to explore the ocean’s wondrous depths, Blancpain subsequently felt a responsibility to preserve them.  The brand has been heavily involved in ocean conservation efforts since their early days, mainly through their Blancpain Ocean Commitment initiative, partnering with Laurent Ballesta on numerous expeditions as well as supporting the National Geographic Society’s Pristine Seas expeditions 2011-2016, and Oceana’s Scorpion Reef project.

More recently, they joined forces with Biopixel in Australia to create a documentary series and to fund research essential to the organisation’s marine conservation projects. For each Ocean Commitment watch that is sold, Blancpain has pledged €1,000 to the foundation.

As part of their efforts to support the marine environment, Blancpain also recognises the need to document and celebrate it. That’s why they also back Oceanographic Magazine‘s Ocean Photographer of the Year awards, whose mission it is to reveal the beauty of the ocean and the many dangers it faces. This represent a continuation of the photographic and artistic Edition Fifty Fathoms project previously initiated by Blancpain.

As a result of such efforts, it’s no surprise that Blancpain is getting right behind the fact that today is World Ocean Day, an initiative that encourages people everywhere to celebrate, protect and restore our shared ocean and climate.

It’s a message that’s particularly relevant here in Australia where our coast is intimately connected to our national economy,  lifestyle and cultural identity. In fact, more than 85 per cent of Australians currently live within 50 kilometres of the sea. But wherever you’re based, this is a cause that matters. Click on the link to see how you can get involved in World Ocean Day today.