In 2022, Cortina Watch, one of Singapore’s most well-known watch retailers, will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Cortina Watch is offering numerous special and limited edition timepieces with longtime watchmaking partners to mark its Golden Jubilee. Blancpain will unveil an opulent collection this May, including a rare edition made in collaboration with and specifically for Cortina Watch’s 50th-anniversary festivities.
Blancpain will showcase the ‘Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe’ display at the main atrium of Paragon Singapore from May 23 to June 5, 2022, to honour the premiere of this unique version developed specifically for Cortina Watch’s anniversary festivities. The exhibition will be open to the public every day from 11am to 8pm.
Limited-Edition Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe
The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is a 43 mm limited-edition titanium watch with a crisp shape and matte finish that emanates stealthy sophistication. A sturdy unidirectional bezel in Sedna gold — a gold, copper, and palladium alloy that guarantees great longevity — sits atop the Bathyscaphe, complete with a ceramic bezel insert and Ceragold markings. The timepiece’s black vertical brushed dial creates a stunning contrast, with large Sedna hour-markers and hands that are all liberally filled with Super-LumiNova for exceptional legibility in the dark.
The words “Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary Since 1972” are printed on the sapphire crystal rear of the timepiece as a declaration of the milestone it was created to commemorate. The in-house Calibre 1315, which marks a technological and precise timekeeping milestone in the area of premium sports watches, is visible through the watch’s case back. This self-winding movement with three series-coupled barrels and a total of five days of power reserve was created in the quest of accuracy and performance. It boasts a silicon balance spring that is impenetrable to the harmful effects of magnetism. It also has the excellent level of finishing that Blancpain is known for, including a sandblasted, satin-finished oscillating weight to top it off.
Beyond its technical merits, Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe for Cortina Watch is ultimately an enduring symbol that represents Blancpain’s nearly three centuries of watchmaking mastery, its pioneering spirit in creating the world’s first professional dive watch, and Cortina Watch’s own pioneering spirit in shaping and progressing the culture of horology in Asia Pacific for the past 50 years with many more to come.
Looking Back
With the presentation of the Fifty Fathoms in 1953, Blancpain gave the world its first truly professional dive watch. The timekeeping device, which was engineered and intended to serve the world’s diving pioneers, notably the French Navy’s Combat Diving Corp., boasted over 90 metres of water resistance, thanks to a ground-breaking installation of rubber gaskets for the crown and case back. It also included a unique unidirectional rotating bezel that could be used for time dives. The timepiece was 42 mm in diameter and included huge luminous markers on the dial and a bakelite bezel insert, as well as a soft iron antimagnetic inner case shield and many other innovative features that established the Fifty Fathoms’ destiny to greatness from the start.
Blancpain masterfully released the Bathyscaphe model in 1956, as a solid everyday tool watch for civilian enthusiasts, following the success of the Fifty Fathoms in military service and has witnessed an increase in demand for recreational diving. The Fifty Fathoms and the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe have evolved into legendary luxury timepieces, much sought after by connoisseurs, giving the versatility of both extraordinary durability and serene elegance after seven decades.
Words From Blancpain & Cortina Watch
Blancpain has been a part of Cortina Watch’s offerings as early as in the 2000s. Now, in commemoration of the retailer’s golden anniversary and in recognition of the importance of their long-standing partnership, Blancpain is proud to introduce a 50-piece special Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe for Cortina Watch.
Speaking about their two decades of shared passion, the CEO of Cortina Watch Mr Jeremy Lim said, “Blancpain and Cortina Watch have shared a close-knit relationship since the beginning of our partnership in early 2000. For the 50th-anniversary limited edition timepiece, we tried to retain the aesthetic codes of Blancpain’s original Bathyscaphe model back in 1956, and at the same time infused elements of individuality. I hope our enduring relationship will continue to strengthen and flourish for the next 50 years and many generations to come.”
President and CEO of Blancpain, Mr Marc A. Hayek, congratulated Cortina Watch on this milestone saying, “Congratulations to Cortina Watch on its 50th anniversary. As the world’s oldest watch brand, Blancpain is proud to showcase its watchmaking expertise and DNA in collaboration with this strong and long-time partner, which contributed to strengthening our presence in Southeast Asia.”
Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary Limited Edition timepieces are only available at Cortina Watch stores.
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