Blancpain is one of the watch brands that has supported the bi-annual pure charity auction Only Watch, since its creation in 2005.

This year, Blancpain created a very special “No Rad” edition of the Fifty Fathoms to be sold to the highest bidder on November 6th. All of the proceeds go to support research into Muscular Dystrophy.

Offered in a 40.30 mm x 13.23 mm stainless steel version of the Fifty Fathoms, based on the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad model, the original No Rad timepieces were produced from the mid-1960s, and most notably used by German Navy’s Combat Swimmers at the time. Blancpain notes that this case diameter is exclusive to limited-edition Fifty Fathoms.

Set on a matte black dial, the mixture of geometric and round luminous indices have been printed on the dial in an orange hue developed specifically for this Only Watch timepiece. A white printed minutes/seconds ring surrounds the hour ring. Pencil-shaped hour and minute hands, with an arrow-tipped center seconds hand, are filled with a matching orange lume. The glossary sapphire insert of the unidirectional bezel protects an orange color-matched graduated dive scale, which like the dial markings and hands, is luminous. Completing the unique look for Only Watch is a “No Rad” symbol that has been changed from the standard red and yellow to orange and yellow.

Blancpain’s automatic caliber 1154 (27.40 mm x 3.25 mm), with 28 jewels, 190 total components, and 100-hours of power reserve. Two barrels are wound by a solid gold central rotor that’s been inscribed with “Only Watch,” coated with a black NAC treatment, and a cartouche-shaped aperture in the rotor, as seen on some historical Fifty Fathoms.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms “No Rad” Only Watch 2021 is water-resistant to 300 meters and comes with a 20 mm lug width tropical-style rubber strap.

 

Photo by Blancpain.