Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch: A classy luxury diver that respects its roots

The newly introduced Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch is one of my favorite timepieces among the current Blancpain offerings.  I admire the retro-inspired design, which really gets back to the essence of the original Fifty Fathoms watch that put Blancpain on the cutting edge of dive watch technology back in 1953.  (The controversy over whether this watch, or the Rolex Submariner came first, still rages hotly.)

If one compares this Blancpain watch to the original Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the design heritage is immediately apparent; larger size aside, the only meaningful difference is in the fineness of the execution and the refined details of the new model, which are really outstanding. The domed sapphire bezel with its luminous indications is a particularly beautiful touch.  Add to this the technical appeal of a new Blancpain manufacture movement with a number of fine mechanical details and superb craftsmanship, and you have an absolute winner in a truly distinguished luxury sports watch.