History Stories of Diving Watches

The development history of diving watches is filled with fascinating stories. Here are some shared for you:

The Birth of Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

In 1952, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, then CEO of Blancpain and an avid diver, nearly ran out of oxygen during a dive because he forgot to track time. After an emergency ascent, he profoundly realized the importance of reliable timing equipment for underwater exploration. Drawing on his own diving experiences, he created the Fifty Fathoms diving watch, which was officially launched in 1953. The name "Fifty Fathoms" is inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest. It featured 100-meter water resistance, extra-large luminescent hour markers, a screw-down crown with double waterproof gaskets, and a unidirectional rotating bezel locking device, becoming the pioneer of modern mechanical diving watches. It was adopted by the mainstream navies of France, Germany, the United States, Norway, and other countries.

The Evolution of Rolex Sea-Dweller

In 1967, Rolex released the Sea-Dweller diving watch. The first generation offered 610-meter water resistance, with "Sea-Dweller" and "Submariner 2000" printed in red in two lines on the dial, earning it the nickname "Double Red" among enthusiasts. In 1978, Rolex upgraded the Sea-Dweller's water resistance to 1220 meters. The model 16660, the first Sea-Dweller to reach this standard, was equipped with a sapphire crystal, solid bracelet links, and a larger helium escape valve. Since then, the 1220-meter water resistance has been retained in successive generations of the Sea-Dweller.

Innovations in Omega Seamaster Series

In 1957, Omega launched the famous "57 Trilogy," among which the Seamaster 300 focused on water resistance. The first-generation Omega Seamaster 300 (model CK2913) actually achieved 200-meter water resistance. In 1971, Omega added the PLOPRO 600 line to the Seamaster series, boasting 600-meter water resistance. It adopted a unique case design, abandoning the traditional case back structure to reduce the risk of liquid intrusion. It also featured a red button at the 2 o'clock position to unlock the rotating bezel and positioned the crown at 9 o'clock.

The Connection Between Diving Watches and Military Forces

After years of testing, the U.S. Navy selected the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms as its standard diving equipment, leading to the creation of the famous MIL-SPEC models. Additionally, the German Navy has a deep connection with Blancpain's "BUND Non-Radiation Mark" watches, reflecting the significant role and widespread use of diving watches in the military sector.

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