117 Blancpain An extremely rare, attractive and historically significant, Fifty Fathoms Milspec 1, automatic wristwatch in steel with humidity indicator, certificate and service.

Estimate: € 20.000 –⁠ 40.000

The present Blancpain Fifty Fathoms “Milspec 1” is not only a technical milestone in the evolution of the modern dive watch, it is also indelibly linked to one of the most iconic moments in oceanographic exploration and cinematic achievement. Born from a collaboration between Blancpain’s engineers and French naval officers Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud around 1955, the Fifty Fathoms was created with a singular mission: to equip elite combat divers with a tool they could trust with their lives. Its adoption by the French Navy —and soon after by naval forces worldwide— was a testament to its uncompromising performance and purpose-built design. But this example tells a story that goes far beyond military rigor. It is one of the few documented Milspec 1 watches presented by Blancpain to Jacques Cousteau’s legendary diving team in 1956, for the Cannes Film Festival ceremony where Cousteau’s groundbreaking film Le Monde du Silence was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or, as confirmed by the certificate by Blancpain. With its rotating bezel, moisture indicator at 6 o’clock, and robust case, the Milspec 1 was already a benchmark. But as a token of recognition for Cousteau’s crew —true pioneers of the deep— it transcends utility and becomes a talisman of achievement. Accompanied by a Blancpain-issued service card and certificate, and preserved in remarkable condition, this watch is a cultural artifact, a tribute to those who dared to descend into the unknown, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any collector.