499 - BLANCPAIN, distributed by LIP.

BLANCPAIN, distributed by LIP. "Fifty Fathoms" model watch, round steel case, 3/6/9/12 dial with a patinated black background, baton hour markers and Arabic numerals for the hours, railway-track minute track, and Arabic numerals every five minutes. Luminescent hands. Bidirectional 15/30/45 bezel in notched steel and patinated Bakelite, with Arabic numerals, baton markers, and diamond-shaped markers. Notched, domed crown. "Rotomatic incabloc" self-winding mechanical movement. Caliber AS 1361 N, serial number 13022, blank oscillating weight stamped with an “N” on the reverse. Anti-magnetic case signed “Lip Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Aqualung.” Screw-down case back, signed, bearing the number 273739 and the inscriptions “Waterproof,” “Shockprotected,” “Automatique,” and “Antimagnectic”; reverse side of the case back marked “Rayville SA Swiss.” Model created in 1953 and distributed by Lip until 1962. Diameter: 40.7 mm (runs, but no guarantee of functionality; scratches; slight impact marks on the case back; aftermarket bracelet; the oscillating weight was likely replaced during a previous service; play on the oscillating weight axis) Bezel, hands, movement, antimagnetic capsule, and crown are authentic. Reference: Sotheby’s New York Auction, “Important Watches,” December 7, 2023; a similar model is listed as lot 60. Created in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms is one of Blancpain’s iconic models and a pioneer of the modern diving watch. Developed under the direction of Jean-Jacques Fiechter, it met the needs expressed by Robert, known as “Bob,” Maloubier and Claude Riffaud, founders of the French combat swimmers unit. Robust, easy to read, and precise, it was designed to accompany them on their underwater missions. Its name refers to its original water resistance: fifty fathoms, or 91.44 meters. A watchmaking icon, it appeared on Commander Yves Cousteau’s wrist in the 1956 film *The Silent World*. Our version, beautifully patinated by time, is one of the examples distributed in France by LIP until 1962. With its graduated dial and 15/30/45 Bakelite bezel, it ranks among the most sought-after models in an already very rare collection. This lot was stored off-site in a bank vault and is being sold by private treaty.