jkingston
356
Correction of One Significant Error
Actually Cousteau dove with a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch when filming Silent World. And so did the rest of his team. At the time, Spirotechnique, a division of Air Liquide was buying Blancpain's for the French Navy. Spirotechnique owned Aqualung which supplied the full range of diving equipment, including tanks and breathing apparatus and, of course Blancpain diving watches which had the name "Aqualung" on the dial. Cousteau's wife's family was an owner.
Rolex entered the picture well after Blancpain. Indeed, the then CEO of Rolex was a friend of Jean-Jacques Fiechter, Blancpain's CEO from 1950-1980. Fiechter was the creator of the Fifty Fathoms. The two CEOs dove together at the same diving club in the South of France. Their diving instructors and Fiechter all dove with Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watches. There is a wonderful photo showing Fiechter wearing his Blancpain and the Rolex CEO wearing a white dialed watch of some kind....it would seem that he saw all of the inventions of Fiechter with his Fifty Fathoms which "inspired" Rolex to try and hop onto the bandwagon.
One thing is clear here: Blancpain was the leader in the development of the modern diving watch; not Rolex. Fiechter deserves his place in history. As a passionate diver he understood what an underwater timing instrument had to have and he had the inventiveness and creativity to build it.
Jeff
10 Historical Things You Might Not know About Watches
10 Historical Things You Might Not know About Watches The history behind watches can be rich and fascinating. Taking a closer look, it becomes evident how many historical events have a significance in the technical and design evolution of timepieces that ...
I didn't know the point 3 and Eterna pionnering Alarm watches!
I always thought it was Vulcain which created the first alarm wristwatch in 1946! We learn everyday, at least me! :) Best, and thanks for this very interesting article, Ping. Nicolas
Wow!
If I can tell you something about watches that you didn't already know then I'm more than satisfied :)
Correction of One Significant Error
Actually Cousteau dove with a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch when filming Silent World. And so did the rest of his team. At the time, Spirotechnique, a division of Air Liquide was buying Blancpain's for the French Navy. Spirotechnique owned Aqualung which ...
Aaah, Jeff, that is a tough question to know which one, between Rolex and Blancpain issued
The first ( modern ) diving Watch.... We are many, here to not know which is the certain date. Both Rolex and Blancpain claim that it was in 1953... BUT... BUT, Rolex unveiled the 6204 / 6200 in Basel, in 1954, and it seems that ( I insist on " it seems.....
There is a photo that settles it...Blancpain
I have seen Jean-Jacques Fiechter's photo from 1953. Fiechter was Blancpain's CEO at the time. He and the diving instructors were wearing Fifty Fathoms watches. Those watches were already in existence. The Rolex CEO in the photos was not wearing a Rolex d...
Eek...this is what I was afraid of...
...have to make sure all i's are dotted and t's are crossed with this sharp audience ;) Thanks for the clarification.
Really nice, informative & comprehensive write-up !.. Wasn't aware of ..
.. the so significant part of Eterna in the development & history of the alarm wristwatch etc. ,, Interesting ! Thanks for an interesting read ! Best, hs
Thank you….
For an article that I found very informative and interesting. Especially, like the photo of the Pulsar LED.
