Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 38mm: The Icon Shrinks—Not Its Soul

The Fifty Fathoms—born in 1953 for combat swimmers—now lands in a compact 38 mm case. It’s the same purpose-built diver at heart, just more wearable for more wrists.

Why this matters

Blancpain has introduced a new 38 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique, joining the 42 mm and 45 mm sizes and broadening the appeal of the original modern dive watch. Proportions have been reworked rather than simply scaled down, preserving the model’s presence while dialing up comfort.

Key takeaways

• Re-engineered proportions in a 38.2 mm case
• 300 m / 30 bar water resistance with unidirectional bezel
• 100-hour automatic movement from the 1150/1153 family
• Steel, Grade 23 titanium, or 18 ct red gold
• Classic black or blue dials, plus mother-of-pearl options

Design & specs

• Case size: 38.20 mm × 12.00 mm
• Materials: Steel, titanium, or red gold
• Bezel: Unidirectional rotating bezel
• Water resistance: 30 bar / 300 m
• Movement: Automatic Caliber 1150/1153, 100-hour power reserve
• Dial options: Black, blue, or mother-of-pearl
• Caseback: Sapphire display back
• Straps: Bracelet, sail-canvas, rubber, or NATO

The lineage: from 1953 to today

The Fifty Fathoms debuted in 1953 as a purpose-built tool for divers. It established the diver’s-watch playbook—high-contrast lume, locking timing bezel, robust water resistance, and automatic winding— and even found fame on the wrists of underwater pioneers.

What’s new?

The 38 mm case isn’t a simple shrink-ray job. Blancpain adjusted lug length, bezel-to-dial proportions, and finishing so the watch reads balanced and intentional at a smaller size.

Who is it for?

Anyone who loved the Fifty Fathoms story but found 42–45 mm too large. The 38 mm wears versatile— over a wetsuit, under a cuff, or with a tee.

Collector angle

Same 300 m rating and long-reserve movement family, in a size long requested by enthusiasts. It’s the most approachable modern Fifty Fathoms yet.

Final thoughts

By bringing the Fifty Fathoms down to 38 mm without diluting its depth rating or character, Blancpain just made one of the most storied dive watches the most wearable it’s ever been.