Watch brand Blancpain has been celebrating the opening of its special Ocean Commitment Exhibition at Baselworld this week.
Visitors to the show have been able to explore and discover the underwater universe and learn about the tangible results that have been achieved by the organisations Blancpain supports.
Blancpain’s historical connection with diving dates to 1953 with the development of the first modern diving watch, the Fifty Fathoms. This now iconic timepiece is not only selected by navies around the world is a favourite of diving pioneers.
In recognition of its close links to diving and its Fifty Fathoms history, for many years Blancpain has been a fervent supporter of environmental initiatives to preserve and protect the world’s oceans. Its generous financial donations to support the cause have come to be called the “Blancpain Ocean Commitment”.
Chief among its beneficiaries have been National Geographic’s Pristine Seas Expeditions and the Gombessa Projects of Laurent Ballesta who attended the opening. A total of nine Pristine Seas expeditions have been undertaken with Blancpain’s support.
To date more than 2.2 million square kilometers of ocean have been accorded protection and Blancpain is particularly proud of the recent creation of the world’s largest single marine reserve around the Pitcairn Islands which follows upon the 2012 Pristine Seas Expedition with Blancpain.
To call further attention to its Ocean Commitment, Blancpain has unveiled the latest member of the Fifty Fathoms Collection, a special limited edition diving watch, the Ocean Commitment Bathyscaphe Chronographe, which together with many examples of Fifty Fathoms timepieces, is displayed in the exhibit.
Limited to but 250 examples, this new timepiece features Blancpain’s latest in-house chronograph movement and a special gray ceramic case and blue dial and bezel. Blancpain has connected the new special limited edition to its global Ocean Commitment by making a charitable contribution for each watch in the limited series. These funds will be added to Blancpain’s ongoing support of the Pristine Seas and Gombessa projects.
