Info on a U.S. Divers-branded Fifty Fathoms

dnm82 · Post by **dnm82** » Sat Dec 28, 2019 11:07 pm

Hi all! I was lucky enough to recently purchase what I believe is a very rare U.S. Divers-branded Fifty Fathoms watch. I understand Blancpain made these for U.S. Divers in a private label arrangement. I bought it from the friend of a family whose late patriarch used to dive in the 1960s in the lakes of Michigan.

They included in the sale photos of him wearing it. I have had the watch mechanically restored and it is now in working order. Does anybody know how many of these were made? I don’t know much about the relationship between Blancpain and U.S. Divers. I’ve seen some documentation but it’s pretty thin. I would appreciate any insight. Here are some pictures.

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poppydog · Post by **poppydog** » Sun Dec 29, 2019 10:09 am

Didn't know they had a partnership, but I imagine it's pretty rare. I have a few bits of US Divers branded kit my father-in-law gave me, but nothing like this.

deepcdvr · Post by **deepcdvr** » Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:08 pm

Not much help from me, but that’s a gorgeous watch

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Post by **River Rat** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:18 am

Nice watch. You mite post for info at the MWR forum there’s one member that’s a big time vintage Blancpain collector he don’t post as often as he use to but if he sees your post there might be able to answer your questions

dnm82 · Post by **dnm82** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:19 am

Thanks! What’s the MWR forum?

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Post by **River Rat** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:42 am

Do a search the forum should pop up. It’s a vintage Military issue watch collecting forum but some post other types of vintage watches.

ncstate1201 · Post by **ncstate1201** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 5:42 pm

Used to be a pdf of an article on the blancpain bathyscaphe and the other labels they made but can't find it anymore

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Post by **toxicavenger** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:22 pm

ncstate1201 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 30, 2019 5:42 pm
Used to be a pdf of an article on the blancpain bathyscaphe and the other labels they made but can't find it anymore

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this one? http://people.timezone.com/jmerino/history50.pdf

ncstate1201 · Post by **ncstate1201** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:33 pm

toxicavenger wrote:
ncstate1201 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 30, 2019 5:42 pm
Used to be a pdf of an article on the blancpain bathyscaphe and the other labels they made but can't find it anymore

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this one? http://people.timezone.com/jmerino/history50.pdf

No the one I used to have bookmarked was just about the old bathyscaphe's not the FF...and it had the various versions: Waltham, US Divers, etc...

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Post by **toxicavenger** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:55 pm

ncstate1201 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:33 pm

toxicavenger wrote:
ncstate1201 wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 30, 2019 5:42 pm
Used to be a pdf of an article on the blancpain bathyscaphe and the other labels they made but can't find it anymore

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
this one? http://people.timezone.com/jmerino/history50.pdf
No the one I used to have bookmarked was just about the old bathyscaphe's not the FF...and it had the various versions: Waltham, US Divers, etc...

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oh okay

gr8sw · Post by **gr8sw** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 8:07 pm

cool watch, nice find

dnm82 · Post by **dnm82** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 10:28 pm

If you dig up that pdf, let me know!

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HapaHapa · Post by **HapaHapa** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 11:57 pm

This has some very interesting references / history

https://goldsmithtraining.com/us-navy-d ... y-fathoms/

ncstate1201 · Post by **ncstate1201** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 3:54 am

HapaHapa wrote:This has some very interesting references / history

https://goldsmithtraining.com/us-navy-d ... y-fathoms/

Ok that was an interesting read, I have no idea what timefraud.com is, but it has links at the bottom that supposedly go that site.

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sierra11b · Post by **sierra11b** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 11:51 pm

I have nothing to offer but second MWR forum as a reference. Some of those guys and gal own some gems and should be able to give you solid advice.

I think the Great Lake reference is cool and adds to the potential of authenticity and potential rarity, especially as a my family has caught a few “fish Ohio” walleye on Erie... the Great Lakes are no joke and there could be a tie-in with USN and Lake Michigan. I’m not suggesting your story is suspect, but rather the opposite, as someone new to this forum might come here stating their watch was found on the beaches near Coronado on vacation.

You’ll get your answer. In the meantime, take great care of that watch and report back.

goaliechris · Post by **goaliechris** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 10:07 am

Know nothing about it other than that’s a badass looking watch. Congrats!

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dnm82 · Post by **dnm82** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 5:04 pm

Thanks all for the kind words on the watch! Now, I just need to find a case for a Breitling Superocean 1004. Any leads are welcome!!

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