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MikeMan2727
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For many years I have been attracted to the history and design of the early Blancpain dive watches. The Fifty Fathoms was introduced in 1953 and set the standard for modern dive watches. Later in the 1950s, the Bathyscaphe was introduced as a smaller and more affordable version. However, original Blancpain watches are difficult to find and often fetch a high premium.
Seeing the popularity of these watches, several companies worked in conjunction with Blancpain to bring these watches to their respective markets. The example I have just purchased and am presenting today was created by the American company Waltham.
There were several variations of the Waltham/Blancpain Bathyscaphe. The most commonly seen online is a 1960s version with an AS 1686 manual movement and 34mm case. The case design and bezel clearly show the Blancpain DNA, but otherwise these watches are different from their Bathyscaphe predecessors:
The first versions of the Waltham/Blancpain Bathyscaphe are more difficult to find and are nearly identical to the original MC4 design. This was the watch that I targeted and was finally able to find. It shares the same case, bezel, dial, and movement as the original MC4 with the only differences being dial and movement branding. I believe this watch to be from the late 1950s and one of the earlier Waltham/Blanpain examples. Earlier Waltham watches had a simple italicized logo on the dial, which later was expanded with a red crown above the manufacturer (see photos below).
This watch features a 34mm nickel/SS case with bakelite bezel and radium dial markers. The dial has developed a lovely tropical patina with even radium burn around the markers. The movement is a manual wound AS 1187, which was found in the original Blanpain MC4. The watch came on a vintage flat link Spiedel which I will continue wearing as it complements the watch well:
For comparison are images of the Blancpain MC4:
(Comparison photo credit to European Watch Co.)
A slightly later Waltham/Blancpain showing changes to the dial logo. These are more commonly seen for sale, but still fairly rare:
