Earlier this month, the luxury Swiss watch brand Blancpain launched the latest in its limited-edition "Ocean Commitment" series of timepieces, with a presentation in London by the acclaimed marine scientist and underwater photographer, Laurent Ballesta.
In 1953, Blancpain unveiled the very first Fifty Fathoms, a dive watch that went on to become an icon of contemporary design, and whose technology and styling were subsequently adopted by countless rivals, according to Ballesta.
(Image credit: Laurent Ballesta)
Since the watch was first launched, however, the oceans have changed significantly. Water temperatures have increased steadily since the 1950s, affecting both the currents and sea levels, which have risen at a rate of roughly one and a half centimetres per decade.
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The oceans have also become more acidic due to the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
(Image credit: Laurent Ballesta)
The changing conditions of the oceans has led Blancpain to come up with an Ocean Commitment series of limited edition watches, which directly contribute to scientific and conservation projects around the world.
At the unveiling of the Ocean Commitment Bathyscaphe Chronograph Limited Edition, Ballesta spoke about his Gombessa Project, which was directly funded by profits from Blancpain's previous limited edition watches.
(Image credit: Laurent Ballesta)
In 2012, the marine scientist carried out 40 days of deep water diving to try to meet the legendary bottom-dwelling sea creature, the coelacanth.
Known locally as Gombessa, this giant two-metre fish is regarded as the 'transition animal' that connects backboned fish to the earliest four-legged vertebrate land animals, and thus to humans.
Until Ballesta's project, very little was known about the coelacanth's way of life, given that it dwells around 100 metres underwater, but his photographs have helped to shed light on the mysterious creature.
Ballesta subsequently undertook another project, Gombessa II, to study the spectacular spawning behaviour of the camouflage grouper. In the course of his research, he clocked up a world record dive – 24 hours underwater.
In December last year, Ballesta undertook his third Gombessa expedition, travelling to Antarctica to undertake a pioneering exploratory diving and photographic mission.
The new Ocean Commitment watch, which features for the first time an all-blue ceramic case, follows in this tradition of oceanographic support. For each of the 250 limited-edition watches sold, Blancpain will donate €1,000 to funding scientific expeditions, like Ballesta's.
By choosing an Ocean Commitment Bathyscaphe Chronograph Limited Edition, the brand says, dive watch enthusiasts will see a direct connection between the timepiece on their wrist and our scientific understanding of the world's oceans.
Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.
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