Hello, this is Classical.
As always, this watch was purchased entirely with my own money. I have no relationship with Blancpain or any other watch brand mentioned in this review.
It has been quite a while since I purchased a watch from Blancpain, but today I finally have a new one to introduce.
This is a quick unboxing and review of the Blancpain Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary, reference 5903 1110 063A.
The watch is a modern reissue of the original Bathyscaphe introduced in 1968, and there are several interesting details worth looking at.
Blancpain Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary Packaging
I originally planned to skip the packaging section, but there are a few noticeable changes with this model.
The exterior box and the Pelican case are largely unchanged from the previous versions.
However, once you open the Pelican case, the interior is noticeably different.
Instead of the synthetic leather material used previously, Blancpain appears to have switched to a combination of paper and fabric.
Personally, I think this is a very welcome change.
One issue that has occasionally appeared with Swatch Group packaging is the hydrolysis of synthetic leather over time. Considering that problem, using paper and fabric seems like a much better long-term solution.
If you own an older version of the Pelican case, I would recommend keeping a sufficient amount of silica gel inside.
Fortunately, the Pelican case itself is relatively well sealed, so this should help slow down the deterioration of the synthetic leather to some extent.
Of course, the case is not something most people use frequently. Still, I do wish Blancpain had used a slightly more luxurious velvet-like material, similar to the cases supplied with the Villeret or Air Command collections.
A New Blancpain Warranty Card
There is another noticeable change in the packaging.
The passport-sized warranty holder has disappeared.
From a positive perspective, this could be seen as another step toward reducing unnecessary plastic use.
The warranty card has also changed.
Instead of the previous plastic card, the new watch comes with a wooden warranty card.
The Blancpain logo and QR code are laser-engraved on the card, and the warranty period is stated as five years.
Scanning the QR code with a smartphone takes you to a Blancpain webpage containing information about the warranty.
The page also states that new watches sold from January 1, 2025 are covered by a five-year warranty from the date of purchase.
It appears that Blancpain has finally exhausted the remaining stock of the older plastic warranty cards, which stated a two-year warranty.
In fact, the older cards continued to be used for quite some time even after Blancpain extended the warranty period to three years.
Previously, the warranty information—and, for limited editions, the certificate of authenticity—could be neatly stored inside the warranty holder.
With the new packaging, these documents are instead supplied in an envelope in a much larger paper format.
Because this particular watch is a limited-edition reissue celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Bathyscaphe, one side contains information about the model, while the other side lists the serial number and specifications.
Now that we’ve covered the packaging, let’s take a look at the watch itself.
Blancpain Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary 5903 1110 063A
The watch I am introducing today is the Blancpain Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary, reference 5903 1110 063A.
This model is a reissue of the original Bathyscaphe launched in 1968.
Initially, I expected Blancpain to simply take the existing 38mm Bathyscaphe and modify the dial or color scheme.
However, after actually receiving the watch, I was pleasantly surprised.
Blancpain has gone much further than I expected with the reproduction.
A Surprisingly Small 37.4mm Case
One of the most interesting details is the case size.
The case measures 37.4mm in diameter, with an 18mm lug width.
Those are rather unusual dimensions by modern standards.
I find it particularly interesting that Blancpain reproduced these details so faithfully.
Inside the watch is Blancpain’s Caliber 1150 automatic movement, while the stainless-steel case is topped with a domed crystal.
Despite the domed crystal, the total thickness is only 10.6mm.
That is actually 0.2mm thinner than the existing 38mm Bathyscaphe.
A Fully Polished Case
There is another significant difference compared with the standard Bathyscaphe.
The entire case has been polished.
This gives the watch a noticeably different character.
Of course, as part of the Fifty Fathoms family, the watch retains serious water resistance: 30 bar, or 300 meters.
Personally, I have always felt that the 40mm Barracuda, which shares a similar index design, was missing something.
I often wondered whether it might have looked even better with something more vintage-oriented than a sapphire crystal.
On the other hand, the ACT3 has a case shape characteristic of a skin diver, which makes it look slightly larger than its actual dimensions.
The new Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary seems to address many of the things I previously found disappointing.
Despite the relatively small 37.4mm diameter on paper, the skin-diver-style case gives the watch a surprisingly strong presence on the wrist.
The vintage-inspired ceramic bezel also works very well with the overall proportions.
Dial and Vintage Details
The watch features a grey sunray dial with a reproduction of the original Blancpain logo.
The hour markers are constructed with metal frames filled with Super-LumiNova, creating a distinctly vintage appearance.
This is one of the details I particularly like about the watch.
It manages to look vintage without simply becoming an old-fashioned watch.
The proportions, typography, dial layout and case dimensions all contribute to the feeling that this is a genuine reinterpretation of the original Bathyscaphe rather than simply another modern limited edition.
The Calf leather Strap and 18mm Lug Width
The strap, however, is not quite to my taste.
Personally, I think a leather strap with a material similar to the nubuck texture used on the older Bathyscaphe 70s Date would have suited this watch better.
I am not normally a huge fan of NATO straps.
However, there are certain watches where NATO straps simply work—and my opinion changes in those cases.
A NATO strap can look particularly good on a relatively small watch where the lugs sit comfortably within the wrist.
It can also fill the empty space between the lugs and the case naturally when a watch has long lugs or spring bars positioned relatively far away from the case.
This Bathyscaphe is exactly that kind of watch.
There is a surprising amount of empty space between the lugs and the case, which makes me wonder whether Blancpain is using curved spring bars similar to those found on the Air Command.
Curved spring bars can actually increase the visible gap between the lugs and the strap on this type of case.
If this watch does use curved spring bars, I would personally recommend replacing them with conventional straight spring bars.
I am planning to try a NATO strap on this watch myself.
The only problem is that Blancpain does not currently offer an OEM strap in an 18mm width for this model, so I will have to look for a suitable aftermarket strap.
The narrow strap also makes the unusual proportions of this watch immediately obvious.
Compared with my wife’s Villeret strap, the strap supplied with this Bathyscaphe is noticeably narrow.
Although it is long enough for a man’s wrist, its relatively narrow width gives the watch a more elongated overall appearance.
The Caseback and Caliber 1150
Let’s take a look at the back of the watch.
Through the caseback, the first thing that catches the eye is the shiny gold rotor.
Personally, I also like movements where the rotor is plated in a platinum-colored finish, but for anyone who enjoys a traditional gold rotor, this model should be particularly appealing.
The bridges and rotor are also decorated with the same reproduction BLANCPAIN logo found on the dial.
This attention to detail reinforces the feeling that the watch is a genuine reissue from both the front and the back.
Personally, I really like the caseback.
It is not merely an exhibition window showing a modern movement; it also carries elements of the original watch’s design language.
Blancpain Bathyscaphe Lume
Finally, let’s take a look at the lume.
It is quite striking.
After giving the watch plenty of exposure to the intense tropical sun, I think it would be particularly interesting to see this Super-LumiNova while actually diving.
Looking at this watch has honestly made me want to go diving again after quite some time.
For a dive-watch enthusiast, that is probably one of the best compliments I can give it.
Final Thoughts
Today, I took a quick look at the Blancpain Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary 5903 1110 063A, including the new packaging and some of the details of the watch itself.
I think this is a particularly interesting reissue.
It faithfully reproduces the small dimensions and vintage design of the original Bathyscaphe while combining them with a modern automatic movement and 300-meter water resistance.
What I find especially interesting is that several aspects of previous Bathyscaphe models that personally disappointed me have been addressed here.
Once I actually put the watch on my wrist, I found myself much more satisfied with it than I initially expected.
I plan to experiment with different straps in the future, and, more importantly, I want to take the watch diving and properly evaluate its comfort and lume in real-world conditions.
If you have any questions about the Blancpain Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary 5903 1110 063A, feel free to leave them in the comments.
Thanks for watching, and thanks for reading.
Watch Specifications
- Brand: Blancpain
- Collection: Bathyscaphe
- Model: Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary
- Reference: 5903 1110 063A
- Original model: 1968 Blancpain Bathyscaphe
- Case material: Stainless steel
- Case diameter: 37.4mm
- Thickness: 10.6mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Water resistance: 300m / 30 bar
- Movement: Blancpain Caliber 1150
- Movement type: Automatic
- Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal
- Bezel: Ceramic
- Dial: Grey sunray
- Warranty: 5 years for new watches sold from January 1, 2025
