Blancpain Bathyscaphe

Blancpain. Stainless Steel Diver’s Wristwatch with Center Seconds Model: Bathyscaphe  Circa: 1960's Movement: Automatic movement Rayville calibre AS 1902 Case: Stainless steel circular water-resistant-type case, with screw back and screw down crown. Case has some light scuffing. Dial: Matte pewter grey dial, with applied silver markers and tritium dots, outer minute divisions, sweep center seconds, black bakelite bezel calibrated for 60 units. Bezel show no sign of cracks. 37mm. More about Blancpain: In the early 1950’s, the French Combat Diving School was instructed to set up a unit of elite dive soldiers, “Les Nageurs de Combat”, and needed a wristwatch for the divers to coordinate time on missions. Unfortunately, they could not find a watch already produced that would suit their needs. Two commanders, Captain Robert Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud came up with a list of features they needed in a wristwatch, and went to various watch companies to see if any would produce it.