For almost two decades, Blancpain has been committed to marine conservation. For the first time, Blancpain is now supporting a local project in Germany dedicated to protecting the biosphere on the North Sea coast. By building protected breeding sites for migratory birds that have become rare, the delicate balance in the Rantum Basin nature reserve on the island of Sylt is being strengthened. Blancpain is dedicating a special Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe model to the occasion. Blancpain pledges to donate 1,000 euros for the sale of each of the 25 pieces in this series, which equates to a total of 25,000 euros. Blancpain’s total contribution to this project is a much higher amount and will last over three years.
Blancpain’s connection with marine conservation is rooted in the development of the first modern diving watch, which was introduced by the brand in 1953. The Fifty Fathoms, created by Blancpain’s then co-general manager Jean-Jacques Fiechter, set standards at the time with its functions and designs that are still valid in the world of diving watches today. Fiechter’s enthusiasm for diving brought with it a love of the underwater world that is still deeply anchored in Blancpain’s DNA today. With the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, the Manufacture supports numerous projects dedicated to marine conservation and ocean research around the world.
For the first time, Blancpain is now involved in a German nature conservation project. In the Rantumbecken nature reserve on the island of Sylt, on the edge of the Wadden Sea, the non-profit organisation aquatil and the Jordsand association are jointly building protected breeding and resting places for migratory birds. As part of the unique biosphere of the Wadden Sea, these are indispensable for its healthy balance. Blancpain supports this project, which not only includes the construction of breeding sites, but also the erection of a viewing platform from which interested people can observe the approximately 50 bird species breeding and resting. Over a period of three years, aquatil will scientifically accompany the project and evaluate how the construction of the protected breeding sites affects the population of migratory birds. In addition, in cooperation with a school hostel located at the Rantum Basin, numerous children and young people will be given the opportunity to experience the importance of nature conservation and to actively participate in the preservation of the breeding sites through direct involvement.
Functions & features: Date and seconds · unidirectional satin-brushed titanium bezel with green ceramic insert and LiquidmetalTM hour-markers · green dial · self-winding
BLANCPAIN Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe “Sylt” reference number: 5000-1253-H52A
To mark the launch of this project, Blancpain is unveiling a special 25-piece limited edition watch from its renowned Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe line. The model in green with its titanium case has a diameter of 43 millimetres and houses the Blancpain automatic calibre 1315 with a 5-day power reserve. The unidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic inlay and indices in LiquidmetalTM provide the sporty yet elegant look of the watch, while the vertically cut dial with indexes in Super- LumiNova® in a geometric shape captures the light in a fascinating way. A glance at the back reveals not only the beauty of the ornate movement, but also the silhouette of the Arctic tern engraved on the solid gold rotor – a symbol of Blancpain’s nature conservation on Sylt.
By purchasing one of these 25 watches, each customer will contribute 1,000 euros to the protection of Sylt’s paradise of peace for migratory birds, a total of 25,000 euros that will be donated to aquatil. Blancpain’s total contribution to this project is a much higher amount and will last over three years.
Prof. Ralph O. Schill, zoologist and managing partner of aquatil, is excited about the upcoming collaboration with Blancpain. “The UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea is one of the largest wetlands in the world and it is a unique ecosystem with a very high biodiversity. Especially the Rantum Basin, now one of the most species-rich bird sanctuaries in northern Germany, has a very important international significance for migratory birds as a resting, breeding and wintering area on their way between the Arctic and southern Africa,” he says. A healthy mudflat with all its microorganisms contributes to their well-being and ultimately to biodiversity,” he says. “With Blancpain, together we can create a safe space for migratory birds and generate more knowledge about their protection and the importance of the mudflats.”
Bird pictures provided by: Peter Hering
