BLANCPAIN & OCEANA Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III AUCTIONED

Going once, going twice, sold. To be fair, I’m not entirely sure who bought it (the FF OCIII) or for how much or if and when the auction went ahead (yes, I’m pretty useless, I know) – 

however I do know that the magnificent Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III watch was recently donated by Blancpain for an auction to raise money for ocean conservation.

As an Atlantic Ocean sponsor of Oceana’s annual New York Gala event that raised more than $1.2 million for ocean conservation, Blancpain very kindly gave away their Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III watch for a private auction. Blancpain had just recently expanded its Ocean Commitment campaign to include a new exclusive partnership with the largest international organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation, Oceana. Blancpain have had a strong connection with the ocean for over 65yrs, ever since they launched one of the world’s first modern diver’s watches, or at the very least one of the most important historical diver’s, the OG Fifty Fathoms in 1953; they are avid supporters of the ocean conservation group’s advocacy efforts to restore marine ecosystems. The three-year partnership includes an expedition to Mexico’s Scorpion Reef, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Through its Ocean Commitment, Blancpain has co-financed 19 major scientific expeditions, celebrating its role in doubling the surface of marine protected areas around the world, and presented several award-winning documentary films, underwater photography exhibitions and publications. Blancpain’s backing will help their campaign teams win science-based management of our seas –including stopping over-fishing, plastic pollution and loss of biodiversity – nearly 4 million square miles of ocean protected. As part of the partnership, Oceana and Blancpain will lead an expedition in the summer of 2021 to Arrecife Alacranes (Scorpion Reef), the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico. It has been designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve and the Mexican government established it as a National Park, home to more than 500 species of fish and 34 species of coral. A recent study identified Arrecife Alacranes as a reef that is healthy and diverse enough to have a better chance at surviving the effects of climate change. Despite the reef’s current biodiversity and resiliency, there are very few rules in place to protect the habitat from destructive fishing. During the expedition, Oceana and Blancpain will document the reef and marine life present with underwater photos and video and cutting-edge science, including eDNA analysis and 3D photo-mosaic modeling.

Oceana will then use these findings to campaign for the Mexican government to provide further protections for the reef. Like Blancpain? Check out their very latest diver’s models: 

the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Day Date DESERT, the Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback GREEN and the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe SEDNA® Gold in BLUE.