Blancpain supports a local nature conservation project on the German North Sea coast: Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Sylt

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For almost two decades, prestigious Swiss watchmaker Blancpain has been committed to marine protection. For the first time, the Maison is now supporting a local project in Germany that is dedicated to protecting the biosphere on the North Sea coast. The construction of protected breeding grounds for rare migratory birds strengthens the delicate balance in the Rantumbecken nature reserve on the island of Sylt. Blancpain is dedicating a special Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe model to this cause and will donate 1,000 euros for the sale of each of the 25 timepieces in this series, implying a total of 25,000 euros to be added to a larger three-year contribution.

The alliance between Blancpain and marine conservation is rooted in the development of the first modern diver’s watch, which was presented by the Brand in 1953. The Fifty Fathoms, created by Blancpain‘s then co-CEO, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, immediately set standards with its functions and designs that are still valid today in the world of diver’s watches. Fiechter’s enthusiasm for diving brought with it a love for the underwater world that is today still deeply rooted in Blancpain‘s DNA. With the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, the Manufacture supports numerous projects dedicated to marine conservation and ocean-related 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, non-profit organisation aquatil and the Jordsand association are jointly building protected breeding and resting places for migratory birds. The latter are part of the Wadden Sea’s unique biosphere and are thus indispensable for its healthy balance. Blancpain is supporting this project, which includes not only the construction of breeding grounds, but also of a viewing platform from which interested parties can observe the approximately 50 bird species breeding and resting.

Over a period of three years, aquatil will scientifically accompany the project and assess how the establishment of the protected breeding grounds affects the population of migratory birds. In addition, in cooperation with a school hostel located in the Rantum Basin nature reserve, numerous children and young people are given an opportunity to experience the importance of conservation and to actively participate in the preservation of the breeding grounds through direct cooperation.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Sylt

To launch the project, Blancpain is unveiling a special watch in a 25-piece limited series from the famous Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe line. This green model with its titanium case features a 43 mm diameter and houses Blancpain‘s automatic Calibre 1315 with a five-day power reserve. The unidirectional rotating bezel with a ceramic insert and hour-markers made of LiquidmetalTM endows the watch with a sporty yet chic look, while the vertical-brushed dial with geometric-shaped Super-LumiNova® indexes captures the light in a fascinating way. A glance at the back reveals not only the beauty of the decorated movement, but also the silhouette of the tern engraved on the solid gold rotor – a symbol of Blancpain nature conservation on Sylt.

By acquiring one of these 25 timepieces, each client contributes to a donation of 1,000 euros to the protection of Sylt’s peaceful haven for migratory birds. The final 25,000 euros total will be donated to aquatil, adding to a larger three-year contribution.

“With this project, we are demonstrating our commitment directly and realistically to our own living environment“, says Blancpain Brand Manager Wolfgang Theis. “The project is intended to raise awareness of the connection between sea, land and air as an entire biosphere and to help inspire more people to protect all habitats.“

Professor Ralph O. Schill, molecular biologist and managing partner of aquatil, is delighted with the upcoming cooperation with Blancpain. “The Rantum Basin is currently one of the most species-rich bird sanctuaries in northern Germany. A healthy mudflat with all its microorganisms contributes to their well-being and ultimately to biodiversity”, he says. “Together with Blancpain we can create a safe space for migratory birds and generate more knowledge about their protection and the importance of the Wadden Sea.”

The fact that this project takes place on the North Sea island of Sylt is particularly meaningful for Blancpain: The watch manufacturer has long been associated with the island, because the Sylt star chef Holger Bodendorf is a friend of the watch manufacturer. As Wolfgang Theis points out: “The North Sea is simply close to Blancpain’s heart in many respects.“