What a "Fifty Fathoms 1953 5050" listing is
A listing with the words fake Fifty Fathoms 1953 5050 describes a replica of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the dive watch Blancpain released in 1953. The number 5050 is a seller or factory code. It is not part of the Blancpain name for the 1953 watch.
The 1953 original
Blancpain showed the Fifty Fathoms in 1953. French Navy combat divers asked for a watch built for diving work, and the request came from Robert "Bob" Maloubier and Claude Riffaud. The watch carried a rotating bezel with a locking mechanism to stop accidental turns, a black dial with large luminous markers, and an automatic movement. Case size on the originals measured about 41 mm. The first version had no date window. Crystals were acrylic. Luminous paint on early dials contained radium, which no longer glows and reads high on a Geiger counter.
What the number 5050 means
Blancpain did not use modern reference numbers in 1953. Replica sellers attach numeric codes to name a factory, a batch, or a version. Codes change without notice. Two watches sold under the same code can come from different workshops with different parts inside.
Specs to check
- Case: originals near 41 mm; replicas run from 40 mm to 45 mm.
- Bezel: originals lock in place; many replicas turn with no lock.
- Crystal: originals acrylic; replicas use mineral glass or sapphire in most cases.
- Movement: originals automatic; replicas use Chinese or Japanese automatic calibers.
- Caseback: originals engraved with brand text; replica markings vary by batch.
- Water resistance: numbers printed on a listing are not tested to ISO 6425.
- Lume: modern replicas use non-radioactive paint.
What a replica is not
A replica is not made by Blancpain. Blancpain service centers will not work on it. Parts do not interchange with genuine models. Resale value sits near zero. Water resistance rests on the seller's word, not on a test standard or a pressure test report.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit imports. Import of counterfeit goods into the United States is prohibited. Rules differ in other countries.
The "5050" tag tells you nothing about parts or build. Judge the watch on the case, bezel, crystal, movement, and paperwork. Treat the model name as a copy of a 1953 design, sold outside Blancpain.