The name Fifty Fathoms might sound unusual at first, but it actually refers to a British unit of measurement. A fathom equals roughly six feet, so fifty fathoms translates to about 91 meters—close to 300 feet—the maximum depth divers could reach with the technology of the era. Over the decades, Fifty Fathoms watches have earned serious credibility through military use, trusted by elite forces from France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and, most famously, the U.S. Navy. This particular example is the highly sought-after “No Radiations” model, often affectionately known as the “No-Rad.” So, what makes it special? That unmistakable yellow-and-red crossed-out radiation symbol on the dial. It indicated that no radium was used in the luminous material—a safety measure introduced in the early 1960s, once the health risks of radium became better understood. The “No-Rad” logo gave divers peace of mind, whether they were operating professionally or recreationally. Thanks to its historical significance—and that instantly recognizable symbol—this model has become a favorite among serious collectors. Blancpain has even released tribute editions in recent years, further solidifying its legacy. This perticulair one has been in service in the German Defence forces “Bundeswehr “- in short “Bund"! Proven by the engraving on the caseback ,”BUND 6645-12-149-5xx” This example features a matte case in excellent condition, along with a beautiful luminous rotating bezel. The glossy dial is clean and sharp, showcasing an applied Blancpain logo, and warm yellow patina on both the markers and pencil-style hands. It’s fitted with one of our Nautic Rubber straps—a nod to the original Rubber straps that accompanied these iconic divers back in the day. The watch will come with an electronic report from Blancpain heritage confirming the watch as being all correct & full report with photos of the service that has been done by the Blancpain heritage department, done in 2024. The invoice for this matter (over 4000 Euro) has been included as well. Powering the watch is an automatic movement based on the A. Schild Caliber AS 1700 and as written, been fully serviced by Blancpain themselves and still under warranty. Specifications: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms “No Rad” Issued to German forces (Bundeswehr ) in 1960s Serial 208xxx Miltary Bundeswehr case back engravings Steel 40mm case with fixed bars Black Dial with No Rad marking Original bakelite bezel insert Report of Blancpain Heritage department , plus invoice for this matter Comes on the pictured Bulang and Sons single pass strap Fully checked by our watchmaker One-year mechanical warranty ( still under Blancpain warranty ) Free worldwide Fedex Priority shipping