Our Commitment
Founded in 1735 in the Swiss Jura, Blancpain is known as the world’s oldest watch brand. Loyal to its tradition of innovation and confirmed by countless horological complications created over the years, the manufacture is constantly pushing the boundaries of watchmaking to take this art to places where it has never been before.
The Blancpain Ocean Commitment is a tribute to our Brand’s historic ties with the oceans, as Blancpain launched in 1953 the first true diver's watch, the Fifty Fathoms. This key moment in our nearly 300-year history represents the beginning of our support for ocean exploration and numerous collaborative initiatives for biodiversity preservation with local communities, which has been lasting for the past seven decades.
There is one constant: Blancpain’s determination to make a difference.
OUR PASSION FOR OCEANS,
A REASON TO PROTECT THEM
Exploration and preservation of the world’s oceans is core to Blancpain. With its legacy of the Fifty Fathoms, the first true diver’s watch, extending over 70 years, Blancpain has maintained a full commitment to exploring, preserving, and achieving a better understanding of the world’s oceans. Over the years, Blancpain has become close to the explorers, photographers, scientists, and environmentalists who treasure the precious underwater resource. With that affinity has come a determination to support important activities and initiatives dedicated to the oceans.
WE CAN ONLY RESPECT AND PROTECT WHAT WE LOVE; AND ONLY LOVE WHAT WE KNOW
To date, Blancpain has supported dozens of major scientific expeditions, celebrated its role in significantly extending the surface area of marine protected areas around the world, and presented several award-winning documentary films, underwater photography exhibitions and publications. This dedication to supporting ocean exploration and preservation gave birth to the Blancpain Ocean Commitment.
WHAT DO WE CONCRETELY DO ?
Building awareness
From 2008 to 2020, Blancpain annually released the 'Edition Fifty Fathoms', a publication dedicated to the underwater world, distinguished by the quality of its photographs, in an effort to increase people's knowledge and concern about the oceans. Since 2012, Blancpain has also been the founding supporter of the World Ocean Summit, an outcome-driven dialogue between global leaders to bring fresh perspectives to the ocean agenda. The Brand works closely with leading organizations, foundations, associations, scientists, and policy makers to communicate the urgency to take action to save our marine ecosystems. Recognizing the importance of motivating governmental officials, business leaders, journalists, and concerned citizens, Blancpain continues to support The Economist newspaper’s World Ocean Summits and Initiative.
Supporting scientific exploration and research
To serve this mission, Blancpain strongly supports major local and international scientific expeditions, and works with ocean ambassadors and underwater photographers to assist with collecting precious information about oceans and ecosystems. In the area of the Rangiroa atoll in French Polynesia, Blancpain has supported the multi-year Tamataroa Project, a collaborative work between the Mokarran Protection Society and Laurent Ballesta. This project aims to study the Great Hammerhead sharks to better understand their reproduction, diet, territory size, and migration. Blancpain is now developing innovative preservation and restoration methods for the Great Barrier Reef, being undertaken by the Biopixel Oceans Foundation. Additionally, the PADI's Adopt the Blue programme encourages both amateur and professional divers to identify environmental dangers and opportunities for protection.
Preserving and restoring oceans' ecosystems
Through its generous financial support of well-chosen partners such as Laurent Ballesta’s Gombessa Expeditions, National Geographic’s Pristine Seas, The Economist’s World Ocean Summits and Initiative, the Mokarran Protection Society, PADI’s Blueprint for Ocean Action, and the Adopt the Blue Program, Blancpain has succeeded in achieving tangible results in helping to preserve and protect the ocean environment. Working with UNSEEN Expeditions, Blancpain has given indispensable support in Indonesia focused on studying and protecting deep reef ecosystems. Recognizing the value of the intimate knowledge and unique sensitivities of local residents to their environments, Blancpain has focused upon local projects and the enlistment of residents. All these activities undertaken with great passion by Blancpain, have made a significant contribution in extending the surface of marine protected areas around the world, with the addition of more than 4.7 million square kilometres.