Blancpain, founded in Villeret in 1735, claims to be the world's oldest watch brand (though this is disputed with Vacheron Constantin). The brand created the modern dive watch with the Fifty Fathoms in 1953 — predating the Rolex Submariner. Under Jean-Claude Biver's leadership in the 1980s, Blancpain famously declared it would never produce a quartz watch, repositioning as a guardian of traditional mechanical watchmaking.
Available below retail on the secondary market at 18% discount, this model offers exceptional value for buyers willing to purchase pre-owned. This pricing makes it one of the better value propositions in the dive watch category.
The WVS Value Score of 67/100 reflects the balance between this watch's specifications, brand positioning, and market dynamics. While not the highest-scoring watch in its category, it may offer advantages in other areas such as design, availability, or raw specification value.
The estimated annual cost of ownership is $1036 per year, accounting for depreciation, servicing, and insurance. While this is higher than some alternatives, it should be weighed against the wearing pleasure and prestige the watch provides daily.
Understanding the true cost of owning a luxury watch requires looking beyond the purchase price. Our cost-of-ownership model calculates the annual net expense of keeping the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 5015-1130-52A on your wrist, factoring in three key components.
First, depreciation: based on historical pricing data for this reference and similar Blancpain models, we estimate annual value change at 6%. This depreciation rate is typical for this price segment and brand positioning. Second, servicing: Blancpain recommends periodic maintenance to ensure accuracy and water resistance. We amortize the estimated service cost across the recommended interval, arriving at $80 per year. Third, insurance: at approximately 1.5% of market value, annual insurance costs $191 to protect against theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Combining these factors yields a net annual cost of $1036. That's roughly $2.84 per day — comparable to a daily coffee habit.
Estimated market price trend based on aggregated public listing data. Prices reflect average asking prices for complete sets in excellent condition. Updated monthly.
Our proprietary score rates every luxury watch on a 0-100 scale across five dimensions. Scores above 85 indicate exceptional value retention and market positioning. The formula is transparent and weight-based.
When considering the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 5015-1130-52A, it helps to understand how it compares to alternatives in the dive watch category. The most affordable alternative is the Rolex Air-King at $9,500 — saving you approximately 25% compared to the 5015-1130-52A. However, the 5015-1130-52A justifies its premium through stronger brand recognition and resale performance. The highest-scoring alternative is the Rolex Submariner with a Value Score of 89/100, slightly above the 5015-1130-52A's 67/100. The comparison table below provides a detailed side-by-side analysis of all key metrics.
| Watch | Market Price | Size | WR | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 5015-1130-52A | $11,000–$14,500 | 45mm | 300m | $1036/yr | 67 |
| Rolex Submariner 124060 | $10,500–$14,500 | 41mm | 300m | $105/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Submariner 126610LN | $12,000–$16,000 | 41mm | 300m | $108/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Explorer 226570 | $10,500–$14,000 | 36mm | 100m | $105/yr | 87 |
| Rolex Explorer 124270 | $8,500–$11,000 | 36mm | 100m | $100/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Air-King 126900 | $8,000–$11,000 | 40mm | 100m | $99/yr | 88 |
Originally designed for professional underwater use, modern dive watches are equally at home on a desk as they are at depth. The rotating bezel tracks elapsed time underwater, while the high water resistance and luminous markers ensure readability in low-light conditions.
Key specifications for a dive watch include water resistance (minimum 200m for ISO 6425 certification), unidirectional rotating bezel, luminous hands and indices, screw-down crown, and robust bracelet with dive extension. Higher-end models feature helium escape valves for saturation diving.
Dive watches are the most versatile luxury watch category. They pair equally well with a suit, casual wear, or technical gear. The sport-luxury aesthetic makes them appropriate for virtually any situation, which is why models like the Submariner and Seamaster are among the best-selling luxury watches globally.
Blancpain watches are available through authorized dealers with some negotiation room (5-15% off). The brand is considered undervalued by many collectors — you get Swatch Group manufacture-quality finishing and in-house movements at prices well below comparable Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet models.
All Blancpain watches use in-house movements produced at their Vallée de Joux manufacture. Movement finishing is excellent, with hand-applied decoration visible through exhibition case backs. The brand's ultra-thin movements (Villeret collection) and dive-specific calibres (Fifty Fathoms) demonstrate impressive versatility in manufacture capability.
Service intervals are every 5-7 years with costs of $800-$1,500. Blancpain's service is handled through the Swatch Group service network, which is the largest in the Swiss watch industry. The brand's emphasis on traditional construction makes their watches straightforward to service.
Blancpain watches depreciate 20-35% from retail — less than many competitors. The Fifty Fathoms holds value well and has developed a strong collector following. The Villeret line trades below retail but represents extraordinary value for the quality of movement finishing delivered.
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| Ref | Variant | Retail | Score | Own/Yr | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5015-1130-52A | Steel/Black ◂ | $15,500 | 67 | $1036/yr | $11,000–$14,500 |
| 5200-0153-B52A | Bathyscaphe Steel/Blue | $11,300 | 68 | $774/yr | $8,000–$10,500 |
Value Score 67/100 · $1036/year to own · 94% retention