What the Replica Fifty Fathoms 1953 Ref 5050 Is
The replica Fifty Fathoms 1953 ref 5050 copies Blancpain's 40.3 mm steel 50th anniversary dive watch, a 2003 tribute to the original 1953 model. The genuine article carries a black dial, a domed sapphire bezel insert, sword hands, and the in-house caliber 1151 with its long power reserve. Replicas of this reference come from a handful of Chinese factories and vary in case thickness, bezel construction, dial printing, and movement finishing. Two watches with the same listing photos can differ by a full millimeter in height, so the checks below matter more than any spec sheet.
Before You Start
Gather these tools and reference materials first. You cannot judge this watch from seller photos alone.
- Digital calipers for diameter, thickness, and lug width
- A 10x loupe for dial print and lume edges
- A timegrapher app or machine for rate and beat error
- Reference shots of the genuine ref 5050 from front, side, and case back
- A strap or bracelet in the correct lug width for your planned setup
How to Evaluate a Replica Fifty Fathoms 5050
- Measure the case with calipers. The genuine is 40.3 mm wide, crown excluded, and roughly 13 mm thick. A clone that measures 41 mm or more will sit wrong on the wrist and will not take gen-spec straps cleanly.
- Examine the bezel insert under the loupe. The original insert is sapphire with a domed profile and depth to the markings. Flat inserts with printed numbers, or mineral glass that shows scratches at the edges, are the clearest tell.
- Rotate the bezel through a full turn. It should index with firm, even clicks and stop with no backplay. Gritty travel, a loose spring, or a pip that does not center at 12 o'clock points to weak assembly.
- Read the dial text at arm's length and then under magnification. Check the weight of the Blancpain wordmark, the script of Fifty Fathoms, and the depth of the printed minute track. Crooked or thin printing is common on budget tiers.
- Inspect the hands and hour markers. The sword hands should have a clean spine and an even lume fill with no overflow onto the polished sides. Compare the lume tone against your reference photos in daylight, not under indoor lighting.
- Check the date aperture if your reference shows one at 3 o'clock. The window should be crisp at the edges, the disc should sit flat under the dial, and the font should match the reference. A sunken or misaligned disc is a service problem waiting to happen.
- Look at the movement through the case back, or ask the seller for macro shots. Check rotor engraving quality, jewel count, and whether the finishing is applied or stamped. Note the beat rate and the stated power reserve against the 1151 layout.
- Run the watch on a timegrapher for 24 hours after a full wind. Accept roughly minus ten to plus fifteen seconds per day with amplitude above 250 degrees and beat error under 0.5 ms. Anything outside that range needs regulation or a service.
Water Resistance and Wear
Treat any replica as splash resistant at best. Gaskets are rarely tested to the original 300 m rating, crowns often lack proper sealing, and case backs are not always torqued to spec. Do not dive, swim, or shower with the watch, and do not operate the crown while it is wet. If a seller claims pressure testing, ask for the certificate and the test date.
Care and Service
Wipe the case with a soft cloth after wear to remove sweat and salt. Keep the watch away from strong magnets such as laptop speakers and tablet covers. Plan on a movement service every three to five years, or sooner if the rate drifts past twenty seconds per day. Store it on a soft surface with the crown pushed in.