Before going into the new Blancpain BOC IV watch, let’s do a quick recap on the mission and values of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment (BOC). Since its inception in 2014 the BOC has criss-crossed all over the world studying the oceans, bringing attention to key areas where help is needed the most. As maker of the world’s original dive watch, the Fifty Fathoms, it is only natural that Blancpain feels such a close connection to the ocean — a passion also shared by Blancpain CEO Marc A Hayek.

Presiding over all of the BOC’s ongoing and upcoming missions, Hayek is supported in these efforts by marine photographer and eco-warrior par excellence Laurent Ballesta who has spearheaded numerous expeditions and conservation projects for the BOC.

Blancpain BOC IV

Every so often, Blancpain releases a new limited edition to mark the start of the next BOC chapter while spotlighting its own horological evolutions. For 2025 it is the new Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV which has all the trappings of the ultimate tech diver’s dream watch.

This is the second watch in Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Tech line

Designed expressly for the world of technical diving, the Fifty Fathoms Tech series is kitted out in features allowing divers to descend great depths at extended bottom time, and the Blancpain BOC IV is no exception. These include the helium valve, extra-large case, high-grip unidirectional turning bezel, perfect legibility with high luminosity and, of course, extreme water resistance — in this case, 300 meters.

A helium release valve marks this 300-meter dive watch

To offset those extra-large proportions, Blancpain has crafted the case in titanium, specifically, grade 23 titanium which is purer, more biocompatible than grade 5. Its bezel has a ceramic insert subtly tilted towards the deep black dial, with minute markers and numerals designed for up to one-hour-long countdowns. This is essential for tech divers who make extra-long dives at profound depths, thus necessitating more and extended safety stops as well as surface intervals.

Extra bright lume for optimal legibility

Caliber 1315 provides 120-hour power reserve

Naturally, the Blancpain BOC IV also has a philanthropic dimension to it. Blancpain has pledged a sum of €1,000 for each and every one of these 100-piece limited editions sold to the development of the Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center, which is every bit as exotic as it sounds.

Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center

The Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center is the brainchild of Chris and Fred Tardieu with Blancpain, constructed as a base for conducting research and organizing conservation programs. Located at the Pangatalan island of Palawan, the Philippines, it proposes an extremely forward-thinking approach to sustainable eco-tourism involving not just visitors but the locals too.

Pangatalan Island has a robust population of horseshoe crabs

Indeed, anyone who has a passion for diving would understand and appreciate how magnificent the dive sites around the Philippines are. Essentially an archipelago, the Philippines consists of over 7,000 islands located between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, all of which provides some of the best dive experiences on our planet. However, this unique geographical makeup is only part of the reason behind the incredible biodiversity of the marine ecosystem here.

The other reason has to do with the sheer remoteness of many of these dive sites. And while that helps keep the reefs and beaches unspoiled by tourism, it also makes the areas that much harder to study, understand or conserve.

For this reason, Blancpain co-founded the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation (SEF) which dedicates its efforts to restoring marine ecosystems in the Philippines primarily damaged by dynamite fishing and coral bleaching. The organization also looks actively into restoring fish populations while helping local fisherman develop sustainable fishing practices, particularly around the province of Palawan, southwestern Philippines.

Even though this region has been certified by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, much remains unknown about this area because of inadequate infrastructure, logistical challenges and all-round communication difficulties. So to enable researchers, authorities and the local communities to work more closely together, Blancpain and the SEF built the Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center in the village of Sandoval, near Shark Fin Bay — so named after the surrounding mountains which resemble the fins of sharks.

Functioning as a fully-fledged research and conservation center, an education hub and a community institution, it is naturally an on-going project that will ultimately grow along with the needs of the environment. The introduction of the new Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV will provide the center with much needed funds to run its Marine Protected Area programs. As such, owners of this timepiece are pledging not only their support for the BOC but have actually contributed to the Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center in a very real way.

Another exclusive bonus to consider is that it comes not just with a water- and shock-resistant Peli case — arguably de rigueur for a watch like this — but also a stunning award-winning visual taken by Laurent Ballesta from his 2018 expedition to Shark Fin Bay.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018

In 2018, Laurent Ballesta trekked all the way from France to Pangatalan. He was on a mission to study horseshoe crabs which are endemic to the waters of this area. Among his findings were a selection of beautiful underwater photographs of this prehistoric creature in its natural habitat, thriving in shoals as they patrol the sea floor. Ballesta’s photograph took the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Prize in 2018.

“Horseshoe crabs are really special animals but for some reason nobody really looks at them. Laurent however was immediately interested to come and study them. Through him we learned about the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, and that was the starting point of how this entire partnership came about,” says Fred Tardieu.

Laurent Ballesta’s award-winning photograph, 2018

Originally from Marseilles, the Tardieus first discovered Pangatalan Island in the 1990s and fell in love with the natural unspoiled beauty of this place. They worked with locals from nearby villages to nurture its surroundings. They also discovered severe destruction of underwater reefs as a result of dynamite fishing, which was common in this part of the world. In 2011 they made the decision to live here permanently, devoting all their time to reef rebuilding and reversing dwindling fish populations in the surrounding waters. They set up the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, with its inaugural Sea Academy project to achieve their goals.

But it was extra challenging to do anything on Pangatalan Island because of its remoteness. There is no electricity, no infrastructure, all but no communication. The people still relied primarily on fishing as a way of life, which meant the reefs were being continually damaged by the effects of dynamite fishing.

Part of the SEF’s mission is taking care of the coral reefs around the island

As such it was essential to have a base built here, and this is where Blancpain comes in. Ballesta made a proposal to Hayek who was on board without hesitation. In 2025 the Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center was completed and today it is more than just a base for scientists and divers. It has become a center for the community who lives here.

A Sustainable Eco-Balance

The center provides work, education and social interaction to the local villagers whose livelihood is gradually shifting from fishery to eco-tourism as well as aquaculture. With the help of the Tardieus and also Laure Thierry de Ville d’Avray who is the Marine Biologist here and Sea Academy Project Manager, everyone living in the area has come to understand the ocean as a much more valuable resource than merely a source for providing fish.

The team behind SEF founded by Chris and Fred Tardieu

“It is a massive undertaking. First, to understand the destruction, then to rebuild the reefs. Very quickly, we realized the decrease of the fish biomass in the bay,” explains Tardieu. “One solution is to lobby for more Marine Protected Areas, but that alone is not enough.”

This is extremely pertinent as conservationists often grapple with the conundrum where you want the locals to stop overfishing or somehow unknowingly destroying the eco-system, but without providing a viable alternative as to what else can they do to sustain their livelihoods. The Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center however has found that with consistent training, education and sharing a common vision, even a place as remote as Pangatalan Island can lead the way towards a sustainable future.

Says Laure Thierry de Ville d’Avray, “At some point we realized it was not enough to only protect our own island. Fred realized how everything he had achieved here was a successful pilot program, and now it can be replicated in other places too.”

Over time, conservation efforts have also evolved. In the past, de Ville d’Avray shares, the goal of these campaigns had been to set up more MPAs. However, more MPAs also restricted the local way of life. Campaigners had to go further beyond. “It is way more powerful and effective to have a network of small MPAs protected by the locals in a way that involves the local communities,” she adds.

Now with the Blancpain × Sulubaaï Marine Research Center, de Ville d’Avray and the Tardieus are in a far better position to provide education and training to the local community.

Says de Ville d’Avray, “Before, the locals were not a diving people. Today we’ve trained 30 divers, which equips them with the skills to become eco-guards for the marine sanctuaries. They are also eco-guides, bringing other nature lovers underwater to see and learn all about the environment around our island.”

Newly graduated local divers ready for a career in eco-tourism

Rather than simply eradicating a known way of life for the local people, telling people they can no longer do what they’ve always done, the team at Sulubaaï has created a new means of livelihood, providing employment while also encouraging the people to appreciate true beauty of their sea. And that is a major win for all of us. It’s like that quote by William Martin, “Make the ordinary come alive, and the extraordinary will take care of itself.”

Tech Specs: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV

Reference: 5029A-12B30-64A
Movement: Self-winding Caliber 1315A; 120-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds and date
Case: 45mm × 14.10mm; satin-brushed grade 23 titanium, unidirectional bezel with black ceramic inlay; water resistant to 300m
Dial: Black; applied hour markers and Arabic numerals with luminescent coating
Strap: Integrated black rubber
Price: SGD 30,700
Availability: Limited edition of 100 pieces