For more than 20 years, the Swiss watchmaking house Blancpain quietly but firmly establishes itself as one of the most devoted allies of marine preservation. Under the emblem of its program Blancpain Ocean Commitment (BOC), the brand combines a passion for watchmaking and ecological awareness to protect one of our planet's most precious assets: the ocean.
One watch, one mission
The story begins in 1953, with the creation of the Fifty Fathoms, the first truly modern diving watch. This timepiece, which has become iconic, marks the starting point of a lasting partnership between Blancpain and the players in marine exploration. Since then, the company has supported more than 40 major scientific expeditions and contributed to the protection of 4,7 million km² of ocean, while raising public awareness through breathtaking images.
From the Mediterranean to Indonesia: the exploration continues
Among the most notable expeditions, the one led by the biologist Laurent Ballesta off the coast of Cap Corse illustrates the alliance of science and poetry. In the depths of the Mediterranean, mysterious circles drawn on the seabed arouse fascination and questioning. Supported by Blancpain, this mission seeks to uncover the secret of these enigmatic formations and to highlight the importance of preserving little-explored environments.
Another highlight: the spectacular return of the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought to have disappeared 70 million years ago. After an initial encounter in South Africa in 2013, the teamUNSEEN Expeditions, directed by Alexis Chappuis, documented for the first time the Latimeria menadoensis living in Indonesia. A fascinating rediscovery, which proves that the oceans still have so much to teach us.
The Blancpain x Sulubaaï Marine Research Center: a pillar for the protection of marine biodiversity in the Philippines
Le Blancpain x Sulubaaï Marine Research Center, inaugurated in 2023 in the village of Sandoval, in the heart of the Philippine archipelago of Palawan, embodies the concrete commitment of the Blancpain watchmaking house to marine preservation. This research center is the result of a close partnership with the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, a Franco-Filipino organization working for the conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems. Located in the immediate vicinity of Shark Fin Bay, an area of high biodiversity subject to strong human pressures, the center plays a strategic role in the monitoring, restoration and sustainable management of marine environments.
Its mission is based on four complementary axes. First, it constitutes a cutting-edge scientific platform, combining traditional techniques and innovative technologies (photogrammetry, environmental DNA, acoustics) to study the health of coral reefs, seagrass beds and fish populations. Second, it is a major player in the ecological restoration, notably thanks to the installation of innovative artificial reefs called Sulu-Reef-Prosthesis (SRP). By 2024, more than 300 SRPs had been installed in the bay, supporting nearly 3 coral colonies. The center also incorporates a fishlab which raises fish caught in the post-larval stage to release them once mature: in 2023, 1 fish of 424 species were released, with a target of 21 fish per year.
The center also plays a vital educational role. It organizes awareness programs in schools in neighboring villages, reaching more than a thousand students and their teachers through workshops, competitions, exhibitions, and the creation of a children's book on the sea. It also offers training for fishermen, in order to promote more sustainable practices and encourage the creation of local associations. This educational work is complemented by a strong community approach: the marine protected areas (MPAs) created around the center, covering 349 hectares, are co-managed with the inhabitants, who actively participate in their monitoring and management. These MPAs have already helped to triple the biomass and significantly increase species diversity.
The Blancpain x Sulubaaï Marine Research Center aims to be a integrated conservation model, based on science, education and local participation. It perfectly illustrates Blancpain's desire to transform its environmental commitments into concrete, sustainable and reproducible actions. Thanks to the funds raised by its Ocean Commitment limited editions, the brand demonstrates that a responsible luxury can generate a real ecological impact and social, serving the planet.
This center would not have been possible without funding from watch sales. Blancpain Ocean Commitment IV, proof that a ethical and committed luxury can have a real impact on the ground. By investing in long-term projects, Blancpain goes beyond simple green communication: it actively participates in the construction of a sustainable future for the oceans.
A local and sustainable strategy
Thanks to funds from the sale of limited editions BOC IV, many marine protected areas (MPAs) were created and are now managed by local communities. In these areas, fishing is strictly regulated or even prohibited, allowing the replenishment of fish stocks. Result: a biomass three times greater, and a significant increase in the number of species in protected areas.
At the same time, the project is developing innovative solutions, such as SRP artificial reefs, which allow corals and fish to recolonize destroyed areas. To date, 300 artificial reefs were installed, welcoming nearly 3 coral coloniesThe center also houses a fishlab which raises and releases juvenile fish to enhance biodiversity.
The project's philosophy is clear: to involve communities so that conservation becomes a driver of local development. training for fishermen, educational programs for schoolchildren, ecological diagnostics and rigorous scientific monitoring support this integrated strategy. In 2023, acoustic monitoring even detected a dramatic reduction in destructive fishing practices, such as dynamite fishing, which are now significantly reduced in monitored MPAs.
Beyond the technical performance of its watches, Blancpain proves that luxury can be meaningfulThrough its investments, its active support for research and its desire to raise public awareness, the brand has established itself as a committed and legitimate player in marine protection. At a time when the oceans are more threatened than ever, this type of commitment, rooted in time, shows that every action counts, especially when the heart beats to the rhythm of the ocean.
Patrick Koune
