Submariner & Fifty Fathoms

[Jedi]

I've been thinking of focusing my collection on divers' watches for the time being, in particular tool divers'.

The SD is on the mission list, and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms as well, in addition to a 'modern' ie. current model 16610.

I just wanted to ask the opinion of fellow TRF'ers what is the deal in terms of the actual provenance of the modern diver's watch? Both the Sub and FF were released about the same time and both claim to be the first modern diver's watch.

As a committed Rolex fan, I am pretty sure of the Sub's integrity, but am just questioning what happened with the FF? apparently it was developed at the request of the French Navy in 1952. But we know the Oyster case had been around for years before that and that the FF is a clear and distinct derivative of the Oyster case.

Thoughts anyone??