It is with great sadness and emotion that Blancpain and its President & CEO, Marc A. Hayek, have learned of the passing of their long-time friend, Jean-Jacques Fiechter. CEO of Blancpain from 1950 to 1980, Mr. Fiechter was responsible for many of the triumphs achieved by our Manufacture, including the creation of the first modern diver's watch, the Fifty Fathoms, presented in 1953.