By ASHOK SOMAN

At the 32nd International Boat Show in Cannes, Swiss luxury watchmaker Blancpain officially launched the 500 Fathoms series and a special limited edition offshoot called the 500 Fathoms Cannes 2009.

We have previously covered the 500 Fathoms watch in some detail after BaselWorld here but we thought these images, especially of the caseback below, should be brought to your attention. The manufacture deserves to be commended for introducing a sapphire caseback in this watch without compromising its extreme water resistance.

Of course, the propeller-shaped rotor is fascinating and the decorations to Calibre 1315 are done by hand so to not use a see-through caseback would have been almost criminal.

Blancpain