The Bathyscaphe with a 1970s tan.

Gradient dials were a 1970s fashion: a lacquer sprayed darker toward the rim so the centre glowed. Blancpain’s original Bathyscaphe day-date of that era had one, and the 70s edition copies it in the modern Bathyscaphe case, with the same rectangular luminous batons, a day and date at three, and a seconds hand with a red tip. The bezel is the current ceramic with Liquidmetal markers, so the retro look is on the dial only.

The 1315DD is the Bathyscaphe’s five-day automatic with a day-date module and a silicon balance spring, and the 300-metre rating is the same as the plain Bathyscaphe. The strap is a distressed calf leather rather than the usual sail canvas, which is the other 1970s cue and the reason the watch reads as a weekend watch rather than a diver.

This is a regular Amazon listing from an independent dealer, Luxor Watches on the day we read it, with Amazon’s 30-day return window; it is not a Luxury Stores pre-owned unit. The second button opens the live search for Bathyscaphe 70s in case this one has sold.

Limited Bathyscaphes have resold for under new and close to what pre-owned buyers paid, sometimes more, sometimes less; that is a pattern, not a promise, and nothing here is investment advice.