Blancpain Fifty Fathoms For Hodinkee 5008-11B30-NABA

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms “No Rad” Limited Edition for Hodinkee, ref. 5008-11B30-NABA, is a highly collectible 100-piece limited edition released in 2019. It holds significance as one of the most successful and well-regarded collaborations between a major Swiss brand and a media outlet. Historically, it predates the standard production “No Rad” (5008-1130-NABA) by two years and is notable for its unique design choices. While sharing the 40.3mm stainless steel case, sapphire bezel, and iconic “No Radiations” logo, this version omits the date window for a cleaner, more symmetrical dial—a detail highly prized by collectors. The dial has a matte black finish and features white markers and hands with Super-LumiNova, differing from the “Old Radium” color of the later standard edition. This creates a more modern, high-contrast look. The watch is powered by the in-house Caliber 1151, a slim automatic movement with a 100-hour power reserve. The sapphire caseback reveals a specially engraved rotor with the Hodinkee logo. The “NABA” suffix indicates it was sold on a black NATO strap. This reference set a high bar for collaborative watch projects and demonstrated the strong market appeal for thoughtfully reissued vintage designs.