The evolution of a dive watch

With the launch of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in 2013 alongside the 60th anniversary of the legendary dive watch, Blancpain‘s main purpose may have been to offer a more tool watch like alternative to the in all aspects luxurious reference 5015. The recent evolution of the Bathyscaphe series however has outgrown it’s dive watch history and made it almost a successor to the discontinued Leman series – let me explain why.

Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet

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The pinnacle of Blancpain Moonphase Calendars

This is another photo journey into the Villeret line with 8 day calibres and Grand Feu enamel dials. Let’s get up close with the limited to 75 pieces Villeret Quantieme Complet 8 Jours Platinum, reference 6639-3437-55B, a timepiece that found it’s way into my modest collection a few days ago.

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Traveling in style… with a very sophisticated Villeret

Today I invite you to get up close with a watch of the high end Villeret segment that comes in case sizes between 42 and 45mm, featuring gorgeous Grand Feu enamel dials and mostly 8 day Automatic movements: the Villeret 8 Jours Demi-Fuseau Horaire, reference 6661.

Villeret 8 Jours Demi-Fuseau Horaire

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Flashback: the 2003 Fifty Fathoms 50th Anniversary

In 2003 Blancpain celebrated the 50th anniversary of an horological icon, the Fifty Fathoms and therefore the first professional diving watch introduced 1953.

To commemorate this significant milestone Blancpain released the Fifty Fathoms 50th Anniversary reference 2200A-1130-71 in a limited run of 150 pieces, split into three series with 50 watches each for Asia, Europe and North America.

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Refined excellence: the Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel platinum

Last year Blancpain introduced the Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel in stainless steel with white dial and rose gold with opaline dial, now there’s a mesmerizing version in platinum with a stunning blue dial.

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Flashback: The Trilogy series

Launched in 1996 and discontinued in 2003, the Blancpain Trilogy series was the first attempt by the Manufacture since it’s resurrection to revitalize the strong heritage from the 1950s that was initiated by the first professional diving watch Fifty Fathoms and the very rare chronograph Air Command.

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Flashback: Leman Flyback Split Second A’Toute Vitesse from 2005

I remember vividly my excitement when I saw the first ever Blancpain Leman watch with the new case diameter of 40mm in a catalogue 2004: the Flyback Split Second reference 2086. The watch immediately resonated with me, and for a few years to come I was not even aware of this special and extremely limited version of the Flyback Split Second, called A’Toute Vitesse.

Leman Flyback Split Second A'Toute Vitesse

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A fireworks of culinary and horological highlights

Last weekend I had the pleasure to spend a few days with Blancpain and the brand ambassador Chef Holger Bodendorf for the 20th Sylt Gourmet Festival.

Landhaus Stricker

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My top 3 watches of 2018

This year I had the pleasure of more encounters with new Blancpain timepieces than ever before. Obviously Baselworld was the main event for the Blancpain novelties, but in 2018 we have got some new and exciting watches throughout the year, with the latest one being introduced just prior to Christmas.

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A visit to the Blancpain Métiers d’Art workshop

Earlier this year I spent two days in Le Brassus to visit two very special areas within the old farmhouse. You may have already seen my report on the Blancpain Vintage Atelier, now it’s time to take you along into the Métiers d’Art workshop.

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Hands on with the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date

Since it’s release in 2007 the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique has seen quite a number of variations, we have seen two limited versions with historic roots (Tribute to Fifty Fathoms and Tribute to Aqua Lung), a few white FF (one plain, others with MOP dials), the DLC coated Dark Knight, some in precious metals (polished and brushed rose gold and white gold with blue dial), a brushed steel FF with a blue Flinqué dial and last year’s titanium FF with blue dial. 

The one version I personally expected (and hoped for) a lot earlier than 2018 is the new Fifty Fathoms Grande Date in brushed titanium. The Grande Date, changing instantly at midnight within a blink of an eye, has debuted 2005 in the Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date and it found it’s way into various timepieces (Leman, Villeret, L’Evolution) since then, but so far never into the Fifty Fathoms collection. 

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The new Blancpain Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition

Yesterday the well known retailer Bucherer released a new timepiece belonging to their Blue Editions collection, which already features watches by Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Piaget, Audemars Piguet, Tudor and others. This time it is a collaboration between Bucherer and Blancpain: the Blancpain Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition.

Thanks to Bucherer Hamburg and Blancpain Germany I had the opportunity to view the watch just hours after official release and of course take a lot of photos to share with you.

Blancpain Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition

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How to properly deal with heritage timepieces: a visit to the Blancpain Vintage Atelier

On my wishlist for further exploration, a visit to the Vintage Atelier at Blancpain in Le Brassus was very high up… and now I had the chance to meet with the team that takes care of all Blancpain timepieces prior to 1981.

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Quintessential Blancpain: two classic moonphase calendar timepieces

We often discuss the sports watches made by Blancpain, the Fifty Fathoms and Bathyscaphe models are in the focus of many here in the forum. We also admire some Haute Horlogerie pieces the Manufacture is well known for, and lately we discussed some controversial L’Evolution models and the motorsport links Blancpain utilized in the design of those.

Now let’s take a closer look at the very core of Blancpain, two timepieces with a full calendar and the iconic moonphase indication. No configuration is more typical modern Blancpain, it is synonymous for the brand resurrection in the 1980s and played a significant role in the revival of the mechanical watch.

Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Complet ref 6654 and Blancpain Women Quantieme Complet ref 3663

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Deconstruction Blancpain Fifty Fathoms by The Naked Watchmaker

The Fifty Fathoms divers watch was originally designed in 1953. A deconstruction of the original model can be viewed by clicking here.  The modern version has evolved from the original design, to what is today a technically superior version from the movement through to the execution of the case. This version was launched in 2007.

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The Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III on bracelet

I was lucky enough to „customize” the beautiful Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III  with a matching bracelet. This was possible thanks to the Blancpain Boutique Munich, since they were so kind to re-work a Tribute to MilSpec bracelet to a fully brushed finish so it matches the brushed case of the OC III. Let’s take a look.

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Two motorsports inspired L’Evolution timepieces

Alongside the 24h of Spa Franchorchamps Blancpain not only had the Basel novelties on display, but also numerous timepieces that carry a motorsport inspired design, predominantly in the L’Evolution series. Two of those I had the pleasure to take photos of, thanks to the Blancpain Boutique in Munich.

L'Evolution Chronographe Flyback Ref 560STC-11B30-52B, L'Evolution R Grande Date Ref R10-1103-53B

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At the Blancpain Endurance Series 24h of Spa

Last weekend I had the pleasure to follow Blancpain’s invitation to visit the greatest GT3 event of the year, the 70th(!) 24h of Spa Franchorchamps with 63 cars from 13 different manufacturers.

Blancpain is the namegiving sponsor of the racing series since many years now and the highlight of season was a perfect opportunity to invite guests from various countries to enjoy exciting motorsports, beautiful timepieces and unrivaled hospitality.

Let’s take a look around at the Blancpain hospitaliy to give you an idea:

Blancpain at the 24h of Spa

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A pictorial comparison of two Fifty Fathoms on bracelet

I thought it might be interesting to take a closer look at two references within the same model range, the standard Fifty Fathoms ref 5015-1130-71 and the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe ref 5000-1110-70, both on bracelet. This comparison will focus on the details in mostly neutral close up shots.

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Deconstruction Blancpain Villeret Équation du Temps Marchante Quantieme Perpetuel by The Naked Watchmaker

The Running Equation of Time function is rarely executed in watchmaking. Here it is combined with a perpetual calendar, moonphases indication and entirely hand engraved automatic calibre.

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A world premiere on World Oceans Day: the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III

Yesterday I had the exceptional honor to welcome the brand new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III for a photo session.

The watch is officially launched today, and there could be no better timing to celebrate Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment activities with the third edition of the commemorative timepiece on World Ocean Day.

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Hands-on with the Basel novelties (4): the Villeret timepieces

This is the fourth part of my hands-on report from Basel, showing the new Blancpain Villeret timepieces. 

There have been three new Villeret watches this year, all in a 40mm case, all available in either stainless steel or rose gold, all of them on either strap or a perfectly crafted Milanaise bracelet, which is entirely manufactured inhouse and assembled by hand requiring a lot of precision in order to support the slight tapering of the bracelet. And obviously all three models feature the patented under-lug correctors.

Let us start with what some of you have instantly called a winner, the new Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel in stainless steel.

Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel

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Hands-on with the Blancpain novelties (3): the sports watches

Blancpain introduced three new regular models in the Fifty Fathoms line, the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date, the Bathyscaphe Quantieme Annuel and the Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet.

Let’s take a look at the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date first. Executed in brushed titanium, it is the first watch in the FF line to feature the instant changing big date we know since 2005 when it was first introduced in the Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date.

The Fifty Fathoms Grande Date has a very distinct look to it, which is also emphasized by the numerals 3 and 9 being left out from the dial. It comes on either a sailcloth strap or a Nato strap, which would be my personal choice. A titanium bracelet is not planned as of yet. The watch is a real beauty, not easy to capture in photos, though.

Here are some impressions:

Fifty Fathoms Grande Date

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Hands-on with the Basel novelties part 2: the amazing Tourbillon Volant Heure Sautante Minute Rétrograde

This timepiece left me breathless, personally I have not encountered anything remotely close to the beautiful sensuality of the Blancpain Tourbillon Volant Heure Sautante Minute Rétrograde. I’m in love.

Blancpain Tourbillon Volant Heure Sautante Minute Rétrograde

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Hands on with the Basel novelties (part one): the Bathyscaphe Jour Date 70s

As promised, here’s my take on the Blancpain novelties in Basel with a number of photos I was able to capture during my visit. To avoid one too long post, I decided to go in five parts: this post will focus on the Bathyscaphe Jour Date 70s.

Blancpain Bathyscaphe Jour Date 70s

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Deconstruction Rolls by The Naked Watchmaker

The Rolls watch history is linked with Blancpain and the development of the automatic wristwatches. In the 1920s, Frédéric-Emile Blancpain met the British watchmaker, John Harwood, who had been working on the concept of automatic winding in wristwatches. The two worked together and used a Blancpain base movement to develop a circular automatic wristwatch in 1926. – In 1931 F.-E.Blancpain collaborated with the French watchmaker Léon Hatot, with another form of automatic winding system. Placing the movement inside a carriage allowing it to slide back and forth, winding up the mainspring. The size of the calibre meant that a small ladie’s rectangular watch could be made, which had not been available before. The name of the watch Rolls may have been influenced by the way in which the automatic functions. It has also been suggested that F.-E. Blancpain selected the name in connection with the Rolls Royce brand.

 

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A visit to Blancpain in the Vallée de Joux

“Blancpain perpetuates its historical links with Switzerland’s oldest watchmaking tradition by making its timepieces at Le Brassus and Le Sentier, respectively a village and a hamlet in the Joux Valley. This region of the Waldensian Jura is imbued with the soul of the watchmaker’s art. Clockmaking began here in about 1740, and its workshops are still the source of 90% of the complications of Swiss mechanical watchmaking” (Blancpain website).

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Haute Horlogerie meets Haute Cuisine: At the Sylt Gourmet Festival with Blancpain

Since many years selected Chefs combine their art and craftmanship with the horological finesse of Blancpain, acting as brand ambassadors. Traditionally the Blancpain publication Lettres du Brassus covers Haute Cuisine as well as Haute Horlogerie, and sometimes there is a rare opportunity to join both arts during an event.

At the Sylt Gourmet Festival with Blancpain

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Hands-on with the blue dial Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Titanium

Well, when I started try to get my hands on the new Fifty Fathoms in titanium with the beautiful blue dial and bezel I hoped for the Blancpain Boutique in Munich to support me with this task.

And the fabulous team of Blancpain Munich made it happen, even in this period of the year when they have significant customer traffic, they have let the beauty go for a day to support a photo session. So I think you agree with me starting this report with a huge ‘thank you’!!!

Now, let’s get to the watch 😉

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Titanium

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Hands-on with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tribute to MilSpec

Thanks to the Blancpain Boutique in Munich I had a chance to welcome one of the first Blancpain Fifty FathomsTribute to MilSpec for a one day photo session.

Let me share some impressions and photos, which hopefully ease the pain for those of us (me included) waiting to finally get their own MilSpec to put it on the wrist.

 

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tribute to MilSpec

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