Today let’s get up close with the Blancpain Villeret GMT Reveil reference 6640, the only version of the well known travel and agenda watch that is still in the Blancpain catalogue.
Category: News
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.
Continue reading “Refined excellence: the Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel platinum”
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.
Continue reading “Hands on with the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date”
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.
Continue reading “The new Blancpain Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition”
The Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III on bracelet
I was lucky enough to „customize” this beauty 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 fully brushed so it matches the case of the OC III.
Here we go:
Continue reading “The Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III on bracelet”
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:
Continue reading “At the Blancpain Endurance Series 24h of Spa”
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.
In absence of an ocean nearby to be used as a background, I focused on getting some absolutely untreated hands-on photos to you. Some Blancpain books came very handy as a fitting background as well.
Now, when I unpacked the OC III I did not know what to expect, a third Bathyscaphe Chronographe would have been logical, but somehow I thought it might be different this time… and right I was! Here it is:
The Basel report(5) – impressions from the Blancpain booth and some conclusions
Dear Blancpain Blog friends, here is the very last part of my report, this time I’ll share some impressions from the Blancpain booth.
Continue reading “The Basel report(5) – impressions from the Blancpain booth and some conclusions”
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.
Continue reading “Hands-on with the Basel novelties (4): the Villeret timepieces”
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:
Continue reading “Hands-on with the Blancpain novelties (3): the sports watches”
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.
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.
Continue reading “Hands on with the Basel novelties (part one): the Bathyscaphe Jour Date 70s”
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 😉
Continue reading “Hands-on with the blue dial Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Titanium”
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.
Continue reading “Hands-on with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tribute to MilSpec”