This beautiful timepiece warrants another introduction in the blog after I was initially able to capture it late last year. This time I can show you this 2021 novelty with many photos under daylight conditions. Let’s get up close and personal with the Air Command AC02-12B40-63A in titanium.
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Ever since my first brief photo session with the titanium Air Command I hoped for a second encounter with bright daylight conditions to really capture the essence of this timepiece. Well, that day has come 😉
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Titanium as the material of choice
In 2013 Blancpain brought titanium back into play with the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 5000, followed by the FF 5015 titanium in 2017. Since then we witnessed various new versions and the titanium bracelet for the Fifty Fathoms and the Bathyscaphe.
It apparently started a trend: more and more brands start offering watches in titanium. And there are good reasons for it: titanium can come in different alloys, the most common being Grade 2 and Grade 5. Generally it can be said that Grade 2 is lighter in color than Grade 5, which in turn is stronger.
Blancpain however uses titanium Grade 23, rarely used in the watch industry, the same is true for the Air Command AC02-12B40.
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This alloy is light in color, hardly distinguishable from stainless steel, and it allows for easier processing. Here’s what Wikipedia says about titanium Grade 23:
„Grade 23 also known as Ti-6Al-4V-ELI or TAV-ELI
contains 6% aluminium, 4% vanadium, 0.13% (maximum) Oxygen. ELI stands for Extra Low Interstitial. Reduced interstitial elements oxygen and iron improve ductility and fracture toughness with some reduction in strength. TAV-ELI is the most commonly used medical implant-grade titanium alloy.“
Whether this alloy makes a real difference outside the human body I don’t know. What I know is that the finish of the AC02 titanium case is simply gorgeous.
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The dominant satin brushed finish is immaculate and we find it to be broader on the case flanks and more subtle on the bezel and case back.
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The contrast is further enhanced by the mirror polished bevels at the lugs, the polished tips of the chronograph pushers and the signature on the crown. Especially the bevels on the lugs are a highlight of the Air Command AC02.
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The dial and bezel
Now, what’s not to like with a beautifully finished blue dial? Especially when it has this subtle sunburst finish from the center, broken by the radial finish of the two subdials.
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The arabic numerals are made of light green SuperLuminova, the white print is immaculate.
We find the light green lume again in the fine engraved countdown scale on the ceramic bezel.
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Besides the colors there’s another notable difference regarding the bezel between the 2019 black AC01 and the AC02: the bezel is still bi-directional but it now has 120 clicks, the AC01 bezel was free floating.
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The movement
We know caliber F388B from the 2019 Air Command AC01. It is a derivative of caliber F385, sparing the date function and the running seconds.
Other than in the AC01, the titanium Air Command AC02 features a more traditional rotor: crafted from 18ct white gold it offers a nice distinct shape and a beautiful blend of different finishes, aligned to the overall finish of caliber F388B.
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The 5Hz column wheel vertical clutch movement can be admired through a domed sapphire crystal. Actually the crystals on the front and back of the Air Command are identical.
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The strap and clasp
The AC02 can be ordered on a titanium deployant clasp or a titanium tang buckle. At the time of this essay the deployant was not yet available, so we can take a look at the strap on tang buckle only.
The blue calf leather strap fits nicely with the blue face of the watch. The white contrast stitching gives it a sporty character, the rubber lining will increase its longevity.
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The tang buckle features the Blancpain engraving and repeats the beautiful play between the brushed finish and mirror polished bevels of the lugs.
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On the wrist
The Air Command AC02 has a diameter of 42.5mm at a height of 13.7mm. The lug-to-lug measurement is 49mm, therefore the watch fits also smaller wrists like mine.
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There’s no doubt: the Air Command titanium is an eye-catcher on the wrist. It looks and feels special, with some retro feel to it, but due to the colors very modern at the same time.
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Putting the AC02 into perspective
Let’s briefly talk about the relationship between the two Air Command references: while the 2019 AC01 was a faithful tribute to the iconic 1957 aviation watch, the AC02 carries this famous design over into a contemporary timepiece.
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The two references co-exist without any conflict. The AC02 puts no dent into the integrity of the limited edition AC01.
The AC02 is a regular collection model and will likely be made in larger quantities than the 500 existing AC01 timepieces. It is also available in red gold, which again has a distinctly different character.
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Find the Air Command AC02-12B40 here on the Blancpain website and here together with the red gold version in the blog. My most recent essay on the Air Command AC01 can be found here.
The Air Command has also been featured prominently in the two latest editions of the Lettres Du Brassus, which can be found here.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and the photos!
Cheers
Henrik