A blog entirely dedicated to Blancpain timepieces
Following the release of the Fifty Fathoms Tech Ocean Commitment IV earlier this year Blancpain have now introduced an unlimited regular collection FF Tech, notably with a significant enhancement. I now had the opportunity to get up close and personal with reference 5029 12B30 94A and I am delighted to share impressions of the full package with you.
Blancpain recently introduced the new 38mm Fifty Fathoms 5007 collection with two stunning no date versions featuring Mother-of-pearl dials going first. I now had the opportunity to handle both for a short while (unfortunately not under bright natural light) and capture them for the blog, so here we go up close and personal with the gold/black reference 5007 3644A B64B and the titanium/pink reference 5007 12B44R NAFA.
Over the last 2 weeks Blancpain has introduced an entire model family of the Fifty Fathoms in a new 38mm size. Now I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the stainless steel Fifty Fathoms 5007 1130 71S and the titanium blue dial Fifty Fathoms 5007 12B40 O64. So let’s dive into two small size Fifty Fathoms and explore them in detail.
Last week Blancpain launched two playful models of the Fifty Fathoms in the new 38mm size. Those two timepieces are more than noteworthy in their own right, but there’s a lot more since there are 3 additional members of reference 5007 in satin brushed titanium, polished stainless steel and satin brushed red gold. Let‘s take a closer look at the official Blancpain material on the entire new FF 5007 family.
Last year Blancpain introduced a grade 23 titanium bracelet for the Air Command, both the 42mm AC02 and the 36mm AC03. I now had the opportunity to review the smaller Air Command on bracelet, which also should give you a fair idea of the looks you can expect from the larger one. So let’s go and explore reference AC03-12B40-98S.
Today Blancpain has introduced a new member of the 42mm Fifty Fathoms 5010 family, adding a case of polished stainless steel to the regular collection. I was fortunate enough to experience this new model beforehand, so let’s not only take a close look but also compare it to its closest siblings, the titanium version and the 70th Anniversary Act 1.
Just in time for the launch of Blancpain‘s fourth BOC timepiece I am very happy to share live impressions of the brand new Fifty Fathoms Tech Ocean Commitment IV with you. This limited to only 100 pieces special edition is a stunner and worth taking a very close look at all the details, so here we go exploring reference 5029A-12B30-64A.
Blancpain created two new versions of the Air Command in grade 23 titanium, offering a different and exciting look. The combination of a military green dial and a black ceramic bezel works very well, both in the 42.5mm AC02-12B53-63 and the 36mm AC03-12B53-63. So let’s take a closer look at these two limited editions available as the modern reincarnation of an iconic aviation watch.
When Blancpain introduced the new 42mm Fifty Fathoms size in January 2023 with the 70th Anniversary Act 1 and in February 2024 with the standard collection titanium and red gold models they answered a wish enthusiasts voiced for quite a while. Today let’s take a close look at the stainless steel FF 5010-1130 70th Anniversary Act 1 and the grade 23 titanium black dial FF 5010-12B30. There are more differences than you may see at a first glance, so let’s get started with a comparison of two timepieces an untrained eye would probably consider identical at first glance.
You have probably read my hands-on coverage with all 4 versions of the new 42.3mm Fifty Fathoms in two materials and 2 dial colors. Among those I briefly introduced the grade 23 titanium 5010 on the titanium bracelet, a configuration I recently encountered for a second time and which deserves a separate review. So let’s get up close and personal with the blue dial Fifty Fathoms reference 5010-12B40-98S.
In February 2023 I had the pleasure of introducing the brand new Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa aka FF 70th Anniversary Act 2. Now the opportunity of a second photo session arose and I can share some new impressions, mainly but not only under natural light conditions, with you. So let’s explore reference 5019-12B30-64A again and get a better understanding of the aesthetic and technical difference this professional dive instrument makes.
They have long been anticipated and now we finally witnessed the introduction of the regular collection 42mm Fifty Fathoms. Offered in no less than 14 references (22 when you count the clasp options) with the options of grade 23 titanium or red gold case featuring two dial variants and many strap/bracelet options the medium sized FF will no doubt conquer a lot of hearts. Let’s get up close and personal with them.
It took Blancpain quite a while to offer more strap alternatives to owners of the FF/Bathyscaphe, but recently a variety of new Nato straps have been introduced. So this blog post is not about a specific watch but three of the new 23mm Nato straps for the 43mm Bathyscaphe and 45mm Fifty Fathoms models. Let’s take a close look on and off the wrist.
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Continue reading “Strap options: the new Blancpain Jacquard Nato straps” →If you are after a „do-it-all“ modern Blancpain timepiece you may narrow in on this one: the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet in Grade 23 titanium reference 5054-1210. Let’s explore this beautiful timepiece in all its details and find out why it is one of the most popular watches in the current Blancpain catalogue.
During a recent visit I had the chance to spend time with the prototypes of two rare Bathyscaphe models. Since both were available in selected markets only, getting up close with them for a photo session was a very welcome opportunity. So here they are, the Bathyscaphe Polar Green in stainless steel and the Bathyscaphe Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary in titanium and Sedna gold.
The second timepiece Blancpain introduces in the year of the 70th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms is capturing the DNA of the iconic dive watch as a professional instrument. This one is entirely made by divers for divers. Let’s get up close and personal with the new Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa reference 5019-12B30-64A.
This last blog post in 2022 is primarily meant to thank you, my readers, for your continuing support! But let me also include a quick wrap-up of the year, including my take on Blancpain’s 2022 novelties as well as my personal collection highlights of the year.
Today I experiment with a new style of blog essay and I hope you enjoy it as much as my other style blog posts. In this essay I capture a friend’s private collection of modern Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe timepieces and the thematic approach of the collector. Let’s dive into these magnificent seven, showcasing a bit of the variety the Bathyscaphe line offers.
A few months ago Blancpain launched two new Bathyscaphe 5054 in titanium and red gold, now those materials are finding their way to the Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback 5200. Let‘s take a close look at these two novelties.
Today Blancpain unveiled a new Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in titanium with a green dial and ceramic bezel. This timepiece is made in connection of a Blancpain Ocean Commitment initiative with aquatil and Jordsand on German island of Sylt and limited to only 25 pieces. Let’s get up close and personal with this new and rare beauty.
Introduced last fall, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe ref 5000-1210 in grade 23 titanium has become an immediate success. Today let’s take a look at the version on titanium bracelet, which took a bit longer to be delivered, but it was well worth the wait.
A few weeks ago Blancpain introduced the smaller 36.2mm version of the Air Command in two versions, titanium and red gold, each with a blue dial and bezel. Let‘s explore these two new references AC03-12B40 and AC03-36B40 in all their details.
On June 16 Blancpain introduced two very attractive siblings to the successful Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet reference 5054 in satin brushed titanium and satin brushed red gold. Let’s get up close and personal with these two 2022 novelties in the sailcloth strap variant.
I came across a brand new iteration of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe reference 5000, made in a limited run of 50 pieces for the 50th anniversary of Cortina Watch in Singapore. Let’s take a look at the first two-tone Bathyscaphe.
Introduced in 2019 with the AC01 limited edition, the collection Air Command now quickly expands. Let’s take a first look at the brand new 36.2mm Air Command AC03, which was launched in two versions today.
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.
Just after my recent encounter with the first modern Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in Ceramized Titanium, I now have the pleasure to share some exclusive hands-on impressions of the brand new Bathyscaphe Titanium 5000-1210-NAGA. So let’s get up close with a new watch which will undoubtedly be a huge success.
In 2013 Blancpain celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms with the launch of the new Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, starting with three versions: one in 38mm and two in 43mm size. One of the new watches had a life span of less than a year, the Bathyscaphe Ceramized Titanium. Let’s get up close with this very rare timepiece, often called the “unicorn” by those who know it.
Two years ago I shared some quick impressions of the Blancpain 500 Fathoms with you, now it’s time to go into more detail. So let’s get up close with reference 50015-12B30-52B, a 48mm professional diving instrument crafted in titanium and offering a plentiful of distinct details.
Last year Blancpain introduced the highly anticipated titanium bracelet for the three existing Fifty Fathoms models in titanium, the blue and black 5015 and the FF Grande Date 5050. Let’s take a look at the slightly more extrovert FF 5015 with a blue sunburst dial and a blue sapphire bezel and how it looks when put on this new bracelet.
Today we will take a closer look at one of Blancpain‘s signature timepieces, the 38mm Flyback Chronograph 2185F from the 1990s. Actually, we will explore it in it‘s rare titanium version 2185F-1230A-55B.
A frequent question comes up in fora and other places where we discuss watches: among the two titanium versions of the Fifty Fathoms Automatique, which one to choose? Let‘s put them next to each other to allow for best informed decision making based on many photos in comparable settings and the two watches on different strap configurations.
This novelty is an addition to three existing Fifty Fathoms timepieces a lot of collectors have been anxiously waiting for: a titanium bracelet for the two Fifty Fathoms Automatique ref 5015 with black or blue dials and the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date ref 5050 with titanium cases.
Let’s take a look at a timepiece that is not necessarily in the center of the Fifty Fathoms collection, but highly appreciated by owners who actually take the watch by its purpose and therefore frequently for a dive… the 500 Fathoms, ref 50015.
Continue reading “Impressions of the Blancpain 500 Fathoms” →
This novelty was already announced at the end of 2018, but first shown to retailers and the press during the two Time to Move events: the Fifty Fathoms executed in brushed titanium, ref 5015-12B30.
Continue reading “A closer look at the Fifty Fathoms titanium” →
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.
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” →
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” →
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