Only six months ago I introduced my vintage Bathyscaphe MC4 to you. I purchased the watch from Wind Vintage in Florida and had sent it to the Blancpain Vintage Workshop for authentication and a subsequent service. Now that little marvel returned home and it my utmost pleasure to share the results with you.
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Before we dive into the details, let me direct you to the original blog post from November 2023. To see the Bathyscaphe prior to service just click here.
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The scope of service/restoration
The Blancpain Vintage Workshop gave me various options for works to be carried out when the authenticity was determined and the analysis report was shared with me. I opted for just the technical service, the manufacturing of necessary parts as well as the replacement of the crystal and crown gasket. Besides that the case, movement, dial and hands had to be carefully cleaned, a polish of the case was not chosen by me.
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Since the watch had conformity of every single part confirmed, I also asked to have the original scratched and crazed plexiglass returned, to. The idea was to have all aesthetic components untouched, so the 60 year lifetime of the timepiece is preserved. A very nice aspect is the laser engraving done by the Vintage Workshop to help the identification of the particular timepiece. This is a commendable step towards more transparency and security in the world of vintage Blancpain.
Together with the watch I received the documentation of the works performed and the movement performance. Some large photographs of my watch and its service were part of the documentation, too.
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The results
The cleaning of dial, hands and case make a noticeable difference of course, but without changing the patina of this vintage marvel at all.
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The new non-scratched/crazed crystal offers a better view on the dial and hands, which still show the nicely matching aged radium.
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The bezel was very loose prior to service, which is no surprise given the broken spring. Now it sits firm in position and needs a good amount of force to move it. All scratches and dings noticeable on the case and case back are still evident, as they should be in my opinion.
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The feeling on the wrist did not change of course, only that knowing this small beauty has been taken good care of and that it’s ready for future adventures.
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Being truly dedicated manufacturer taking care of their historic timepieces in a truly responsible and sensible way is another important difference Blancpain makes in terms of customer service. The work of the Vintage Workshop and the related two year warranty makes sure the Bathyscaphe MC4 from the early 1960s is now perfectly in shape to tick in perfect rhythm for many more years.
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You find further information on the Vintage Workshop and its ethics here on the Blancpain website. My visit to the Vintage Workshop (formerly Vintage Atelier) is available here in the blog.
Again, the initial post on my Bathyscaphe MC4 can be found here, an essay on a restored Fifty Fathoms RPG1 here and a similarly treated FF RPGA1 here in the blog.
I hope you enjoyed this update on the Bathyscaphe MC4 and the photos.
Cheers
Henrik