Dear watch friends, I ask for your advice!

Mar 26, 2021,12:57 PM
 

Yesterday my AD called me and offered me a BP Fifty Fathoms with steel and PVD coating.

It is the model 5015-11c30-52a with the very special number 888.












The watch was hardly worn. I took a look at it in person today, it is in excellent condition and feels very good on the wrist.

How do you rate this model? I'm especially not sure about the PVD coating.

Thank you for your support and help!

Cheers
Thomas

P.S .: Sorry for the poor picture quality. The lighting conditions in the shop were not ideal. And the length of the strap would of course also have to be adjusted.

P.P.S .: My maxim in the meantime is that I only buy when I am 100% "burning" with enthusiasm ...
Here I am at 90% at the moment. But at least... ☺️


More posts: Fifty Fathoms

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

DLC is (supposed to be) unscratchable

 
 By: piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1) : March 26th, 2021-13:20
I sold mine when I realised it

New material

 
 By: Weems@8 : March 26th, 2021-13:36
DLC is new to me. I know Rado ceramic is also scratch proof. Why i haven’t bought one, and i am going on buying non scratch proof watches is a good question. The answer is probably that it is good to have some secure handling for a product, rather than bu... 

I wonder how

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-02:09
resistant and reliable DLC coating really is? What happens if you drop the watch? For example 20 cm on the table or 1,2 m on the floor? It never happened to me but it could one day. What happened to me from time to time that I knocked some of my poor watc... 

It happened awhile ago

 
 By: Weems@8 : March 27th, 2021-02:31
when my Tissot falls 1 m to the floor. On a blue Monday morning.

And what happened

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-05:00
to your Tissot? Cheers Thomas

I have a Breitling Chronomat with DLC since eight years ....

 
 By: Marcus Hanke : April 13th, 2023-10:09
... and certainly never saved it from the challenges of everyday life. It is one of my favourite vacation watches: The case shows no visible scratches. However, there are two tiny specks where the coating was perforated by apparently a sharp or pointed ed...  

Did you

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:49
think it was ceramic when you bought it? That had been my first impression before I did some research. Best Thomas

I exactly knew it was a coating treatment.

 
 By: piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1) : March 27th, 2021-03:21
And like any coating, it can be scratched.

Can it really be scratched so easily?

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-04:45
That is one of the main questions for me. I have done a little research (but I am not a physicist!). The name diamond-like-carbon means that the layer is as scratch-resistant as diamonds. DLC or Diamond Like Carbon is a different way to use the PVD proces... 

That were also my thoughts

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:57
when I first realized that the watch case is not ceramic but DLC. But in the meantime I’ve also read many positive things about DLC. It seems to depend how it is produced and combined with the steel case. I have read somewhere that the quality of DLC used... 

Dark Knight

 
 By: xxcesar : March 26th, 2021-14:20
Hi, As a long time owner of the so called dark knigt, I am not a neutral source. For sure I do not treat my watch well and never had any issues with the coating. If you are not fully convinced, wait jntil you are... ...  

Your personal experience

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:43
is very helpful, xxcesar. Are there activities you haven’t done respectively won’t do with your Dark Knight? Best Thomas

No

 
 By: xxcesar : March 27th, 2021-06:13
For me a diver like this one should have to stand all tool type challenges - never paid any attention on where to take or not to take it. It feels less vulnerable than a polished steel to scrateches, but of course if you try hard enough you will be able t... 

I have exactly the same attitude when

 
 By: MTR : March 28th, 2021-15:30
it comes to using a watch. Without trying hard to damage it. Thanks a lot for your input, xxcesar! Best Thomas

Why I hesitate is that

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:46
I don’t want to think about what I am allowed to do with the watch and what not. It has to be a reliable companion in all circumstances. That’s also the reason why I hesitated to buy a wonderful Panerai with a composite case. Best Thomas

A stunner!

 
 By: AlexSunrise : March 26th, 2021-15:39
I have been curious about this iteration of the FF recently, and I find it super cool! There is a thread here in the forum where by searching "Dark Knight" you will come across a technical description of the durability of the finish by esteemed Blancpain ... 

Thank you, dear Alex!

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:52
This is indeed very helpful!! I have to confess that I didn’t know that the watch is called “Dark Knight”. So I searched the web using the reference number but didn’t get very much information. Cheers Thomas

Love the watch

 
 By: myles721 : March 26th, 2021-16:38
Depends on how you wear it...safe queen fine but...ceramic definitely superior material...but it is a stunner...ugh tough choice...

I would wear it

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:41
- as all my watches - intensively. Cheers Thomas

Awesome but I would rather ceramic

 
 By: Gelato Monster : March 26th, 2021-18:53

Hmmmmhh

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:59
As far as I know just the Bathyscaphe models have ceramic cases. Is this correct? Best Thomas

Correct

 
 By: shortys home : March 27th, 2021-03:27

Thank you, Henrik!

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-04:47
I have seen that you own or at least have owned the Dark Knight. What is your personal experience? Many thanks in advance Thomas

I think you are reading the number upside down...

 
 By: mdg : March 26th, 2021-19:09
...it is actually 888.

Aaaah! Ok!!

 
 By: MTR : March 27th, 2021-01:39
Thanks a lot! 😆

I have seen the DLC flake off on this model ...

 
 By: dizzyhorophile : April 6th, 2021-12:41
This is a watch that I've also desired for quite some time - but I have seen a couple scenarios where the DLC would flake off... Nothing major, but if you look around online you'll find some photos of it. I'm sure you could always get it re-coated if it h... 

Thank you for your very important information.

 
 By: MTR : April 9th, 2021-09:28
Since it is not a "100%" watch (=a watch I like 100%) and I am not convinced about this DLC coating (look and longevity) I will pass. Cheers Thomas

I am looking at one of these…

 
 By: Ted O : April 12th, 2023-21:37
Like the Panerai Fiddy you helped me with, I find it unique.

Hi Ted, thanks for your PM! ☺️

 
 By: MTR : April 16th, 2023-21:24
I took another look at this – admittedly – ​​unique model. Yes, it's special, but the watch still doesn't appeal to me enough to change my initial opinion. I am very curious how you will decide. Cheers Thomas