WatchProSite

Blancpain

Got a chance to see the new FF No Radiation and my thoughts...

Mar 16, 2021,09:55 AM
 

I think it is a great looking watch and I really like the 40.3mm size. SADLY, I do not like the thickness as I find it disproportionate to the diameter. If it was 42mm and the same thickness, it would be more coherent.

Don't know why Blancpain made the watch this thick in the first place since the movement is actually quite thin. The watchmaker in the boutique actually agreed with me on this point. 🤷‍♂️

Things I like: * Bezel and demarcations * Tropic rubber strap * 4 day movement * Case size * No Radiation logo

Things I disliked: * Case thickness (too thick compared to the small daimeter) * Date window * A bit top heavy

All in all I have no doubts it will sell out but I have this sick feeling that Hodinkee, Revolution, or some other company will do a collaboration with Blancpain to make a similar model with a few tweaks to make it even more appealing. I really hope this does not happen as it dilutes the reference but whatever.

I forgot to take a bunch of photos but I did take a couple compared to my FPJ CB which wears almost identical in size. The difference is that the FF felt twice as thick on the wrist 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️








More posts: Fifty Fathoms

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

Good post and very clarifying side-by-side photo - thank's!

 
 By: lm6 : March 16th, 2021-10:09

Agreed and figured it would help others see the size and compare with something known as we don't all get to see these watches IRL most of the time 👍

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:17

I’m sorry to say this but all I see is a clown face or a face that looks surprised in the radiation circle. Can’t get past it. Otherwise it’s very nice. Just my $0.02 and I do like the Fifty Fathom series.

 
 By: edtonkin : March 16th, 2021-10:25

Hahaha!

 
 By: batholith : March 16th, 2021-12:38
I've got the earlier version on my wrist. Now that you've pointed that out I can't unsee it!

LOL Ed, never thought about that but I see it now. I still like the logo even though it is no longer relevant but it does have a cool story behind it 😎

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:19

haha... good observation.

 
 By: nacelle : March 18th, 2021-11:52

If the FF is so bulky

 
 By: Weems@8 : March 16th, 2021-10:28
Than this could be a character move. Water resistance can play a role, while the deeper a watch and diver can go, how bulkier the watch due the higher pressure the deep ocean delivers on objects. Helium gather in the case and want to escape.

In this case, too bulky for my liking but still a nice looking watch 👍

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:19

Thickness is obvious on your pictures. Give it the Batyscaphe case and here we are.

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2021-10:38

There we agree mon ami. The Bathyscaphe case would have been ideal and made it even better than it turned out 👍

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:20

Clearly. I still don' understand why Blancpain missed that detail...

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2021-13:21

Too focused on historical piece and not on what the buyers / collectors want 🤷‍♂️. Don't know if we are the majority in the grand scheme of things anyways 🤷‍♂️

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:28

Maybe maybe...

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2021-13:46

🤷‍♂️😕🤔

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-14:14

lugs & date window is kind a miss !

 
 By: mahesh : March 16th, 2021-10:42
the original lugs were beautifully tapered... cdt, mahesh.,

Yes, I didn't mention the date, but it was obvious. When I tolerate it on the Barakuda, here it is a no go.

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2021-10:45

The historic inspiration is the FF RPGA 1...

 
 By: shortys home : March 16th, 2021-10:58
... shown here on an official Blancpain photo and in a historic ad: Here’s the no date version RPG 1 or Bund No Rad: Cheers Henrik edit: sorry, sequence of historic ads is wrong in the post ...  

Yes, but the heart of the vintage fans beats for the no date only...

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2021-11:01

At least here on WPS it does mon ami 😉👍

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:25

+1

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2021-13:44

Thanks Hendrik for posting this. I'll take the RPG1 or Bund No Rad please 😉

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:24

Also prefer without the date even though I understand why they included it 🤷‍♂️😕

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:22

Well, here, I would clearly have preferred without date. As almost all the vintage FF Fans.

 
 By: amanico : March 16th, 2021-13:24

Agreed 👍

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:28

Here we agree Mahesh and as Nico suggested, maybe even the Bathyscaphe case 🤷‍♂️

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:21

Lovely-sized FF, but don’t care for the fauxtina of date window.

 
 By: Lankysudanese : March 16th, 2021-10:50
What’s the blue watch next to it? It’s kinda alright 😉

I'm OK with the fauxtina, as for the date wheel, I think a few of us are agreed on that. As for the blue watch next to the FF, how did that get there 😉🤣

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:23

Awesome pics Supreme Jedi, I would like the case to be 42MM..

 
 By: K-Lo : March 16th, 2021-13:18
I so so so so love the tropic strap!!!!!! Don’t mind the execution otherwise, don’t love it, but it’s quite cool.

Agreed on the 42mm being better in relation to the thickness of the case Ted. As for the Tropic strap, big +1 👍

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : March 16th, 2021-13:26

Agree with you. IMO it would be more compelling without the date window

 
 By: aperna : April 11th, 2021-09:38