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Blancpain

Hey Stephan.....

 


I don't think so that it is a different bezel. It's not a studio photograph and you can see that the watch is strongly lighted by the sun.
I think these are only reflections from the steel borders of the bezel. Also the whole watch and the bezel looks not round but oval and the black insert is much smaller on different places (3 and 9 o'clock)
The losange from the inlay, put at the 3 o'clock position, can only seen half!
Another indication of reflections is that you even cannot see the crown clearly.
But of course I am not certain and maybe Mr. Bridges got a special small bezel for his FF.
Sure is, that it is the big sized FF with the 3/6/9/12 dial without moisture indication. IMO there is only a one line printing at 6 o'clock on the dial, so that's what makes me believe in the 1000ft.

regards

Claude
This message has been edited by claude.f on 2010-02-03 17:02:00

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16 Comments view entire thread 

My vintage BP collection. Part 3: Aqua Lung -- 1000 feet

 
By: claude.f : January 31st, 2010-17:14
The 1000 feet Aqua Lung was the US version of the Fifty Fathoms and was only sold in the States. The 1000 feet was released later then the european Fifty Fathoms and was the very first watch with a guaranted waterresistance of 1000ft/300m. Even the later ...  

Wow, Claude!

 
By: dxboon : January 31st, 2010-20:05
Yet another beauty from your collection! I really love these old Fifty Fathoms. They prove the case that one doesn't have to sacrifice beauty in favor of practicality. You can have both. Cheers, Daos

Aaah, the 1 000 Feet!

 
By: amanico : January 31st, 2010-23:26
A strong and nice looking watch! Powerful, yet elegant with its 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 dial, its rectangular thin index markers, and its losange bezel, it is a watch to have in a nice FF Collection... Like yours! Thanks for this post, and ofr using this amazingly... 

Cool post and beautiful watch

 
By: shepcs : February 1st, 2010-18:02
you got to love lloyd brides. He was a veritable lesson in dive watches.

Thanks a lot guys!!!!!!

 
By: claude.f : February 2nd, 2010-03:59
Because of such great collectors like you, I always find the motivation to go on with my researches about these amazing Fifty Fathoms!! Thank you so much for your nice words!! best Claude

wonderful post...

 
By: FanFrancisco : February 2nd, 2010-06:10
very nice watch, can't believe you also managed to find the magazine cover. so perfect match, well done, man! stefan

wow

 
By: fifty fathoms : February 3rd, 2010-12:09
thank you again Claude, very interesting report. The watch on the magazine has a different bezel than yours. The outer metal ring seems much wider than yours and the bakelite inlay seems to be smaller, like on a military version ???? regards Stephan

Hey Stephan.....

 
By: claude.f : February 3rd, 2010-17:00
I don't think so that it is a different bezel. It's not a studio photograph and you can see that the watch is strongly lighted by the sun. I think these are only reflections from the steel borders of the bezel. Also the whole watch and the bezel looks not... 

O.K.

 
By: fifty fathoms : February 3rd, 2010-22:44
Hallo Claude your explanations about reflections and so on make sens ! Thank you for comment. best regards Stephan

some more very close-up pictures ;-)

 
By: claude.f : February 4th, 2010-01:10
Remember also that in the early 60's the printing quality wasn't on the same high standard then today, and it's only a reproduction of the original ! You can see very well a wide white border! best my friend --Claude...  

Thank you again

 
By: fifty fathoms : February 5th, 2010-05:13
... some may think so, some may think so..... hard to say, I think the outer rand is a little bit wider. I think to the different types from Bill Yao with his stingrays. The 50th the 60th and the 70th are different best regards Stephan

I have this same watch

 
By: tressa : December 1st, 2010-05:15
It's been sitting in a box for many years although it is not in as good condition as the one you have pictured. I am interested in selling it and hoped you could give me an idea on where to start.

Blancpain Aqua Lung

 
By: bethannaguilar : February 20th, 2010-12:11
Hi I came across your forum when researching the very same watch but could not find very much information via web. I have this very same watch but missing the band, in working condition I was interested in selling could you lead me in the right direction ... 

So, put a FS post on our Collectors Market.

 
By: amanico : February 20th, 2010-12:16
As for the price, sorry but as per forum rules, we don't give estimations, here. But I guess that if you want to sell it, you already have an idea about the price you want to ask? Best, Nicolas