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Blancpain

Hi Jeff, thanks for joining our discussions.

 

"So this movement is major news, which Blancpain in its typical style, is understating"

Major news, indeed. I was waiting for that movement for quite some time, at least since 2007 when BP introduced the Fifty Fathoms family.

The official press text only says: "... This year, the timepiece that is equally at home under water and in chic urban settings takes on board a new self-winding F385 movement featuring a flyback chronograph function.
This new Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe model houses a new 13-lignes Manufacture Blancpain movement beating at a rate of 36,000 vibrations/hour. It is equipped with a column-wheel chronograph mechanism and a vertical clutch. It also offers a flyback function enabling the wearer to reset and instantly restart the chronograph simply by pressing the pusher at 4 o’clock. ..."

I am aware of the new Villeret Chronograph as well, but this one is not even part of the press kit or at the press lounge!?

The official Basel News 2014 booklet shows at page six a graph about new movements from 2005 until today. Three new calibers in 2014 and one of them is F385. That´s it.

Not to mention that I was told that this new chronograph movement is exclusively for the FF Bathyscaphe ... at my presentation.

You may call it understating, but I think it is almost "stupid" not to talk about it. At least collectors, connoisseurs ... ask for more details and not everybody is in your position being internal.

Do I/we expect too much?

All the details/information you have for us, is more than welcome. Looking forward to it!

Cordially,
Oliver


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30 Comments view entire thread 

Blancpain Baselworld 2014: Blancpain Bathyscaphe Chronograph.

 
By: amanico : March 26th, 2014-22:42
43 mm brushed steel case, grey dial, automatic chronograph movement, beating at 36 000 vibrations per hour. Those who loved the Bathyscaphe, launched past year, will be happy... As for the Fifty Fathoms Fans, well... I am curious to hear what they think.....  

Just saw it a few minutes ago ...

 
By: small-luxury-world : March 27th, 2014-07:36
and it's a very interesting and nice watch. Not to mention the new chronograph movement :-) Other brands would make a big fuzz about it ...

New movement...

 
By: Ornatus-Mundi : March 27th, 2014-09:39
I noticed that it comes with 36.000 bph. It is an entirely new movement with a new architecture, or a further development of 1185F? Thanks, Magnus

Should be all new...

 
By: shortys home : March 27th, 2014-09:48
... with 13 lignes it appears not be an enhanced 1185.... And with respect to the watch itself: so nice! Well done, Blancpain! Henrik

...

 
By: fifty fathoms : March 27th, 2014-09:55
... not what I really exspected... I like: the stoppers, the ratio of the small dials at 3 and 9 do not like: the hands, the small dial at 6, it is overloaded interesting the new clockwerk and they will never make a new TR 900, because it is BP and not To... 

Calibre F385

 
By: small-luxury-world : March 27th, 2014-11:08
50 hour power reserve, 5 HZ, Silicon Balance Spring, Vertical clutch flyback chronograph (column wheel), glucydur free sprung balance Black Gold with Gold regulations screws

A first quick impression ...

 
By: small-luxury-world : March 27th, 2014-11:12
and not the best, but that's all I can do now. Sorry! ...  

Thanks - the jury is still out...

 
By: Ornatus-Mundi : March 27th, 2014-13:06
If you look at the balance wheel its quite moved inside, whereas with the 1185 it was almost at the outer scale of the diameter. Cheers, Magnus

That's one sexy watch IMO

 
By: AnthonyTsai : March 27th, 2014-10:27
Can't wait to see live pictures of this new Bathyscaphe! Cheers, Anthony

I'm one of those few people who liked the Bathyscaphe...

 
By: patrick_y : March 27th, 2014-12:03
I'm one of the few people who really liked the Bathyscaphe from last year. especially in the blacked ceramicised titanium with the green nato strap. That was awesome. Not sure if it'll be very classic in the long-run, but it was an awesome looking watch t... 

Well, I was expecting something more " in the roots "...

 
By: amanico : March 27th, 2014-12:10
Hence my disappointment... But it will certainly have its fans. After all, not everybody is obsessed by the Vintage FFs! Well, I have to precise that, nonetheless, I was and still am a big fan of the FF 50th Anniversary, and the later 2007 version. You se... 

That's true.

 
By: patrick_y : March 27th, 2014-12:14
Compared to the vintage Bathyscaphe, the new one is a radical departure. But it doesn't hurt to have a classic line and a modern interpretation line. But to use the hallmark "Bathyscaphe" is sacrilege to some. Perhaps they should've called it "50 Fathoms ... 

There were some curious vintage FF, I will try to take pics of some of them.

 
By: amanico : March 29th, 2014-00:27
You will see that in the Seventies, Blancpain had its touch of funkyness, to say the least... ;) Best, Nicolas.

Hi Nicolas. My first impression is it is a very interesting

 
By: timerider : March 27th, 2014-12:23
watch, with some good DNA of its predecessors but I really do not like the hands of hours and minutes. The other question for this water born watch is what is the Water Resistance? Thanks for all the reporting, fun but exhausting! Best to all, Tim

It's good to 300M...

 
By: craniotes : March 27th, 2014-13:31
...just like the three-hander. Regards, Adam PS - I love the ceramic chrono, but I've yet to see the steel version, which will also have a bracelet option.

Provided that you're still operating...

 
By: craniotes : March 28th, 2014-10:08
...yes, the pushers can be used at 300M without damaging the watch. Regards, Adam

Coming from a non-Blancpain purist...

 
By: Mostel : March 28th, 2014-14:50
I like it, generally... this is one of thos designs where the date at 4:30 MIGHT be all right... I also have a weakness for these blacked out watches... go figure. I bet this will be very nice. I do not like the original Bathy BTW...

A Brand New Movement

 
By: jkingston : April 3rd, 2014-10:07
Some questions on the forum about the movement which I hope I can answer. Of course Blancpain has abundant experience with vertical clutch designs from its decades of building the 1185 which has been the core engine of all its chronographs (and the moveme... 

Hi Jeff, thanks for joining our discussions.

 
By: small-luxury-world : April 3rd, 2014-10:40
"So this movement is major news, which Blancpain in its typical style, is understating" Major news, indeed. I was waiting for that movement for quite some time, at least since 2007 when BP introduced the Fifty Fathoms family. The official press text only ... 

Blancpain novelties

 
By: jkingston : April 4th, 2014-11:58
Hi Oliver A lot of understatement at Blancpain this year. And there was a lot that merited not understatement but fireworks. The new chrono is wonderful and made even better with the ceramic case in the Bathyscaphe. The combination makes for a perfect spo... 

Full ceramic?

 
By: gmark2800 : April 5th, 2014-10:17
Does anyone know if the Bathyscaphe chrono is all ceramic? (ie case back,pushers,crown, buckle) Thanks.

Are the pallet fork and escape wheel also in silicon?

 
By: celineybl : April 16th, 2014-22:00
Hello all, I'm new to The PuristSPro, I have a question on this watch, does anyone know if the pallet fork and escape wheel are also in silicon?

Welcome here, first! I don't have the answer, but my guess is ...

 
By: amanico : April 16th, 2014-22:46
That only the balance spring is in silicium, or our Jeff Kingston would have mentionned it. Jeff, or any other Blancpain Expert, will probably give you the answer. Best, Nicolas

Thank you! Yup I read the earlier posts

 
By: celineybl : April 17th, 2014-00:58
It was mentioned that the movement uses a silicon balance spring, don't think it has a silicon balance wheel. I saw the movement at BaselWorld, there are rubies on the anchor, so my guess is that it is not made in silicon, but I'm not 100% sure. Hopefully...