Blancpain

The Air Command was produced by Blancpain in the late 1950s for the US Air Force but only a dozen prototypes were made. The watch collecting public became aware of its rarity when such a piece was auctioned at Phillips in 2016 for 100,000 Swiss Francs. Perhaps prompted by this success, Blancpain decided to launch a re-edition last year, and the end product was somewhat faithful to the original. Here are the specifications:

- Caliber F3888 movement (derived from the Frederic Piguet 1185); the original Air Command housed a Vajoux movement

- Automatic (with propeller-shaped rotor in 18k red gold)

- Flyback Chronograph with Tachometer scale

- High frequency (36,000 beats per hour)

- Two-way rotating bezel with ceramic insert and Superluminova hour-markers

- Water resistance of 3 bar

- Case in steel with 42.5 mm diameter (42 mm for the original)

- Dial: sunburst black

- Limited edition=500 pieces

- Calf skin leather strap with stitches

- Case thickness=13.77 mm

- Reference AC01 1130 63A

Here are some wrist shots

And the case back

This, I must confess, is my second Air Command. I owned one some 10 years back when the AD erroneously told me it was a Fifty Fathoms. Right or wrongly, I soon parted with it. Hopefully. this version will be a keeper.

With the Coronavirus posing as a threat, there is nothing better than to stay home, do some reading and take watch pictures, don't you think?

Let's all stay healthy.

Best

Sam

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