Briandumais
1159
Rare Air Command
What do you think of this Air Command? 
Notes
Unknown to the market, this smaller cased Air Command was only recently re-discovered. The current owner inherited the watch from his father, who discovered this watch with another Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in Marseilles in 1998. Upon its discovery, due to its unusual case size and markings, he acquired the Fifty Fathoms and drove to Blancpain in Paudex to have the second one inspected before purchase. To his astonishment, the letter stated that the watch had been ordered by Jacques Cousteau, the famed oceanographer in 1949. Amazingly enough it perfectly coincides with his departure from the French Navy and his founding of French Oceanographic Campaigns (FOC), and leasing his world famous exploring boat "The Calypso". It is unclear to how long it took for Blancpain to fullfil his request but one can assume that after the first batch had been delivered to the US Army, some prototypes were still being developed and delivered at a later date. The finish of the movement is definitely from the 1950's although it does not feature the stop-second feature as usually found on the Air Command as it was delivered much later. A rare opportunity to acquire a prototype diving wristwatch with fantastic provenance.
Rare Air Command
What do you think of this Air Command? Notes Unknown to the market, this smaller cased Air Command was only recently re-discovered. The current owner inherited the watch from his father, who discovered this watch with another Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in Ma...
Hi Brian
What the hell are you digging out Very interesting watch and history. Do you have more photos of the watch or of the owner with the watch on the wrist. Thanks for posting Stephan
Antiquorum
Hello This watch is on selling at Antiquorum Genève on the 12th of November 2017
Its coming up for auction.
At antiquorum Geneva, November 12, 2017 lot 492. Does anyone recognize the case? Brian ...
Type 20?
This reminds me a lot of the Breguet Type 20. Including case size and Valjoux movement. Of course, they did not have a Base 1000 chapter ring.
Since 1735
My small reptilbrain did not click when I was first reading this. But XX-FF is right. It sounds like a joke. I found this in the www. Very similar to the Cousteau watch. I would like to see the papers from Blancpain Marseille. ...
+ 1
Strange this chronograph ordered in 1949 which has a case similar to Aquastar Deepstar released in 1963 for Pre-Continent III? ()
very interesting,
that this watch ( specific this watch with a Bakeliteluenette for divers or any diviving watch? ) was ordered in 1949, also 4 years bevor Bob Maloubier invented the classic scuba diving watch with the rotating bezel! Anything is not round here.
See above
. To his astonishment, the letter stated that the watch had been ordered by Jacques Cousteau, the famed oceanographer in 1949.
Per Wikipedia he left the French Navy in 1949 then bought the Calypso in 1950
Close call that he would have ordered a watch in 1949
Waiting time: Blancpain beats Rolex ;-)
This watch was ordered 1949 and released 1962 as Antiquorum tells us on the auction page. I cecked all photos I found in the web wearing Jaques Cousteau a watch. I found him with Omega, Rolex and different others, but no one with wearing this specific wat...
Here is the paperwork from auction house.
I want to thank Bill for getting me a clear scan. ...
What does the letter say?
I tried to translate but got nowhere. Does it sound like its Jacques watch??? Brian
Here you are...
" After having seen your Blancpain Chronograph ref case xxx movement xxxx Cal 222Valjoux Flyback, black dial with the mention " Blancpain since 1735 and arabic numerals, we certify the authenticity of this watch in all its parts. " Made in our workshop up...
There is the since 1735 print
on older watches, but never on a diving watch and why selling an aviators watch when ordered a scuba watch. ... to many questions for an old man.... ...
Letter format is unusual
The stationary has no embossing that one might expect from a significant watch maker. It also does not look like anything official. I think someone photocopied a letter and made it up. No surprise I know.
Two photos credited to 1956 “The Silent World” featuring Jacques Cousteau.
I think the one of Cousteau is not from that film. ...
The game is afoot!
i just checked the Antiquorum auction results. Item 492—our AC— is not listed. However, I watched that lot sell. It opened and was immediately bid to 80.000chf from the floor. In well under a minute they declared it sold and moved on. I did not have audio...
Seems the watch was withdrawn from sale...
... not a big surprise, possibly better this way 😉 Cheers Henrik
Again????
I thought Bonhams was serious????? To come back to this "command air" It has already been sold at Dorotheum in Vienna a few years ago. Despite my report it was not withdrawn from the sale.