Blancpain

justpen
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To answer that question, one must first define what is a dress watch..

I am a fan of Blancpain and I follow their products well.

But given that for the last half a century  at least....... black, very dark blue, and or white have been the tones for formal dress.... and browns, tans  and chockolates have been casual atire.... this watch seems to me to be a contradiction.

To answer the question of this post, one must first define... what is a 'Dress Chronograph'.

Well it is probably a watch that records time, and enhances ones 'Dress'

Given that 'Dressed' is a term for putting ones best foot forward... as in 'Dressed Up'....  it could be said that a 'Dress Chronograph' is a watch that compliments ones appearance in a situation of presenting ones 'Best image'. Image being an acceptable display of ones taste, in ones atire and dress, for a formal situation or special occasion.

However the emphasis is on 'Best image' as in 'Dressed Up' as in a situation where one would wear a 'Dress watch'.... as in his best boots, best suit, best watch.

Lets, get to the point.

If we were to take a situation where one was say.... sitting in the Casino in Monaco, and having just won 34,000 Euro for having put 1,000 Euro on number 13, when the white ball stopped in the number 13 slot.... and then, as one reached out with both hands to collect their chips, and the tuxedo jacket and shirt sleves pulled back to reveal a Chronograph.... then that might well be a case for the onlookers to have a chance of assesing if our chronograph was a 'Dress Chronogrph'.

If our stretched up sleve revealed a Breitling Chronomatic, stainless steel Chronogrph with a rose gold diamond bezel, it would not be considered a 'Dress Chronograph'

Of course if the beautiful 28 year old princess sitting beside you commented,  'That is a nice chronograph' ... then you might be forgiven for thinking that you are wearing a 'Dress Chronograph'

But that is unlikly to happen.... unless her father is the major shareholder in Breitling.

However to answer this question seriously, I think a Gold Rolex Daytona, or a Chronoswiss Opus, might just grab a second glance from the beautiful 28 year old princess.

On the more expensive Rolex, she would possibly look, say nothing, make a judgment on your 'Dress', and think this guy is well 'Dressed'.

But... Hey... everybody here wears a Rolex.

On the less expensive Chronoswiss Opus, the beautiful 28 year old princess might look, think, that has a soft elegant look, he must be a gentle person....  and she might also speak, even to possibly just say... 'That is an intriguing  and interesting watch...... Is it a chronograph?'

Of course, if you answered her, than it might well prove that you have put your best foot forward..... and won the night...... but we would never know, because a well dressed person would be a gentleman... and a gentleman would never tell.

On the Blancpain Villeret Monopoussoir, I would think she might well say ' Why is this georgeous guy wearing a Chockloate Watch with a tuxedo .... unless of course you were wearing a chokloate tuxedo... in which case she might think how cool is this guy wearing a chockloate watch to match his chokloate tuxedo....... BUT I DO NOT THINK SHE WOULD THINK THIS.

Alternativly, she might think, why is this goose wearing a chockloate tuxedo...... and he even has a chockloate watch to match.

Well,  I have never seen a chockloate tuxedo in Monaco... or anywhere else.

So, despite all this confusion about what the 28 year old princess might think... or what Blancpain might think is 'Dress'....... I personally would say;

 'Yes....  there is,  and are... such things as......  Dress Chronographs'

I attach a couple of internationally recognised chronographs that I can reccomend.  I can even guarantee that they will make you socially acceptable in any 'Dress Joint'.

Having said that, I think the Blancpain is a very nice Chronograph, but as a 'Dress Chronograph', while it is subtle and elegant and very beautiful, I think it is more suited to the aft deck of the yacht in the Mediteranian for a sunday afternoon cruise .... for I have never seen a watch with a chockolate dial that would make 'Dress watch' .... and that includes some very off Patek Phillipe and even Rolex brown dialed watches.

In fact in most situations.... chockolate dials, brown suits, or brown cloths are looked upon as informal or casual wear.... and in most formal or dress situations, if you arrive in chockolate or brown, you will  only draw comments that you, the wearer, have very bad taste.

As I said in the begining... I love the elegance of this watch... but I do not think of it as a 'Dress chronograph'

Put a white, black, silver or even pearl dial on it..... and it might not be such an embarrasment for you if you wear it as a dress watch.

In simple terms.... If Blancpain want this watch to succede as a dress chronograph....they need to loose the chockloate dial.

For as it is it is neither your finger or your toe..... it is something inbetweem.

Ma Ma ...... Who Who.

Kindest regards,

Jack

P.S. The Rolex in this photo has a jet black dial... it is only the photograph that has a chockolate tinge and even that slight tinge of chockolate destroys the formality of this watch.