E.J.
1852
What a nice and great post, Claude!
I´ve enjoyed the reading a lot, my friend.
Your research work made is impressive, for our pleasure reading it and admiring such a nice and cool early FF.
Huge congrats for your watch and for the work made.
Searching the net, I´ve found an earliest FF (Lip FF, certanlly) that has the hour and minute hands with the triangle in the extrem... but you must know that this model is a 35 mm model made for the CIEPM.
Your watch only has this kind of hand in the minute hand, and your hand is longer because your watch is a 41 mm. But them existed, of course.
Congrats and thanks again.... and waiting for part II!
Best, Claude.
Emilio
My vintage BP collection. Part 1: Fifty Fathoms
The FF was one of the first, if not the first, professional bezel dive watch! I think that it is not necessary to resume the history of this breathtaking tool watch for you, because you all know the background of this legendary timekeeper. So let's fly ov...
Interesting observations and a ...
cool vintage watch to look at. Thanks for sharing with us and I am looking forward the next part. May I ask one question: Does it bother you that BLANCPAIN is not a big help for doing research about their vintage pieces? Cheers Oliver
No Oliver, it does not bother me at all...
First of all, thank you very much for your kind words!!! I understand very well that Blancpain has no interest in putting money and time in vintage watches. They have to look forward and they must try to survive in this hard world of 'exclusive timekeeper...
I would have to disagree.....
I think that Blancpain should take time & effort to help vintage collectors.... A long history should be supported..... My 2 cents.... Cheers
Interesting POV´s and ...
thanks for your frank asnwer. From my POV, I would applaud more interest in their heritage. Should be a real asset, for both . They don´t have to burn money, because of taking care about vintage watches. Some of the "best" competitors are able to do so an...
I agree with both of you, Oliver and PP, but ....
I am sure that nowadays BP not have many informations about their vintage FF's. I also believe that the most watches were made by order in the past, and that there exist such a variety of different models that it is nearly impossible, even for them, to ge...
Now that's a great catch, Claude.
These 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 dials are sublime, and among my favourite in the FF Family. Sincerely, you did well to take it. The good thing with these Vintage FF is that you have to do a lot of homework before getting one. But it will always remain a part of Myst...
I will release the other one shortly!
Please be patient a little more ;-) Thanks a lot for your encouraging words!! HAGWE my friend!! best
Ok ok Nicolas, today is your lucky day!! A quick wristshot taken with my Milspec!
enjoy!! ) HAG8WE my friend!!...
Now that's a gorgeous Civilian Milspec, Claude!
Congrats, my friend, and welcome to the Club! That's a beautiful catch... Wow, I'm very happy for you, Claude. Best, Nicolas
Civilian Milspec! That's what I first thought, but....
non drilled lugs and microbillé case speaking against a civilian version! Big crown and dial speaking against military version! The small crown version also got provided by professional dive shops like MAR-VEL. A marriage watch?! Absolutely not!!!!! I hav...
The Civilian Milspecs came with the microbillé case, also.
And very few of them were used as Military watches. Non drilled lugs, but fixed bars? Here again, I know some military Milspecs with non fixed bars. Big crown? Most of the Military Milspecs came with the small crown, as well as the TR 900. So, the big cro...
Thanks a lot for your help Nicolas!!! :-)
Personnaly I don't care if it's a military or a civilian version! They both rock!!! ;-) best Claude
Can't agree more, mostly if we speak about such great specimen!
Can't wait to see your other pics on this marvel. I'm really in love with! Best, Nicolas
What a nice and great post, Claude!
I´ve enjoyed the reading a lot, my friend. Your research work made is impressive, for our pleasure reading it and admiring such a nice and cool early FF. Huge congrats for your watch and for the work made. Searching the net, I´ve found an earliest FF (Lip...
Some other important thoughts Emilio!!!!
Thank you very much for your pictures, I didn't noticed these hands before, but I was sure that this kind of hands must have existed Emilio, because the 2003 anniversary edition uses the same (but only the true 'series 1' edition)!! What I do not understa...
You see, Claude... how many answers around those amazing FF!
And, Imo, it´s an important thing that mades these watches so beautiful, so rares and so craziest! Because we become crazy people collecting and searching all the infos (no more infos) that are around this marvels. Yours is an awesome watch... I´...
Thanks a lot Jeff!!
I adore the earlier FF also, they are such great pieces!! HAGWE my friend!! Best P.S. Hope you're not angry because I posted a picture from your site earlier?
who knows more about these Aqualungs
Thanky you . The story of the FF is very interesting. For years I collect pictures from the www ( ebay, forum, sellers and so on). I found thes pictures from the Fifty Fathoms aqualung. With their wide luenette the aqualung look much more older than the f...
Hey Stephan...
The Aqua Lung was the US version of the Fifty Fathoms and only sold in the States. I must dissapoint you Stephan, but I am sure that the 1000 feet was released later. The 50 Fathoms (like the name says) was the first 100m waterresistant diving watch besid...
respect
Thank you Claude and respect for your knowledge !. Yes it helps me a lot. The AquaLung with its wide bezel has its own charme. There are so many Fifties I would to "finger" one time ! best regards Stephan
Thankyou Claude.. :-)
For a great and insightful presentation... I like the secrets or divergencies .. I am still short of a Blancpain divers, but I am everyday getting closer to a purchase tdue to articles like yours Best Hans