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Part V: Face-Off Legend Divers Blancpain FF vs. Omega PloProf
Round 5: Casing, Dial and Crown
Blancpain FF
Very fine finishing, mirror polished all over the casing and crown with solid case back. It has soft iron inner case shielding the movement. While mirror polished casing is prone to scratches, but they are easy to be polished away.
It has the word "BLANCPAIN" engraved at the side
The solid case back is also highly polished and very glossy, engraved with the serial number. I am not sure whether the serial number is=running production number.
The solid case back with engraved serial number
The screwed-in crown is protected by protruded side casing and it is big enough for my finger to wind it.
Case Dimensions:
Thickness: 15.50 mm
Diameter: 45 mm
Lug width: 23 mm
The watch is rated 300 m (1000 feet) Water resistant, although it has a name 50 Fathhoms=91m. But I guess the name just pay tribute to the classic 50 Fatthoms.
Fifty Fathoms, but 300m WR (1000 feet)
The dial is perfect, the font size is just nice, not too big/small with beautiful raised markers. The domed sapphire crystal makes the watch very unique and beautiful. Blancpain spent long hours to design the crystal that capture the muscular ambiance of the 1953 original. The date window is located at the 4:30 position and the size of the window is adequate.
Simple and beautiful dial with proportionate font size
The curved sapphire crystal is outstanding
+ Beautiful case finishing
+ Crown size is just nice
+ The curved sapphire crystal is absolutely stunning
+ Antimagnetic case
- The wordings engraved on the case back is not alligned horizontally
Omega PloProf
Very chunky SS case with fine brushed and has polished bevels. PloProf is definetely the heaviest watch that I ever own. The Ploprof has an automatic helium escape valve located on the side of the case at the 4 o’clock position. This feature allows helium atoms to escape during decompression, and is particularly useful for professional divers operating from diving bells.
Helium valve
The Ploprof’s case cannot be mistaken for that of any other watch: the screwed-in crown is located at 9 o’clock with unique crown protector.
The unique crown protector, hallmark of PloProf
The centre piece of the two-piece oriented caseback features a background of straight, parallel waves with a polished OMEGA logo, the word “Seamaster” and the famous Seahorse on a matt surface. The centre piece is sealed in place with an outer screw-in ring with black-chromed engraving of “1200m/4000ft”, “Ploprof”, and “OMEGA 8500 Co-Axial Escapement.”
The case back with nice engravings
The Ploprof has a polished, lacquered black dial with an applied polished OMEGA name and logo. The polished indexes are coated with white Super-LumiNova, as are the varnished hour and seconds hands. The oversized minute hand is crafted from orange aluminium and is coated with white Super-LumiNova. The date window is at the 4:30 position.
Case Dimensions:
Inner diameter with bezel: 40mm
Outer diameter: 44mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Lug width: 24 mm
The PloProf is water resistant to an astounding 1200 metres (4000 feet).
1200m, too deep for a deskdiver like me
+ Excellent case finishing
+ Great case back engraving
+ Unique (hate it or love it) casing with trademark crown protector
+ Helium escape valve
Verdict:
Both are excellent in their case finishing, PloProf is more unique due to its design, but Blancpain's dial and the curved sapphire crystal make FiftyFathoms really special.
I cannot find any serious faults at both watches. Simply outstanding. [B]Five (5) Stars for both.[/B]
Part V: Face-Off Legend Divers Blancpain FF vs. Omega PloProf
Outstanding serial review, Hary . . .
I've been traveling lately but now I have read from Part I.
