Blancpain

Something rarely seen? (With a thought for the great Miles Davis.)

Congrats to you!!

That’s a fraction larger than the regular series, which measure 43.00 x 14.90.
But it wears much smaller than its specs, like all FF and Bathyscaphes do. Not to mention the gorgeous lightweight. I will share the weight data later today.

I must say, I’ve grown tired of smaller watches. I wore 38 and less when the fashion was into bigger watches. Now that the trend is to smaller cases I rarely wear anything under 42mm. But that’s just me.

Yes. The diameter is measured at the bezel. The case is always 1mm smaller, in the Bathyscaphes.
I will share photos of it next to its steel sibling. They look exactly the same despite the specs. 

I’m of course wrong in assuming that everyone knows that the first iterations of the Bathyscaphe Flyback Chrono unveiled at Baselworld 2014 included grey sunray on steel, full black ceramic and this LE of the first blue dial ever on a Bathyscaphe, on grey ceramic that imitates titanium (but unscratchable). 

Thanks!
I’ve loved the Bathyscaphe since 2013, perhaps even more so than the modern FF, which I’ve loved since 2007. They are not “poseur” watches, yet they are amazing aesthetically and more importantly in the inside. The two star calibres 1315 and F385 are among the very finest in the entire industry, not for decoration but definitely for everything else. I don’t know any better sports watch movements than these two.

I own its cousin the GSOTM and I suspect the ceramic has a similar feel.

I guess the ceramic technology is the same, but yours looks more like polished steel, from these photos. A gorgeous effect, indeed!

Absolutely beautiful timepiece!

Thank you!
😽

Thanks for posting many nice photos.

Mind elaborating as to the technical details that draw you to the F385? I’ve been drawn to this piece recently (though in grey) and would like to learn more about the caliber.

I’ve taken photos for you in my copy of Lettres du Brassus from that time. I discovered the calibre at my local Blancpain Boutique. They invited me to try on one of the first units after Baselworld 2014. I bought my steel version then, which I am wearing right now btw.

Thanks for taking the time to post this. An interesting read about flyback implementation. Also very interesting to see how thin the movement is. Just wish they’d get into a thinner case.

The slim dimensions of the Leman chronos with the F185 make me pine further for a more slim implementation here.

At Baselworld 2014, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph (cal. F385) was immediately compared to two established benchmarks in automatic chronographs: the Rolex 4130 (Daytona) and the Zenith El Primero (cal. 400).
All three were — and still are — fully integrated, in-house, column-wheel movements.
Below is how the watch press and technical reviewers positioned them at the time.
⚙️ 1. Movement comparison table (2014 perspective)
Feature
Blancpain F385
Zenith El Primero 400
Rolex 4130
Frequency
36,000 vph (5 Hz)
36,000 vph (5 Hz)
28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Chronograph
Column-wheel, vertical clutch, flyback
Column-wheel, horizontal clutch
Column-wheel, vertical clutch
Power reserve
~50 h
~50 h
~72 h
Architecture
Modern, slim integrated layout; free-sprung balance with silicium spiral
Classic 1969 layout; lateral clutch
Simplified, service-friendly modern design
Shock resistance
Excellent; free-sprung balance
Average for vintage-derived design
Excellent; Paraflex + full balance bridge
Thickness (movement)
≈ 6.65 mm
≈ 6.5 mm
≈ 6.5 mm
Flyback function
✔ Standard
✖ No (on 400; later variants added)
✖ No
Date
✔ (instantaneous)
✔
✖
Finishing
High-grade: côtes de Genève, bevelled bridges, blackened rotor
Industrial but neat
Functional, austere Rolex quality
Launch year
2014
1969
2000
🧩 2. What critics said in 2014
📰
Hodinkee
(March 2014)
“The F385 is Blancpain’s statement that it belongs in the same conversation as Zenith and Rolex when it comes to pure chronograph engineering. The 5 Hz rate is not nostalgia but a technical choice for precision.”
📰
Monochrome Watches
“A completely new, fully integrated flyback chronograph. In many ways it takes the best of both the El Primero’s speed and the Daytona’s modern architecture, adding Blancpain’s finishing and flyback functionality.”
📰
A Blog to Watch
“Unlike the El Primero, which traces its design to 1969, the F385 was conceived from scratch with contemporary materials. It’s a 21st-century high-beat movement with Blancpain’s aesthetic refinement.”
📰
WatchTime / Europa Star
“Rolex still wins in simplicity and reliability, Zenith remains the historical legend, but Blancpain’s F385 may be the most sophisticated chronograph calibre in current production outside of haute-complication circles.”
💬 3. Comparative perception
Dimension
Winner (2014 reviewers’ consensus)
Comment
Technical innovation
Blancpain F385
Newest design, silicon balance, 5 Hz, flyback
Chronograph precision
Zenith / Blancpain (tie)
Both 5 Hz; Blancpain adds vertical clutch
Reliability, robustness
Rolex 4130
Simplest, longest-tested, easiest to service
Finishing / luxury appeal
Blancpain
Highest aesthetic refinement
Historical aura
Zenith El Primero
Iconic since 1969
Professional utility
Blancpain F385
Flyback, 300 m dive rating context
Serviceability
Rolex 4130
Modular ease and global parts network
🔍 4. Overall verdict from Baselworld 2014
Blancpain F385 was hailed as the most technically advanced new chronograph movement of Baselworld 2014.
Reviewers described it as “the modern heir to the El Primero spirit, but executed at Blancpain standards of finish.”
It positioned Blancpain as a serious engine-level innovator, not only a heritage diver brand.

Thanks! It is mesmerising in person. And the precision of this calibre is peerless, in my experience.

It is the second ceramic case that Blancpain has ever made. The first one was black in March 2014, and then in October 2014, this successful experiment with grey, which was later rolled out in non-limited edition for the 3-hands Bathy ref 5000. It is an experimental watch, like the blue ceramic case that came a year later but wasn’t continued in non LE.

reference used a different color case than the other models. I have been considering the black dial / ceramic model but am interested here (despite owning so many blue dials).

Also - mind sharing your wrist size? Watch is a great fit in you but proportions are keeping me away with 17cm wrists.

My wrist size is 17.5. The colour of the case is unique, to my knowledge. No other watch from any other brand has a ceramic case with this special dark grey colour, a bit brownish. It is similar to some variants of titanium, but when you really look at it it is obvious that it is not titanium. The cool thing is that there are (and probably will be) only 250 watches with this ceramic case colour. This message has been edited by India Whiskey Charlie on 2025-11-24 14:30:41