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Those are some really nice looking Blancpain watches.
Personally I do not care for the complication found in these watches but really do think they are good looking watches as to the questions over the standard of finishing on the movement a lot would depend on the price of the watch. As for me the higher the price of the watch the more I expect to see higher quality finishing of the movement.
Marc
I couldn't agree more with you.
A higher price implies higher expectations.
But I'm completely unaware of what was the asking price for these pieces more than 30 years ago.
Best, Emmanuel
But I'm completely unaware of what was the asking price for these pieces more than 30 years ago.
Best, Emmanuel
That’s why I complained about the finishing 😀
Blancpain was always very expensive so also back then the level of finishing was imo not good enough for the price they asked
And to be sure I went through my old books and catalogs to check the price
From a 1998 book
140.000 is ridiculous Some other watches from the same book to give you an idea
140.000 is ridiculous Some other watches from the same book to give you an idea
You've convinced me, Bruno!
I was totally unaware of the price asked back then and it is indeed ridiculous for this level of finishing.
You are completely right.
You are completely right.
You are 100% right to have done so even if it was a different time a watch that expensive deserves a higher standard of finishing than it received..
Marc
I think so too.
But amanico says it doesn't sound good. And Bruno finds it poorly finished.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
Thanks for showcasing these 👏🏻🙌🏻👌🏻
They are truly superb - so lovely being this understated 😊👍🏻
Yes, I like this 0033 reference quite a bit.
Alas, amanico says it sounds poorly. And Bruno finds it poorly finished (but I personally find the finishing ok for a watch from an 'industrial' brand).
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
The expectations to finishing in the 1980s were different…
So with that in mind I would say it was par for the course. But of course it is not something to get one excited in 2026 - the goalposts have simply moved 🤷🏻♂️
Yes, I guess you're right to put things into perspective.
That said, the catalog pages shown by Bruno above reveal the insane $140,000 asked for the watch more than 30 years ago...
Well, JCB was nothing if not ambitious…
And the competition would have been much less back in the day 😊🤷🏻♂️
The mechanism was introduced in the late 80s. The decoration of the ultra-thin Blancpain 033 caliber is not amazing, but did anyone do much better in that era?
Ultra-thin minute repeater mechanism, J.-P. Hagmann case, Gay Freres bracelet...
Aren't these characteristics of watches being promoted by popular resources now?
Aren't these characteristics of watches being promoted by popular resources now?
Bruno's argument is that for the exorbitant price they were asking at the time, the finish wasn't up to par,
and I must say he convinced me.
That said, the 0033 reference is still full of great qualities, as you rightly point out.
Best, Emmanuel
That said, the 0033 reference is still full of great qualities, as you rightly point out.
Best, Emmanuel
I love these references, definitely high on list. At this price tag (and I mean current prices) it is impossible to find a nice minute repeater (except pocket watches and the Portugieser that does not sound fantastic neither - regulator very loud).
As such, I would be more than happy to add one to my collection, as it looks like your average BP Ultrathin, with one of the most appealing complications, to me it ticks all the boxes, and I would accept a relatively poor sound and average finishes !
I feel very much like you.
But I would need to see one of these in the metal because how a MR sounds is important and I wouldn't like one with a very muted, uninteresting sound.
Best, Emmanuel
I just pretend the chimes aren’t working when I wear this
I bought it back when (and kept the other $135,000 in the bank). If I had paid full price, I would expect the movement to have been installed right side up OR the case to have been engraved properly!