Blancpain

Words are beyond Reality to describe this gorgeous Fifty Fathoms.

And sadly, pics too.

This Lip Blancpain comes with the Big Case ( 41 mm ), at the contrary of some others which are smaller, ( 35 mm ), like the French Military School Divers, for example.

I never saw in the flesh such a Lip Blancpain:



Neither in pics, even if, recently, our Dr Strong posted pics of some close ones, like this Beautiful example, coming with the big case:



The difference between these 2?

Look at the moisture indicator or Dr Strong's example, and now, look at the one I posted...

Not sure at all that on the one I posted, this is a Moisture Indicator.

Don't really know what it is, and if someone here can share with us some infos, you are more than welcome...

This Lip Blancpain is simply gorgeous, with its timeless " 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 " dial, which gets a superb patina.

The " circle" above 6 is just echoing to the beauty of this watch, too.



Big crown:



Drilled lugs:



And " Lip " engraved on the case back ( sorry, no pic ), but a classic case back with the usual writings " Automatic, Antimagnetic, Waterproof, Shockprotected " and a serial number which is 273 XXX.

An amazing and beautiful watch, indeed!

Enjoy.

Best,

Nicolas

You amaze us every time Nicolas !
This FF is also in an amazing condition, can't wait to see all the beautys in the flesh !

Are you coming by truck to London? To carry all the FF-weight ! LOL ....

Cheerio

Ze Bim

Not this one!

As for the truck, I'm afraid I don't have one, but I always travel light.

On a more serious note, these FF are awesome, they are a lot to have an extraordinary appeal and interest.

God, it would have been easier if I never crossed the way of a FF!



Thanks, my friend, and see you soon!

Nicolas

An honor and a pleasure admire all the marvels that you share with us.

This Lip FF is really interesting, I never saw another like this one. Curious, but appealing watch, indeed.

The FF are amazing watches.... some variations, many of them really rare birds, some forms of beauty.... a Story without end!.

Best hermano, and thanks again for all.

emilio.

PS: i follow drinking whiskey

LOL

This was the really first time I saw a FF Lip Blancpain with a moisture indicator, and it was an unforgettable experience.

My theory is on the way...

The more you learn, the less you know!

Best, Hermano, and don't drink too much, we have to velebrate something, soon!

Nicolas

this is a moisture indicator where the two colors have become very hard to distinguish because of moisture.

I have had the same phenomenon on one of my FF, where the two colors of the moisture indicator looked the same because of moisture and time:

Here's what your dial looked like when it was new, this is a NOS dial that I have in a drawer:

 

What a pity you sold it!!

Thanks for the pics and the informations, my friend.

Best,

Nicolas

Hi Dr Strong,

I believe that humidity has changed that NOS dial.

Moisture indicators are Cobalt Chloride impregnated paper so they start off blue.

When combined with water molecules, the Cobalt Chloride turns purple, then in combination with even more water molecules (the passage of time in the presence of humidity), it turns pink.

 

you're absolutely right.

               Jeff

No message body

my ignorance, but what does LIP stand for?

Cheers

Who used to do amazing watches, Pink Panther.

There are some nice cosigned watches, too, like this Blancpain Lip, or some Lip Breitling, for example.

Best,

Nicolas

Hi Nicolas,

Yet another great FF.

Re: The Moisture indicator: Is there a paper disk on this watch? It looks like just paint (?) The moisture indicators should be 2 part, one with the CoCl2 and one as a colour reference. I cannot see any split between the two. Interesting.

Also, from all the FFs you've inspected, what is the case finish? Are they all originally (except for the gold ones) bead-blasted?

The Circle looks much more like paint than like a moisture indicator, indeed.

When I looked at it, I paid a big attention on it, and I opted for a paint circle, rather than a moisture indicator.

As for the cases now,you mainly have 2 kind of cases, the sandblasted ( rarer ), and the polished.

On the military ones, I mean the TR 900, the MIlspec, they are all sandblasted, while on the Bunde, the case is polished.

Best,

Nicolas

...is underneath all the moisture indicators.  It would seem to make sense, as you would not want a black background to such an indicator.

And this one has been removed after going pink (I think this would just be a matter of time unless the watch was only ever opened in zero humidity). The indicators would be easy to make, but scary to apply to these vintage dials.

Thanks again for the info.

....... everytime I see a vintage FF, I demand she sees it. She is sick of me talking nothing but FF these dayz.

You never cease to amaze, thanks again for sharing , Nico !

 

for keep pumping us with all new knowledge