Blancpain

Some answers.

If you bang your watch on a wall, it is evident that you may damage it.

It is not adviced to practice sports with your watch, with any mechanical watch, by the way. Think about it, when you play tennis, or golf, the rotor and the delicate parts of the movement will be in danger at the moment you hit the ball...

But you can swim and dive with it without any fear, of course.

The Cal 1315 is a very good movement, but a Rolex would be more accurate.

As for the resale value, it should not be your most important criteria. It is less easy to resale than a Rolex Submariner, for example.

Buy it because you love it, not because it will keep its value.

Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-11-02 15:14:20

but this statement "The Cal 1315 is ..., but a Rolew woukld be more accurate." is questionable from my point of view.
Mine is the most the accurate watch I ever had (since 2007) and I know it is not the only one

Oliver

Per day, while most of the Rolex owners will tell you that their watch are accurate within 3 secs per day.

I even saw some Rolex which ran 5 secs fast ... Per month.

I had one like this.

Though, the Rolex movements are generally less... Spohisitcated than the Cal 1315.

That is true.

Best,

Nicolas.

... with some of my own experience.

When it comes to the accuracy of the Blancpain calibre 1315, there is indeed some variance to be observed. I own 6 models, and I experienced rates of +1 and also + 8 per day. I asked the Blancpain Boutique in Munich to take care of my +8 watch, it took them 1 hour and now it is running at +1 sec per week!

I have owned 3 Rolex sports models in the past 3 years, all brand new, and only one of them ran within chronometer specs!

Now, I am biased for sure, but out of own experience. But in my view the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is surperior to any Rolex sports model in almost every dimension, other than short term re-sale value. But once you own a FF, why would you want to sell it soon again???

Cheers
Henrik

No message body

- Quality: Superb! Very reliable since 5 years and it is my "beater" watch - regular FF, but same movement. Finishing is quite good for a sports watch, but not Haute Horlogerie
- Service: My experiences are outstanding, because even when there was something like a problem they have been more than helpful. But I can´t promise that it is the same everywhere, because it is more about the people behind and not the brand.
- Value: Like with most watches, bad - shortterm. Longterm, who knows ... ;-) If you look for financial value only, ask your banker. If you can trust him ... ;-)

If you really like it, go for it. It is a great watch!

Good luck with your decision!

Oliver

I've had three FFs - all the regular Sport model and still have two

No problems and they have all been accurate, between +1.5 and +3.5 /day with no special resting position overnight

The long power reserve (120 hrs +) is great for obvious reasons, although the watch is a pleasure to wind

Blancpain is well-supported in Australia, with service centres in Melbourne and Sydney and my local AD is helpful (even purchasing their own strap-changing rig and changing customer straps/bracelets for free).  Servicing is done by category and the costs are around the same as for Rolex.  Only the Category 3 and above (high / grand complications need be returned to Switzerland).  The US experience may be different.

Not really sure about resale...  I imagine to figure on a drop of about 40%, possibly a bit better than other Blancpains.  Obviously comparing any watch to a Rolex Submariner in regard to resale will be unfavourable.

Good luck   : )

This message has been edited by Psmith on 2012-11-02 18:45:22

I really appreciate and thank everyone who took the time to respond. I still haven't pulled the trigger, but the list is getting a lot shorter.

That TtAL looks so good on your wrist, I keep coming back to take another look   : )

Just a suggestion...  If you prefer a brushed finish there is a new FF available (shown at Basel last year and now on the Blancpain website), ref 5015D-1140-52B

Same hands and bezel as the Sport version, but in a dark blue and with the same satin-brushed case as the TtAL.  The dial has the same finish as the complete calendar chrono model (blue flinqué).  Solid caseback and antimagnetic as per the Sport version

This message has been edited by Psmith on 2012-11-07 01:25:43 This message has been edited by Psmith on 2012-11-07 01:26:54

do you think this is in line with the sports watch theme?

I have not seen the dial in real life...   well, actually I have (sort of), on the Complete Calendar chrono

I like it, although I expect others would prefer a plain dial like that used on the WG LE

I think it's good that Blancpain are giving us a choice, whereas a steel Rolex Sub (for example) is only available in black or green