Blancpain

Hi,

 

Just wanted to share a few shots of the Bathyscaphe Chronograph.

 

Since I have not started to explore the Vintage World of Blancpain I can't say anything about the historical correctness or significance of the Bathyscaphe....

 

But I do like this case a lot!

 

 

The brushed surfaces, the sharpe edges....

 

 

The grey color gives the watch a very modern and cool look, IMO.

 

 

 

Best

Blomman

Hi Blomman,

Thanks for posting these fine images of the best new Blancpain in years. It successfully captures the character of the marque; this is the kind of upscale contemporary sports reference that Breguet, for all of its heritage, cannot provide within the Swatch Group.

I feel that Blancpain has been struggling to define itself since Breguet came aboard the Swatch wagon and received the lion's share of the attention among the haut-de-gamme brands. While Swatch succeeded in reviving Breguet and defining its public image, the original haute horlogerie house, Blancpain, lost much of the momentum that it built during the late 80s and 1990s with the Leman models.

While the 2007 Fifty Fathoms was a tour-de-force, the demise of the Leman and halting steps with the misguided L-Evolution series seemed to cost Blancpain its identity in recent years. I feel that this Bathyscaphe Chrono's combination of elegance, original technical innovation, and everyday durability gives the company another pillar on which to build alongside the Fifty Fathoms.

I can see the Bathyscaphe line becoming what the Leman line was to Blancpain for years; a versatile and sporting contemporary haute horlogerie platform.

Best,

Tim

I must confess that my knowledge about Blancpain or Breguet for that matter is too limited to have an opinion about the "Swatch effects"....

upon reading your very well written thoughts , Tim_M, I realized that this new chronograph movement would be an excellent base for a new blancpain sports line. If it isn't in the plans then why bother sponsor the Blancpain Endurance Series?  After all, there is not a real need for a 300m WR watch inside of a racing car, right? A cool chronograph always looks at home there. There's even a date @4:30 to remind the Le Mans' 24hrs tired racers which stint they are in that can be read with the arms glued on the steering wheel.

It is a rather pleasant offer, with no historical connection. I prefer it to the Bathyscaphe time only, to be honest.

Best,

Nicolas

Take some shots of the time only soon...

No message body

No message body

It has real nice wrist presence. It looks better on the wrist to me then just by itself.

No message body

But I would not try it!

Why wouldn't you try it? Do you not trust Blancpain? Why buy a watch from a company whose claims of WR you do not believe?

Yes, pushers are water resistant when the watch leaves the Manufacture.

No message body

You'll be really dismayed with the ceramic bathyscaphe chrono. It has a snap on back(not screw on).

I did and the NYC botique says it will be delivered around March, just wondering if I anyone is looking to buy that version 

I am told that all 250 have been ordered.  Now that does not mean that the retailers have already sold them.  It means that Blancpain will have no more in stock itself.  So I jumped to place my order.

Did you reserve at a boutique or retailer? I am wondering if I jumped the gun and made mistake in paying full price, I called a couple of retailers but they were unsure whether they could get it so I locked mine in at the NYC boutique.