Blancpain Fifty Fathoms review
Discussion
I know I said I'd write one as the watch was so good and I was never going to sell it. I am selling it on Monday 
This hoved into view at a price I could't say no to; yes it's busy, yes it's pointless, yes I don't care. It's clever, it's beautiful and above all it's interesting. A complete calendar and moonphase on a 300m diver. Why? Why not!
This hoved into view at a price I could't say no to; yes it's busy, yes it's pointless, yes I don't care. It's clever, it's beautiful and above all it's interesting. A complete calendar and moonphase on a 300m diver. Why? Why not!
marcelg said:
Very nice Lewis - is this the influence of the TZ Sales Corner?
I have another 10 days or so until I can access it - I am dreading and looking forward to it in equal measure!
Not a tz-uk deal, a semi-personal transaction and a great trade in price at Watchfinder... It was quite complex, quite quick and all done after plenty of hospitality I have another 10 days or so until I can access it - I am dreading and looking forward to it in equal measure!
HarrySmash said:
A lovely watch, what did you trade it for may I ask?
You may not 
Edit; if you mean what watch did I trade it for, it was my Fifty Fathoms chronograph. So a slight colour change and a complete calendar function acquired. Kinda cool...
Edited by yeti on Saturday 23 November 13:50
Sorry about the lousy picture, just a phone shot when saying goodbye; the old vs the new! The FF Chrono has been my favourite watch for a while but after seeing the Quantieme Complet... it began to look quite ordinary.
A quick glance at the time or chronograph, it looks no different to the standard FF chrono; it's only when you take the time to look that you see the decoration (flinque) on the dial and the calendar functions. The moonphase is extremely subtle, you only see it if the light catches it; a very pleasing effect. Each function can be adjusted on the move and at any time of day or night just with your fingernail; patented of course and extremely clever as the watch maintains its 300m WR - all functions can be used at maximum depth. Irrelvent; yes, but then so are most feats of engineering in watch terms The sapphire crystal bezel is a deep dark blue as well and lume is terrific on that and the whole watch.
The caseback is sapphire (although a very small aperture) and the rotor is shaped like a nautilus which is a fantastic looking thing unlike anything I have seen before and extremely nicely done. Case number is very low as befitting a new model - I have one of the first 150
Instead of the pin buckle of the standard watch, this has come with a deployment clasp which is vastly better and makes the watch much more comfortable. Has a silly adjustment system that needs a screwdriver but it's not going to be fastened over a wetsit really is it; BP themselves declared it a 'yachting watch'. Strap is rubber lined sailcloth, suits the watch. I will have a bespoke rubber one made up and I think a nice thick dark blue calf as well.
This one is staying for a while
A quick glance at the time or chronograph, it looks no different to the standard FF chrono; it's only when you take the time to look that you see the decoration (flinque) on the dial and the calendar functions. The moonphase is extremely subtle, you only see it if the light catches it; a very pleasing effect. Each function can be adjusted on the move and at any time of day or night just with your fingernail; patented of course and extremely clever as the watch maintains its 300m WR - all functions can be used at maximum depth. Irrelvent; yes, but then so are most feats of engineering in watch terms
The sapphire crystal bezel is a deep dark blue as well and lume is terrific on that and the whole watch.The caseback is sapphire (although a very small aperture) and the rotor is shaped like a nautilus which is a fantastic looking thing unlike anything I have seen before and extremely nicely done. Case number is very low as befitting a new model - I have one of the first 150
Instead of the pin buckle of the standard watch, this has come with a deployment clasp which is vastly better and makes the watch much more comfortable. Has a silly adjustment system that needs a screwdriver but it's not going to be fastened over a wetsit really is it; BP themselves declared it a 'yachting watch'. Strap is rubber lined sailcloth, suits the watch. I will have a bespoke rubber one made up and I think a nice thick dark blue calf as well.
This one is staying for a while
yeti said:
HarrySmash said:
A lovely watch, what did you trade it for may I ask?
You may not Edit; if you mean what watch did I trade it for, it was my Fifty Fathoms chronograph. So a slight colour change and a complete calendar function acquired. Kinda cool...
Edited by yeti on Saturday 23 November 13:50
HarrySmash said:
Yes I meant which watch did you trade for. Thanks for posting the comparison picture
Wish I'd got a better picture now - won't get the chance again obviously 
I'd like to see what a decent photographer could do with this, google the BP press photos and they're awful, a non-realistic bright blue with a big stupid-looking tin foil shiny moon. I had zero interest in this until it was handed to me and there was an actual 'wow' moment.
One of the huge plus points for me was the hightly lumed bezel and the fact the lume has a slight yellowing (possibly due to the bezel being made of sapphire) with gave the watch a lovely tropical/vintage feel. This carries it over, with the blue as well. A unique effect.
Fear not Lewis, someone on the internet has done the work already in most cases.
http://www.boutiquelesmontres.com/phototheque/500/...
http://www.passionmontres.com/IMG/jpg/blancpain_fi...
http://chronoscope.ru/2013/08/blancpain-fifty-fath...
http://www.watchtime.com/watches/upload/s.51_blanc...
http://www.boutiquelesmontres.com/phototheque/500/...
http://www.passionmontres.com/IMG/jpg/blancpain_fi...
http://chronoscope.ru/2013/08/blancpain-fifty-fath...
http://www.watchtime.com/watches/upload/s.51_blanc...
The Russian site above has captured it quite well in some of their photos; the rest show it to be that BRIGHT blue, which it isn't if the flash isn't on it 
Still wearing it, two days in a row now. This could be a record if it stays on all week...
Itching to wear the Planet Ocean though
Still wearing it, two days in a row now. This could be a record if it stays on all week...
Itching to wear the Planet Ocean though
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