Blancpain rumors?

[gretch6364]

I think they could support having all three sizes in regular production (40, 42 and 45). It seems though that they charge so much more for the LEs and are trying to milk the market.

Depending on wrist size and style, everyone has different taste/desires. A 42 would be perfect for me with my 7 3/8 wrist.

[GADNYC]

There is also a capacity issue. Blancpain makes about 15,000 watches a year, Rolex pumps that out in a week. Demand for a FF 40 or 42 non-limited edition would be off the chart and BP couldn't deliver.

Originally Posted by gretch6364

I think they could support having all three sizes in regular production (40, 42 and 45). It seems though that they charge so much more for the LEs and are trying to milk the market.

Depending on wrist size and style, everyone has different taste/desires. A 42 would be perfect for me with my 7 3/8 wrist.

[[email protected]]

I think BP has proved they can fit their 1315 into a 42mm diver via 70th act 1. Hence a 42mm diver is very likely.

[bobernet]

Originally Posted by rdragon

Congrats! Size looks great on you. Likely way too early, but what do you like more about the new 42 vs your OC3 so far?

Definitely too early. Sorry for the late reply. I’ve been on holiday, and as it was a boating / water vacation, wore the new BP non-stop.

It is more legible with better lume than any of the 40s. The anniversary text is less obtrusive than the OC logo. The date disappears when you don’t want it, because of the hour marker size.

The two criticisms I have so far are:

I don’t like the NATO strap. It makes the watch sit higher, and the buckle is way off center on my wrist.

The watch feels too thick. This might be more about the NATO as noted above, but the case back also seems very thick. I’ll have a better idea once I swap straps. I have a sailcloth and rubber to try, but the .9mm allen wrenches I ordered are too small, and just slip. So, I’m waiting on more wrenches.

Overall, I really like this offering.

[rdragon]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Definitely too early. Sorry for the late reply. I’ve been on holiday, and as it was a boating / water vacation, wore the new BP non-stop.

It is more legible with better lume than any of the 40s. The anniversary text is less obtrusive than the OC logo. The date disappears when you don’t want it, because of the hour marker size.

The two criticisms I have so far are:

I don’t like the NATO strap. It makes the watch sit higher, and the buckle is way off center on my wrist.

The watch feels too thick. This might be more about the NATO as noted above, but the case back also seems very thick. I’ll have a better idea once I swap straps. I have a sailcloth and rubber to try, but the .9mm allen wrenches I ordered are too small, and just slip. So, I’m waiting on more wrenches.

Overall, I really like this offering.

Hope it was a blast.

Agree. Yeah, would be nice w/o the anniversary text but I guess that's slightly better than having "limited" on the dial. They did great with the date window on this version. With it being the exact length of hour marker and rectangle, it really does blend in perfectly. Maybe the best iteration of the date window.

Is the date window on the OC a trapezoid? Can't tell if that's due to angle of pictures or if it really is not a square/rectangle.

An odd question, but which crown guard to you like better? I haven't handled any of the 40mm but really like how the crown guards look in pictures. Does it make much of a visual difference in real life?

Keep us posted on your strap changes. That's good to know the .9mm doesn't work. I thought that was the size I saw others mention in the past. Let us know what hex size ends up fitting.

[ads75]

Originally Posted by bobernet

The two criticisms I have so far are:

I don’t like the NATO strap. It makes the watch sit higher, and the buckle is way off center on my wrist.

The watch feels too thick. This might be more about the NATO as noted above, but the case back also seems very thick. I’ll have a better idea once I swap straps. I have a sailcloth and rubber to try, but the .9mm allen wrenches I ordered are too small, and just slip. So, I’m waiting on more wrenches.

Overall, I really like this offering.

I agree with you on the buckle being way off center of my wrist. I only have 2 holes left for where I wear it (7.25ish wrist), and it pretty much puts the buckle at 3 o'clock on my wrist, if the watch is at 12 o'clock. But after thinking about it, I think it may be better where it is, less likely to get scratched up on desks when typing (I know, desk diver).

On a Blancpain Instagram post today, they announced a range of new NATO straps (which do no good if you don't like NATO straps), but left no details, no sizes, no widths, no prices, just "visit a boutique".

I also ordered some .9mm allen wrenches (generic brand from amazon) and the one wrench I tried just free spun and didn't do anything, and I didn't try hard since I was more worried about stripping the screw with a fit that loose. I held up a 22mm Artem strap I have on another watch to my BP, I am not sure it would fit, would definitely need squeezing. But that strap also has quick change spring bars, not sure how compatible that would be with the BP allen screws.

[rdragon]

Originally Posted by ads75

I agree with you on the buckle being way off center of my wrist. I only have 2 holes left for where I wear it (7.25ish wrist), and it pretty much puts the buckle at 3 o'clock on my wrist, if the watch is at 12 o'clock. But after thinking about it, I think it may be better where it is, less likely to get scratched up on desks when typing (I know, desk diver).

On a Blancpain Instagram post today, they announced a range of new NATO straps (which do no good if you don't like NATO straps), but left no details, no sizes, no widths, no prices, just "visit a boutique".

I also ordered some .9mm allen wrenches (generic brand from amazon) and the one wrench I tried just free spun and didn't do anything, and I didn't try hard since I was more worried about stripping the screw with a fit that loose. I held up a 22mm Artem strap I have on another watch to my BP, I am not sure it would fit, would definitely need squeezing. But that strap also has quick change spring bars, not sure how compatible that would be with the BP allen screws.

+1 I found the buckle near 3 odd at first, but after a while, it's not bad and seems comfortable. It's nice that it's out of the way when at a desk.

As for the new nato's, they are 23 mm - for the 45 mm FF's and the bathyscaphe's.

[bobernet]

Sailcloth from Artem. Much better.

[Notimetodie]

bobernet, that looks great! I assume it is the 22mm size? what did you end up getting for the hex tool size (and would you please post a link to it?) a couple people who have the new act 1 confirmed it is indeed 0.9mm...

[rdragon]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Sailcloth from Artem. Much better.

Looks great!

Originally Posted by Notimetodie

bobernet, that looks great! I assume it is the 22mm size? what did you end up getting for the hex tool size (and would you please post a link to it?) a couple people who have the new act 1 confirmed it is indeed 0.9mm...

+1. Is that the loopless or the classic? Did the hex screw have loctite or was it easy to undo?

[Rolextellstime]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Sailcloth from Artem. Much better.

Looks amazing, can't wait to get my straps that were ordered.

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

[bobernet]

Originally Posted by Notimetodie

bobernet, that looks great! I assume it is the 22mm size? what did you end up getting for the hex tool size (and would you please post a link to it?) a couple people who have the new act 1 confirmed it is indeed 0.9mm...

It is 22mm. .9mm is the right size, but the first set of tools (traditional L wrenches) were probably undersized. The second set of tools I bought fit just right, but there is some type of thread locker, and they did not come apart easily. This feels like a solution in search of a problem.

These didn’t work: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These did: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

When I installed the Artem strap, I used normal springbars.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Jorge Borbolla]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Sailcloth from Artem. Much better.

Stunning! Congratulations!

[ads75]

The Artem looks great. When Blancpain emailed me about my Act One delivery, I wrote that I would like a Sail Cloth option, and they said there would be more options toward the end of the year. I was guessing Act III would be a Bathyscaphe variation LE, but maybe its another Fifty Fathoms using the same 42.3mm case as Act I.

[Rolextellstime]

Just received my new straps. Here's on the black sailcloth. Will try the brown one in a couple of days. 20230808_011214.jpg20230808_011323.jpg

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

[Rolextellstime]

Here it is on the brown strap. 20230811_132950.jpg

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

[usmc_k9_vet]

Originally Posted by Rolextellstime

Here it is on the brown strap. Attachment 1385581

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

Looks awesome. I am really considering adjusting some things in my collection to obtain a titanium Fifty Fathoms on sailcloth. I find that with my lifestyle I’m wearing a diver almost 100% of the time, and the FF is an amazing icon. Yours looks great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BlueIn2Red]

New release coming on the 29th - "Blancpain will highlight its secular know-how" is what my invitation says! There is also a picture of a moonphase in the email. Anybody heard anything more about what it's likely to be?

[Batmannr1]

Originally Posted by BlueIn2Red

New release coming on the 29th - "Blancpain will highlight its secular know-how" is what my invitation says! There is also a picture of a moonphase in the email. Anybody heard anything more about what it's likely to be?

No info received. Just a guess.
Probably a perpetual calender. It is a leap year after all.

[BlueIn2Red]

Ah yes that would make sense…

[saxo3]

"Introducing Blancain's latest Villeret
Quantième Perpétuel.

The colour adorning the elegant sunburst dial recalls the fir tree forests of the Vallée de Joux, where this perpetual calendar is crafted by the skilled watchmakers of the Grandes Complications workshop. Paired with a rich brown leather strap, it symbolizes the abundant legacy of a region that has nurtured watchmaking excellence for generations.

Accentuating the timepiece's look, the Villeret collection's signature double-stepped case (40 mm here), hands and hour-markers are made of red gold, providing a captivating contrasting touch to the pleasing aesthetic appeal of this timepiece glowing with warm colours and Blancpain's recognisable moon phase."

[saxo3]

Price 50'600 USD (info from BP homepage)

[Rolextellstime]

Looks amazing, the shade of green on the dial fits perfectly with the hue of the gold case.

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

[bobernet]

I wish they’d ditch the useless scale on the moonphase. Otherwise, very sharp looking watch.

[Easy E]

That's a very nice looking piece.

[Easy E]

Next rumor up...the SS 42mm FF

[WatchEater666]

Originally Posted by Easy E

Next rumor up...the SS 42mm FF

Would be nice! I don't get why only limited editions have been done in sub 45mm sizing...lol

[bobernet]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

Would be nice! I don't get why only limited editions have been done in sub 45mm sizing...lol

Because they sell… at a premium… and BP makes money.

[Crashblue]

Prices have gone up around 8% at least in Germany.

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by Easy E

Next rumor up...the SS 42mm FF

Will not happen soon this year.

2023 was the Fifty Fathoms year with three different 70th Anniversary FF watches.