Blancpain Fifty Fathoms new limited edition unveiled on the 15th of March

[PBJ1925]

Originally Posted by NardinNut

Arrived today

Congrats! How's the comfort of the strap?

[NardinNut]

Originally Posted by btinl

Very nice. What are your initial thoughts?

I haven’t had a chance to compare side by side with my hodink MilSpec yet. It definitely has more of a luxury look to it vs the MilSpec (polished vs brushed). The MilSpec has the cooler vintage tool watch vibe to it to me. Overall tho I love it. Once I get the x71 bracelet I’ll see which it works better on. I’ll likely eventually decide which to keep longterm but for now I’ll keep both

[NardinNut]

Originally Posted by poweredbyjae

Congrats! How's the comfort of the strap?

It’s fantastic. Now I see why people were buying it for the MilSpec.

[Chinballs]

Already one up on Chrono24 from a private seller.

MSRP: $AU19,500
Chrono24: ~$AU31,700

[Batmannr1]

Originally Posted by NardinNut

I haven’t had a chance to compare side by side with my hodink MilSpec yet. It definitely has more of a luxury look to it vs the MilSpec (polished vs brushed). The MilSpec has the cooler vintage tool watch vibe to it to me. Overall tho I love it. Once I get the x71 bracelet I’ll see which it works better on. I’ll likely eventually decide which to keep longterm but for now I’ll keep both

The x71 bracelet will be a killer combo with the polished case of the No-Rad. Great bracelet with polished and brushed parts. If you stick with the MilSpec you might consider to have the polished parts refinished and get these brushed to fit the case of the MilSpec.

[seanwrt]

Originally Posted by NardinNut

Arrived today

As I'm aware dealers didn't get the allocations yet...how connected of you taking the delivery already...

[sgrossma]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=795010

Noticed at least one other for sale already as of March 22.

Looks like these are coming in faster than anticipated.

[mongrelnomoad]

"I removed the stickers and wore it for about an hour indoors before deciding it is slightly too retro for my taste.

Price is $23,500 OBRO."

Where's the 'smirk' emoji?

[ap1]

I highly recommend the bracelet, if I recall correctly there are two versions, one mostly high polish and one more brushed. I got the more brushed and it works great with dink millie



My Rolex AD was mad I came to him to size it, too many bits lol



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[Wrist Watcher]

Love the fifty fathoms 40mm versions. I don’t understand why they won’t make a standard 40mm version with this thinner case. I would buy one in a heartbeat.

[Batmannr1]

Just for reference, posting the Barakuda fitted with the same X71 bracelet.

[btinl]

The x-71 bracelet would look great. Shortyshome on IG and TZ posted pics with it on the no rad.

[Frits1980]

Originally Posted by ap1

Every 40mm FF Ltd I’ve owned had bezel play. I agree above with the guy that said they don’t care about the glitches. Will you sell your milspec or keep and just ban BP going forward. I’m over AP but I sold mine and now wonder if I did that out of haste

My Bathy and Mil-spec are sitting in my safe. Havent got them out for over a year i think. Mil-spec painted dial and bezel play bugs me to much and the Bathy is to big and looks like a fashion watch. I wil trade them in some day if something interesting comes up. I own a 15400. No complaints, fantastic watch.

[sgrossma]

Does the same x71 fit both the 40.3 and 45mm FFs? Or does it comes in different sizes?

[zesty55]

Originally Posted by sgrossma

Does the same x71 fit both the 40.3 and 45mm FFs? Or does it comes in different sizes?

The former has 20mm lug width, latter 23mm, so can't be the same bracelet.

[sgrossma]

There also appears to be an x71 for the 45mm. I guess it must come in different sizes then.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by ap1

I highly recommend the bracelet, if I recall correctly there are two versions, one mostly high polish and one more brushed. I got the more brushed and it works great

Both the watch and bracelet look great bro

[btinl]

Just arrived.



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[DoraTheExplorerII]

Have these all been spoken for? I sent in an email to Blancpain asking for a look at an AD and got put on a waitlist but haven’t heard anything back.

[Chinballs]

Looks like I might actually be getting one from my AD after all

They rung me to say they had the BB58 Blue I enquired about months ago and while we were chatting the manager casually mentioned that when they receive their allocation one should have my name on it. I was shocked as before the BB58 I had only bought an Omega SMP off the same AD and am nowhere near being a big spender in the scheme of things.

He did say there was no 100% guarantee but he was confident I'd get it. Now I just have to wait and see if he actually comes through.

[seanwrt]

I think the Barakuda owner will be upset about the No Rads release, because No Rads is virtually a much more beautiful Barakuda. Or the same watch with different painting - can't even call it evolution...

Every generation of 40mm LE make some creative addition/changes:
50th Aniversary -> Mil Spec = movement update, closed/open case back & etc
Mil Spec -> Ocean Commitment = Brushed case
Ocean Commitment -> Barakuda = Coinage Bezel, date moved to 3 o'clock
Mil Spec -> Mil Spec Hodinkee = Brushed & different shaped Case, No date, long hands & enlarged everything on dial, shrinked & vintage numeral on bezel

From Barakuda to No Rads, basically just different paint...Although No Rads is so much better aesthetically.

[FoolioABC]

Originally Posted by seanwrt

I think the Barakuda owner will be upset about the No Rads release, because No Rads is virtually a much more beautiful Barakuda. Or the same watch with different painting - can't even call it evolution...

Every generation of 40mm LE make some creative addition/changes:
50th Aniversary -> Mil Spec = movement update, closed/open case back & etc
Mil Spec -> Ocean Commitment = Brushed case
Ocean Commitment -> Barakuda = Coinage Bezel, date moved to 3 o'clock
Mil Spec -> Mil Spec Hodinkee = Brushed & different shaped Case, No date, long hands & enlarged everything on dial, shrinked & vintage numeral on bezel

From Barakuda to No Rads, basically just different paint...Although No Rads is so much better aesthetically.

IMO, almost all the 40 mm LEs are technologically nearly identical. The differences between the various LEs is really just purely aesthetic, there are no "improvements", just "differences". The Barakuda and current No-Rad are actually quite different in terms of appearance, and I actually somewhat prefer the Barakuda.

[Batmannr1]

Originally Posted by seanwrt

I think the Barakuda owner will be upset about the No Rads release, because No Rads is virtually a much more beautiful Barakuda. Or the same watch with different painting - can't even call it evolution...

Every generation of 40mm LE make some creative addition/changes:
50th Aniversary -> Mil Spec = movement update, closed/open case back & etc
Mil Spec -> Ocean Commitment = Brushed case
Ocean Commitment -> Barakuda = Coinage Bezel, date moved to 3 o'clock
Mil Spec -> Mil Spec Hodinkee = Brushed & different shaped Case, No date, long hands & enlarged everything on dial, shrinked & vintage numeral on bezel

From Barakuda to No Rads, basically just different paint...Although No Rads is so much better aesthetically.

A bit more nit picking, I love all LE’s of the Fifty Fathoms. The fully graduated bezel of the No Rad I would like have seen on the Barakuda. That is an improved, but the No Rad should have been executed without a date. The square 3 o’clock date window fits the Barakuda square markers very well. But is not a match on the No Rad.

[seanwrt]

Originally Posted by Batmannr1

A bit more nit picking, I love all LE’s of the Fifty Fathoms. The fully graduated bezel of the No Rad I would like have seen on the Barakuda. That is an improved, but the No Rad should have been executed without a date. The square 3 o’clock date window fits the Barakuda square markers very well. But is not a match on the No Rad.

I think as long as they can sell all 500pcs of them, they’ll refrain the “no date” approach forever.

Blancpain do not want to make a perfect model that is tough act to follow for its successors.

[rdragon]

Originally Posted by ap1

I highly recommend the bracelet, if I recall correctly there are two versions, one mostly high polish and one more brushed. I got the more brushed and it works great with dink millie



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ap1/batmannr1 - Does this bracelet taper and how is it compared to the oyster bracelet?

[Batmannr1]

Originally Posted by rdragon

ap1/batmannr1 - Does this bracelet taper and how is it compared to the oyster bracelet?

Yes it does taper slightly from 20 mm to 18 mm.
Compared to the oyster bracelet the finishing (by hand) of the x71 is of a better quality but is lacking any adjustment feature like easylink, glidelock or even micro adjustments.
Both are great bracelets.

[baamvino]

Originally Posted by paxsinica

Very well said!!

Well said

[sherrill]

Originally Posted by Batmannr1

Just for reference, posting the Barakuda fitted with the same X71 bracelet.

Hi, very nice looking setup! I’m picking a Barakuda up later this week from a seller. Can I ask if the x71 bracelet has spring bars for the end attachments or if it was a straight pin type deal? Also, were you able to do it, or did you have a watch repairman do it? Thank you

[Batmannr1]

Thanks, nice pick the barakuda and a great watch to add to your collection.
The bracelet is not fitted with spring bars. It comes with friction pins which have to be hammered into the endlinks. No easy job, the watch maker of the AD I bought the bracelet from did the work.

[sherrill]

Originally Posted by Batmannr1

Thanks, nice pick the barakuda and a great watch to add to your collection.
The bracelet is not fitted with spring bars. It comes with friction pins which have to be hammered into the endlinks. No easy job, the watch maker of the AD I bought the bracelet from did the work.

Thanks!