New Arrival: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback

[iim7v7im7]

The Fedex delivered my Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback (Reference: 5200-0130-B52A) today. Here are this morning’s initial “wrist shots” (note that Fedex beat their 10:30 AM deadline!). I will share my initial impressions of the watch with the forum in the near future...

[daveathall]

It looks stunning. Many, many congratulations.

[Psmith]

A beauty, congrats

[Cru Jones]

Awesome watch! Congrats.

[SearChart]

Congrats

[mps354]

Well done, congrats!

[Lange1]

Congrats

Sent from my SM-N9208 using Tapatalk

[MichaelFlash]

Beautiful. Looks mean.

[iim7v7im7]

Instead of waxing poetic about the features of a new watch, I thought that I would share some of my initial impressions; both the "good" and "bad". The "good" things about this watch FAR outweigh the "bad" in my opinion, but I thought it would be beneficial to others to hear both. So please, don't misinterpret. Its a GREAT WATCH!

I tried to distinguish between the "visual" and "tactile" attributes (+, -) , because the later is difficult to understand via the Internet. For context, some of my comments are from the perspective of someone who scuba dives and intends to use the watch in that context. Some of those are not of concern to a desk diver.

The "Good"...

Visual:
+ fit and finish of brushed ceramic case,crown, pushers and clasp are excellent
+ polished ceramic bezel insert with liquidmetal indices/numbers is beautiful
+ dial finish, decoration and appliqués in chapter ring are beautifully executed
+ all three tri-compax registers have fantastic chapter ring legibility
+ lume on hour/minute/small seconds hands and bezel marker are even and bright
+ beautiful, complex bridge plates, polished screws, some perlage and anglage

Tactile:
+ very light on the wrist and comfortable due to short lug distance of ~47 mm
+ excellent tactile grip and crisp feel to unidirectional bezel clicks
+ smooth feel when winding and large diameter crown is easy to operate
+ chronograph pushers are precise and have a short through
+ rubber lined, sail cloth strap is very comfortable

The "Bad" (or small areas for improvement)

Visual:
- seconds and 1/10th second chapter ring is difficult to read in low light conditions
- chronograph minutes and hour hands are difficult to read in low light conditions
- no lume on chronograph minutes and hour hands
- 4:30 date window detracts from dial layout in my opinion (some may want this)
- red tip to chrono seconds hand will disappear at depth (looks great on surface)
- movement bridge plates are without cotes de geneve, gold plating in engravings etc.

Tactile:
- chrono pushers require high commitment force to overcome water seals
- bezel rotation has high initial rotation actuation force to overcome water seal
- clasp has some sharp edges that should be broken (but not uncomfortable)


More after I wear it a bit more...

[Lange1]

Hi there.
Beautiful vintage modern Blancpain! Love the 5hz tick...tick...tick sound.

[ATTACH]

[Lordofrolex]

Very nice watch.

[GB-man]

Gorgeous congrats

[cervantes]

Congrats! Beautiful chrono.

[bzabodyn]

Congrats! I've had mine for about 8-9 months but unfortunately the last 2 months it's been in Switzerland under-going MAJOR service as it just stopped one night and wouldn't rewind/nothing. Always the risk with "new" movements...

I still love it but the longer it's gone the longer I've been able to love without it. Not good for future prospects of it sticking around.

Here's some different combos for you:

[regnant]

This watch is stealth, I think one of the coolest ones made by the manufacturer
Thanks for the pics

[iim7v7im7]

Sorry to hear about your watch. When it comes back, if you can share the diagnosis here, I would appreciate it. I guess that Secaucus has not yet been trained on the calibre F385.

Originally Posted by bzabodyn

Congrats! I've had mine for about 8-9 months but unfortunately the last 2 months it's been in Switzerland under-going MAJOR service as it just stopped one night and wouldn't rewind/nothing. Always the risk with "new" movements...

I still love it but the longer it's gone the longer I've been able to love without it. Not good for future prospects of it sticking around.

Here's some different combos for you:

[Racerdj]

Looks good on your wrist, congratulations!

[CoachRolexRyan]

Sharp watch!! Congrats!

[nick c]

Love it congrats

[Hairdude1]

Awesome congrats!

[2Redbulls]

Originally Posted by bzabodyn

The watch looks great with those different strap combinations.

I've only gone back and forth between the sailcloth and nato. What's the size between the lugs? 23mm?

[Justice12]

I love this watch, I can see it in my future, congrats

[lapince]

BP makes IMO the best dive watches after AP and before Rolex, have much more history than AP but as much as Rolex, congrats it looks awesome, love the ceramic on my diver also

[iim7v7im7]

Originally Posted by lapince

BP makes IMO the best dive watches after AP and before Rolex, have much more history than AP but as much as Rolex, congrats it looks awesome, love the ceramic on my diver also

Do you scuba dive?

[texex91]

Congrats and enjoy!

[Abdullasaif]

Wow! Love it !!!

[namussuz bilo]

Congrats

[antbkny]

nice!!!

[psv]

Big fan of that chrono, great movement as well.

[GarageBMW]

Congrats, had one for a while, ended up selling it but regret it since. Enjoy it!