Blancpain FF Bathyscaphe vs Vacheron Constantine Overseas Chronograph

[sacsha00786]

Guys,
I'm trying to venture out of Rolex and thought about getting a Patek but after trying it on honestly found them underwhelming and way overpriced. So after days of search I have come down to these final two selections.

One is the Blancpain 5200-1110-B52A with their new in house movement. I really like the finish of the watch and the movement is simply beautiful to look at. I really like the SS case with the grey sunburst dial. Wish it had a nicer strap that covered the entire endlinks. Don't really like the look of their SS bracelet.
Concerns are reliability of the movement. How it is part of Swatch Group. Only has a 2 year warranty and not sure about the cost of service once the warranty expires.



The other contender is also a chronograph but by Vacheron Constantine also with grey dial. It is a beautiful watch but wish it had a display case back. Not really a fan of the big date and lastly it uses a pretty "standard" Frederic Piguet movement. I did try their new model with the in house movement but unfortunately it is out of budget.



So question for you guys, which one do you guys recommend and why?

Thank you ALL!

[ap1]

VC thinner and elegant. Blancpain more sporty and thicker. I lean VC

[BillH2121]

Both are nice but I prefer the looks of the VC!

[asiparks]

Two very, very different watches, Blancpain in this instance for me. I'd also take it on their rather lovely Nato instead of the sailcloth, though I do like the funky bracelet option.
I very much like this VC with the oversized date and assymetrical subdials, the new generation seems comparatively pedestrian. Funnily enough, having finally seen it in real life I don't like the bracelet on the VC, I understand the Maltese Cross motif, but it looks like some bad "Outlaw" jewelry you'd find on a watch made by Jesse James or Orange County choppers...

[yessir69]

Originally Posted by ap1

VC thinner and elegant. Blancpain more sporty and thicker. I lean VC

This.

[Andrés G]

Vc

[GB-man]

VC for me. I found that BP thick and uncomfortable on the wrist.

[AK797]

I'd choose the BP FF Chrono.

[Hank]

Had the pleasure of owning both. I personally prefer the Blancpain.

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[mps354]

Between these two I prefer the vc. However, seems like you have more than one concern for each of them. Maybe widen the universe a bit?

[rolehex]

Like both but VC wins out here for me.

[Star Ferry]

I like the idea of getting a blancpain, but I'm not sure how I feel about the Bathyscaphe chrono.

This GMT with alarm function is my favorite in their collection.

[improviz]

I got the VCO and just love it, workmanship and finishing are amazing but still very sporty and versatile. Here's a wrist shot:

[dysondiver]

vc ,, different level.

[turbineboy]

Both are stunning....beautiful pieces. Personal preference....VC. Its more of a "has it all" look and feel.

[sacsha00786]

Guys,
Thanks for the input. I went to a local Blanpain dealer and tried on these two watches.


Unfortunately the blancpain fifty fathoms bathyscaphe was a serious let down. Yes it is a beautiful watch in pictures but in person it was kind of eeh. I liked the movement, the dial looks really nice under natural light but the feel on the wrist was very poor. The chrono start/stop felt really cheap and the bezel click also made the watch feel cheap.


I was surprised to really enjoy wearing the regular blancpain FF chronograph. It was really nice on the wrist and the sapphire bezel was also a nice touch. The chrono start/stop was also very smooth. Though it is not a watch I would get but given that the Vacheron Overseas and the AP Royal Oak Chronograph uses the same movement, I think I am going to give those two watches a shot now.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by improviz

I got the VCO and just love it, workmanship and finishing are amazing but still very sporty and versatile. Here's a wrist shot:

If the BP FF Chrono is out, and I do think it is better without the Chrono, then this has to be the one. A stunning piece!

[improviz]

Originally Posted by AK797

If the BP FF Chrono is out, and I do think it is better without the Chrono, then this has to be the one. A stunning piece!

Thanks! I agree, I like the three-hander BP FF better (not a fan of diver chronos in general, more of an either-or for me ), but to me BP FF Chrono definitely looks better than the Bathyscape.

[lapince]

If Fifty Fathoms would say BP, though prefer non chrono, but in this case VC

[wach16]

Since you mentioned it, the AP ROC is something you should try out but I am a little biased

[GoingPlaces]

VC, more versatile for me.

[BeauneCrusher]

I prefer the looks of the Blancpain, but it looks much bigger on your wrist than the VC, and not terribly attractive.

[bigd5506]

I am considering the VC as well. I like the idea of having a "holy trinity" watch as my daily

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[lapince]

I really wanted the FF non chrono, but when I went to try it out, tried the Bathy as well, both sat strange on my wrist, and I have 6,8-7 wrists and flat, just like the Datograph felt too strange, too bad as I love the FF, but wasn't for me...