Blancpain rumors?

[Batmannr1]

The sweet spot for a FF is 41-42 mm.
The 40 mm wears smallish on a strap, putting it on a steel X71 bracelet adds some heft and makes it appear bigger. Somewhere between a Rolex Daytona and Submariner.

[saxo3]

I am a big fan of Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms limited edition series. Here my No Rad (40.3 mm) with the X-71 bracelet.




Initially, I have worn it with its original tropic strap; it was not comfortable so I changed to the X-71.

With this metal bracelet the No Rad looks a bit larger (and better to me) on my wrist.

The X-71 is much more comfortable than the tropic strap, which tends to stick a bit.

[asiparks]

the Barracuda and No Rads look fantastic on a bracelet. Would be nice if Blancpain offered more watches with the X71 as the default, rather than an expensive and sometimes hard to find, option

[londonpilgrim]

Those are amazing pieces. The Barakuda is the one piece I would consider buying aftermarket at a big mark-up.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by londonpilgrim

Those are amazing pieces. The Barakuda is the one piece I would consider buying aftermarket at a big mark-up.

The lume doesn’t bother you? I bought that one new 25% off and let it go right away because of the lume. It’s one of very few times I’ve been guilty of a flip without wearing. Those days are long gone.

[Batmannr1]

Originally Posted by GB-man

The lume doesn’t bother you? I bought that one new 25% off and let it go right away because of the lume. It’s one of very few times I’ve been guilty of a flip without wearing. Those days are long gone.

Excuse me for asking, but what is the issue with the lume?

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Batmannr1

Excuse me for asking, but what is the issue with the lume?

A little heavy handed with the fauxtina for me. Not the glow. Looks good there.

[NardinNut]

Originally Posted by asiparks

meh, the world is awash with 40-42mm divers- already plenty to chose from, let's not homogenize everything to "average". Side engravings and odd sizings are a small sign of individuality, not everything has to work for everybody.
Leave the FF alone at 45 and the Bathy at 43. They fit some wrists well enough ....

Awesome nato! What is it? I’m assuming it’s not from BP. They’re not that creative with their Natos.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by GCPlati

Doesn’t even have to be 40.3mm. Make it 42 and less thick than a birthday cake and half the watch collecting world will forget the submariner even exists as long as the price is right. The fact that they have failed to deliver what the market is so clearly clamoring for is mind-boggling. Must be the result of politics within Swatch because the level of incompetence failing this hard would require is probably unprecedented in human history.

42 and on the bracelet and I always thought this was like the Sub's big brother and just what BP need to draw Rolex eyes towards them. Silly not to have this out already.

[NardinNut]

Originally Posted by asiparks

the Barracuda and No Rads look fantastic on a bracelet. Would be nice if Blancpain offered more watches with the X71 as the default, rather than an expensive and sometimes hard to find, option

And the Hodinkee MilSpec. I had the No Rad as well but sold it. I’m a sucker for a no date diver. I love the bracelet but the beauty of the FF is that it works on a bunch of strap types too so I often have it on a strap.

[Batmannr1]

Originally Posted by GB-man

A little heavy handed with the fauxtina for me. Not the glow. Looks good there.

Yes, without the fauxtina the Barakuda would have looked better.

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by NardinNut

Awesome nato! What is it? I’m assuming it’s not from BP. They’re not that creative with their Natos.

good from afar, far from good ...

It was one of the very few Natos I could find with brushed rose goldesque hardware, and the big Panerai style buckle looks the part as does the pleasingly chunky aged canvas strap.

It's a 3 layer construction, canvas on top, glued to a finer poly/cotton type fabric with a rubberish layer next to the skin. Out of the bag, all signs were good.
Unfortunately, the rubberized backing started to come away within a week of wear leaving little goobers on my wrist. The mid layer is still there at the moment and it's holding everything together, but it also absorbs the sweat and oil from my skin that I imagine the backer was there to stop.

Neither was it a one off. When I got the first strap I was impressed with it enough to order another 2 the next day, all 3 have done the same thing.

At some point I'm going to transplant the hardware to a olive nylon Nato....

[2bigalow]

What a shame about the wear quality. That 'rustic' style nato looks fantasic on your FF.

[cfree011]

Originally Posted by asiparks

good from afar, far from good ...



It was one of the very few Natos I could find with brushed rose goldesque hardware, and the big Panerai style buckle looks the part as does the pleasingly chunky aged canvas strap.



It's a 3 layer construction, canvas on top, glued to a finer poly/cotton type fabric with a rubberish layer next to the skin. Out of the bag, all signs were good.

Unfortunately, the rubberized backing started to come away within a week of wear leaving little goobers on my wrist. The mid layer is still there at the moment and it's holding everything together, but it also absorbs the sweat and oil from my skin that I imagine the backer was there to stop.



Neither was it a one off. When I got the first strap I was impressed with it enough to order another 2 the next day, all 3 have done the same thing.



At some point I'm going to transplant the hardware to a olive nylon Nato....

I have this same exact watch.

I wish blancpain had a rose gold bracelet for it though....that is really it's only downside

Sent from my IN2017 using Tapatalk

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by cfree011

I have this same exact watch.

I wish blancpain had a rose gold bracelet for it though....that is really it's only downside

Sent from my IN2017 using Tapatalk

YES! a matching brushed gold X71, that would be amazing

[cfree011]

Originally Posted by asiparks

YES! a matching brushed gold X71, that would be amazing

You may find this hilarious.....

But I sent the CEO of Blancpain an email stating the reasons why they should make a brushed rose gold bracelet and they never responded....

I had to try at least.

If anyone knows someone who I could reach out to at the Company to make this happen, let me know!

Sent from my IN2017 using Tapatalk

[DoraTheExplorerII]

If they’d just released a normal rubber strap like everyone else instead of their disposable sailcloth crafted with paper inside, I would let them be.

[Crashblue]

Originally Posted by DoraTheExplorerII

If they’d just released a normal rubber strap like everyone else instead of their disposable sailcloth crafted with paper inside, I would let them be.

There is an official rubber strap you can buy at the boutique which is also part of the strap changing kit however it is not advertised.

You can spot on the strap picture following the linke

https://blancpainblog.com/timepieces/strap-options/

[utc66]

What the hell, is that a 34mm watch or is that a giants wrist?

That is a really cool watch and the shabby strap with the matching hardware looks really good - perfect look! Just need to find a higher
quality NATO.

Originally Posted by asiparks

meh, the world is awash with 40-42mm divers- already plenty to chose from, let's not homogenize everything to "average". Side engravings and odd sizings are a small sign of individuality, not everything has to work for everybody.
Leave the FF alone at 45 and the Bathy at 43. They fit some wrists well enough ....

[DoraTheExplorerII]

Originally Posted by Crashblue

There is an official rubber strap you can buy at the boutique which is also part of the strap changing kit however it is not advertised.

You can spot on the strap picture following the linke

https://blancpainblog.com/timepieces/strap-options/

Yeah I saw, I believe way too long for me sadly.

[luster]

Originally Posted by ap1

That’s why Hodinkee was best iteration

That Hodinkee bathyscaphe without the faux patina (or hodinkee branding) would be an instant buy

[_speedmaster_]

Heresy I know.... but it even looks good on suede.

[saxo3]

Here is a 2022 new model, received a mail from Blancpain today: "The Air Command collection takes off for new horizons"

[Rolextellstime]

Originally Posted by Batmannr1

The sweet spot for a FF is 41-42 mm.
The 40 mm wears smallish on a strap, putting it on a steel X71 bracelet adds some heft and makes it appear bigger. Somewhere between a Rolex Daytona and Submariner.

I agree 100%, I have the MilSpec and wear it on a bracelet. I do have a bit of a larger wrist at 7.5 inches so 41 or 42mm would be absolutely perfect, but I don't think BP would change that.

Beautiful Barakuda by the way

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

[BendyBee]

Smelling like smaller FF is coming. ;-)

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by BendyBee

Smelling like smaller FF is coming. ;-)

[Batmannr1]

Got an invitation for a Blancpain event at the end of the month. I think something is cooking in the Blancpain kitchen. Hoping for the no date 42 mm FF

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by Batmannr1

Got an invitation for a Blancpain event at the end of the month. I think something is cooking in the Blancpain kitchen. Hoping for the no date 42 mm FF

Interesting.
Where does this event take place?

[Batmannr1]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Interesting.
Where does this event take place?

30th of May in Amsterdam

[ap1]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Here is a 2022 new model, received a mail from Blancpain today: "The Air Command collection takes off for new horizons"

Just like them, skip right over 40mm ~ a model which they can actually sell