Thinking of adding a Blancpain to my collection

[njmoose]

So, I have this love of diver's and have lately been drawn to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. I stopped in at the Tourbillon in Houston last week to take a look and see them in person. While I love the look of the Fifty Fathoms, I really didn't love the feel of it on my wrist. Just a bit too bulky for me.

I also took a tried the Bathyscaphe and immediately felt that this could be the next one for me. I thought that I would see who out there has one and what kind of thoughts other members here at TRF have about them.

[lapince]

I love their look but as you don't like the feel on my wrist, never had one but I did have a L-Evolution alarm GMT, many don't like it, I find it interesting, obviously not the level of finishing of a PP or AP, but still great watches if bought right, which means never buy in a boutique or at the AD, I got mine LNIB for 45% of the price, unbelievable, not 45% off, 55% off but it was an incredible deal, the closest lowest price for the same piece on chrono 24 was 3K more… In any case Blancpain is a very cool and very understated brand IMO, they have very interesting movements, like the one which has a tourbillon as well as a carrousel, more or less the same thing as a tourbillon in it's principle...

[locutus49]

Isn't there a smaller 50 fathoms? A 40mm......?

[njmoose]

It wasn't so much the width but how thick it was.

Originally Posted by locutus49

Isn't there a smaller 50 fathoms? A 40mm......?

[AK797]

Love the sapphire bezel of the FF but yes wears a little large.

[jjnd08]

Never tried one on, but I don't like the case shape in pictures.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by njmoose

It wasn't so much the width but how thick it was.

Yeah for me too the thickness was the problem, not the width, it wears, IMO smaller than many 45mm pieces but is quite thick...

[njmoose]

As I mentioned, the FF was too big but the Bathyscaphe fit well. Anyone have one? Love it? Hate it?

[GB-man]

I must say I couldn't wait to get the bathyscathe chrono on my wrist at an AD a few weeks back but as soon as I did...it didn't feel right. Felt bulky. Maybe the original is more ergonomic?

Either way, it's a cool piece and I love the look on NATO. Hopefully someone chimes in with ownership experience

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by njmoose

As I mentioned, the FF was too big but the Bathyscaphe fit well. Anyone have one? Love it? Hate it?

Don't have one, but a cool looking piece.

[Lange1]

Love the ceramic case bathyscape FF chrono 5Hz movement but not so much the vintage look especially the 3 hands. I love more the 45mm FF sapphire bezel and level of finish higher than bathyscaphe.

[Devlred]

My first post in this forum (im active member in WUS) but i was in your position the last couple of months,made a huge research on divers and tried several dive watches including the BP FF, the BP FF Chrono, the Bathy and the Bathy Chrono and many other on that price range.

I have to say that between the 4 my choice goes to the BP FF sport which i have preordered for my self, i actually think that wears smaller than other similar smaller diver watches and has the more classic and beatifull looks from all.

I have tried also the Bathy chrono on bracelet and felt bulkier than the classic BP FF, this has to do with the lugs and case of the classic BP FF. From the Bathyscaphe i like more the one without Chronographs.

I have to mention than other than looks of BP FF Sport (the watch is simply gorgeous in my opinion), history of the classic version played significant role for my purchase.

[zama]

I had a period where I was thinking about getting one to partner my GMT, then I looked at my sub and had to question why i would dip into my bank balance to replace a Sub with a Blancpain......

I do think they are nice, again I like the plain basic ones and the smaller the better.

[dysondiver]

looked at one of their divers , pre owned is the way to go , resale is grim on them.
the aqualung is kinda cool and a great size , but an iwc mkxv won in the end.

[njmoose]

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts and comments. If I decide to get one I will most likely purchase from someone on TRF and not an ad. I have heard before about their resale and I want to stay as low as possible on pricing in case I decide to flip it.

Originally Posted by dysondiver

looked at one of their divers , pre owned is the way to go , resale is grim on them.
the aqualung is kinda cool and a great size , but an iwc mkxv won in the end.

[2Redbulls]

I had the Bathyscaphe originally...really liked it.



It kept good time, wore very comfortably and the looked substantial on the wrist. The thing I liked most, the sunburst dial was also the thing that at times looked a little off. Just being so empty.

However, over time I eventually lost interest in it.

I ended up buying a BP Fifty Fathoms.



What a great watch! I loved the details on it. Loved the hands, the lume, the bezel, you name it. I had an AP Diver at the same time and oddly preferred the BP FF. For the money that these were selling for on the second hand market, it was no contest for me. I know most would not agree with me. The AP was huge and yet the dial was tiny in relation making it tougher to read. Plus the AP seemed more fragile. The movement on the BP was stout and the triple barrel movement was awesome!






I was as happy as a clam, until I saw this for sale....



and I had to have it...




I purchased it with the intention of letting one of the BP's go after a few days of evaluations.



Those days turned into months...I couldn't part with either.

Just this past week, I ended up selling the BP FF...all while slightly regretting it.

The BP FF Bathyscaphe Chronograph ended up being the one for a few reasons. First the slight difference in size made the watch look more in proportion to my wrist. It also sat flat, even thought that's partly because of the strap holes and where they are placed. Having a chrono flyback function was a nice touch and the watch is amazingly accurate. The most accurate watch I've owned. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's dead on. It takes 3 days (72) hours to see a +2 sec difference to atomic time. In 24 hours it's dead on.

I also have the nato and sailcloth straps and I like having the option to switch.

[njmoose]

Thanks so much! BTW, I saw your listing for the FF and almost bought it from you.

Originally Posted by 2Redbulls

I had the Bathyscaphe originally...really liked it.



It kept good time, wore very comfortably and the looked substantial on the wrist. The thing I liked most, the sunburst dial was also the thing that at times looked a little off. Just being so empty.

However, over time I eventually lost interest in it.

I ended up buying a BP Fifty Fathoms.



What a great watch! I loved the details on it. Loved the hands, the lume, the bezel, you name it. I had an AP Diver at the same time and oddly preferred the BP FF. For the money that these were selling for on the second hand market, it was no contest for me. I know most would not agree with me. The AP was huge and yet the dial was tiny in relation making it tougher to read. Plus the AP seemed more fragile. The movement on the BP was stout and the triple barrel movement was awesome!






I was as happy as a clam, until I saw this for sale....



and I had to have it...




I purchased it with the intention of letting one of the BP's go after a few days of evaluations.



Those days turned into months...I couldn't part with either.

Just this past week, I ended up selling the BP FF...all while slightly regretting it.

[currambero]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Isn't there a smaller 50 fathoms? A 40mm......?

Yes the 50th anniversary is 40mm. Here is mine


The trilogy series is also 40mm but it's a bit different. Not for everybody :) I have one in black.

[capote]

Originally Posted by 2Redbulls

I had the Bathyscaphe originally...really liked it.



It kept good time, wore very comfortably and the looked substantial on the wrist. The thing I liked most, the sunburst dial was also the thing that at times looked a little off. Just being so empty.

However, over time I eventually lost interest in it.

I ended up buying a BP Fifty Fathoms.



What a great watch! I loved the details on it. Loved the hands, the lume, the bezel, you name it. I had an AP Diver at the same time and oddly preferred the BP FF. For the money that these were selling for on the second hand market, it was no contest for me. I know most would not agree with me. The AP was huge and yet the dial was tiny in relation making it tougher to read. Plus the AP seemed more fragile. The movement on the BP was stout and the triple barrel movement was awesome!






I was as happy as a clam, until I saw this for sale....



and I had to have it...




I purchased it with the intention of letting one of the BP's go after a few days of evaluations.



Those days turned into months...I couldn't part with either.

Just this past week, I ended up selling the BP FF...all while slightly regretting it.

The BP FF Bathyscaphe Chronograph ended up being the one for a few reasons. First the slight difference in size made the watch look more in proportion to my wrist. It also sat flat, even thought that's partly because of the strap holes and where they are placed. Having a chrono flyback function was a nice touch and the watch is amazingly accurate. The most accurate watch I've owned. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's dead on. It takes 3 days (72) hours to see a +2 sec difference to atomic time. In 24 hours it's dead on.

I also have the nato and sailcloth straps and I like having the option to switch.

Great post, and I think you made the right choice

[Bitzer75]

Originally Posted by currambero

Yes the 50th anniversary is 40mm. Here is mine


The trilogy series is also 40mm but it's a bit different. Not for everybody :) I have one in black.

That FF anniversary... 😍! Should you ever want to let it go, I'm in 😉


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

[currambero]

Originally Posted by Bitzer75

That FF anniversary... 😍! Should you ever want to let it go, I'm in 😉


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

The anniversary is a keeper! :)