Blancpain x HODINKEE

[MzHammer]

Originally Posted by jpeezy14@hotmail.com

Man, you cannot say that is a bad looking watch...at all.

Honestly, this may be my favorite watch in my entire collection. The size is so spot on, the watch has just enough of a vintage vibe with the sapphire bezel and domed crystal but isn't super retro heavy with faux-patina. The flat black dial and non-applied markers feel appropriate in this case, the white hands are so legible, and the brushed case really works.
My only niggle right now is that the bezel action has a little bit of play, but that may be a FF thing.

[vipereaper30]

Originally Posted by MzHammer

Just landed, AMAZING.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI3jILBHZZk/

Wow, looks better than the press photos! Would like to know the size of that wrist as the proportions look spot on.

[vipereaper30]

Originally Posted by MzHammer

My only niggle right now is that the bezel action has a little bit of play, but that may be a FF thing.

Toss that one out of your mind as its a FF thing not an issue with yours. Embrace the difference and enjoy!

[JParm]

Originally Posted by MzHammer

Honestly, this may be my favorite watch in my entire collection. The size is so spot on, the watch has just enough of a vintage vibe with the sapphire bezel and domed crystal but isn't super retro heavy with faux-patina. The flat black dial and non-applied markers feel appropriate in this case, and the brushed case really works.
My only niggle right now is that the bezel action has a little bit of play, but that may be a FF thing.

I'm amazed at how fast you got yours!

Impatiently waiting...(it's been a day!!!!)

[MzHammer]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

Wow, looks better than the press photos! Would like to know the size of that wrist as the proportions look spot on.

I'm usually a 7" wrist or just slightly under. I'll take a comparison pic with my 14060 as soon as I'm out of Zoom calls.

[JCC296]

Originally Posted by MzHammer

Just landed, AMAZING.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI3jILBHZZk/

That's the perfect one. Congrats on the new arrival and enjoy it in good health!

[sgfortino]

Anyone know for sure that the buckle will fit on the sailcloth strap? Couldn’t find anywhere what the buckle side width is but would also like to switch this to a sailcloth strap too.

[JCC296]

Interesting to see some prefer the sunburst dial, polished hands and bezel of the 2017 model. I think the Hodinkee version is the closest to the original hence the better tribute of the two. "purist" form wise 2020 model has the correct hands, bezel and dial in my opinion, and removal of the engraving on the side.

[clew84]

Originally Posted by sgfortino

Anyone know for sure that the buckle will fit on the sailcloth strap? Couldn’t find anywhere what the buckle side width is but would also like to switch this to a sailcloth strap too.

I was told by V boutique it would not - you will need a different buckle.


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[stormshadow]

Very nice; you're all set! (until the next LE).

Originally Posted by JCC296

Interesting to see some prefer the sunburst dial, polished hands and bezel of the 2017 model. I think the Hodinkee version is the closest to the original hence the better tribute of the two. "purist" form wise 2020 model has the correct hands, bezel and dial in my opinion, and removal of the engraving on the side.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by sgfortino

Anyone know for sure that the buckle will fit on the sailcloth strap? Couldn’t find anywhere what the buckle side width is but would also like to switch this to a sailcloth strap too.

I’ve been thinking about this and have my doubts. Natos typically have no taper. The sail cloth presumably does right?

[kritameth]

Originally Posted by sgfortino

Anyone know for sure that the buckle will fit on the sailcloth strap? Couldn’t find anywhere what the buckle side width is but would also like to switch this to a sailcloth strap too.

I was told by the NY boutique it will fit, just with 2mm gap, since the Nato is untapered 20mm.

[sgfortino]

Originally Posted by GB-man

I’ve been thinking about this and have my doubts. Natos typically have no taper. The sail cloth presumably does right?

I just talked to the LV boutique as well....you are correct as the nato has no taper. it will still fit but with 2mm of gap on the sailcloth strap. They separately sell an 18mm brushed buckle for $150 they said.

[ap1]

Of course the bezel needs some play on a 15k piece, don’t be so ocd

Lol, I’ve sold pieces for much less

[CalSRQ1]

Originally Posted by astewartconst

QUOTE

I'm still flabbergasted that Blancpain cannot release something like this without the stupid Hodinkee connection. The must surely know that this is what the audience want - 40mm, no date, brushed case, etc - preferably in a non-limited edition. Price this at $11,500 on a nylon strap - sans mil-spec item on the dial - and you'll have a wait-list for years. How hard can it be???

Yes it is SHOCKING to me that they either 1. Don’t know this
2. Refuse to produce what the people want

These manufacturers seem bent on letting Rolex continue to run away with all the money. It is crazy


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Agreed. I often wonder (as a pass a Chick-fil-A with 40+ cars in the drive thru, and another fast food store adjacent with almost no cars - “how hard could it be?” Obviously people like a good fried (real) chicken sandwich. If I were the CEO of Mcburgers, I’d say “build me that delicious chicken sandwich, STAT!” I’ve been waiting for years and nope, they won’t do it. Seems simple to me. Same as this issue - 40mm, no date, brushed, BAM you’d have an instant production model classic that would sell 10x their normal production numbers. Weird.

[JCC296]

Originally Posted by stormshadow

Very nice; you're all set! (until the next LE).

It's not my picture (wish it was my collection )

[sgfortino]

Anyone else get theirs yet? Mine is in my city but fedex hasn’t put it on a truck yet. Still says it is supposed to be delivered today.

[ap1]

Received

[GB-man]

Damn you all I didn’t even get shipped yet. Dafuq

[Vipes]

Originally Posted by ap1

Received

Pics, now!

[NardinNut]

Damn. You guys received them quickly. The LV boutique said end of month until they ship theirs. WTF

[ap1]

Uh oh, she’s dope. The ink grainy black is....AMAZING.



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[stormshadow]

Clean pics. Very nice. Can’t wait to get mine.

[astewartconst]

Originally Posted by woowoo

One argument (and what overpaid consultants might tell a CEO) is that if a brand is really only a one star watch brand (like the fifty fathoms for BP or luminor for Panerai is) and the brand makes the perfect version of that watch that everyone is asking for....Then everyone buys it and moves on. That's it. A hit it and quit it sale. Or the brand can be like a beautiful girlfriend making you wait for it. And wait for it. And wait...Even to the point of being frustrating. When a brand gets close to, but does not actually make the perfect watch, people continue watching the brand and interacting with it to see what they are up to. Maybe customers purchase some almost perfect pieces along the way.

So which girlfriend is Rolex then because they seem to be the hot girl that everyone stays with. Blancpain is one I keep waiting for but will never buy because they don’t offer what I want. Why couldn’t Blancpain have years long waitlist like Rolex has done ..well first they need a watch that enough people want to buy. Rolex is getting the customers who will settle for a datejust or oyster when they can’t get a Sub or Gmt. No one is settling for a 45mm Blancpain FF because they can’t get one in 40mm they just are not buying anything. It must be a pride thing for the Swiss, I just don’t get it

Don’t take this as argumentative to your point it isn’t meant to be


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[astewartconst]

Originally Posted by stormshadow

Wow; that's very interesting. I would have loved to have read what his logic was in his response. I understand there are big fish in the sea, but giving folks 10 sec to make a decision whether to spend thousands of dollars on something they have only seen for 10 sec, is pretty crazy.

Some of the other vintage products and such they sell that sell out in the same manner, I get. Folks know what they are looking for - and have seen it already at some point.

Maybe my view is skewed by my shallow pockets and needing time to make a decision. I still bought the watch as it was in line with what I was expecting, but the experience was not as great as it could have been.

Essentially he told me that saying unethical was brash and unfair, and then quoted their return policy as if a person should just buy the thing instantly and if you then decide you don’t want it just return for refund.


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[MzHammer]

Originally Posted by ap1

Uh oh, she’s dope. The ink grainy black is....AMAZING.

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The white hands also just set it off. I know there was a lot of flack given to it but this thing is absolutely nuts, its so good.

Originally Posted by astewartconst

Essentially he told me that saying unethical was brash and unfair, and then quoted their return policy as if a person should just buy the thing instantly and if you then decide you don’t want it just return for refund.


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I mean, that is pretty fair and I cannot see how online sales of a limited item are unethical. They have a no questions asked return policy on top of the likelihood to flip for more if you hate it... and having open online sales means anyone can get it no matter how hot the watch is. I have no BP purchase history and likely will never own another but I was able to buy this one knowing full well I could return it if I wanted to.

Also this forum is the worst for image upload limits... all cell phone pics are too large to upload here?

[GB-man]

MZ hammer get Tapatalk pro. It’s like a dollar a month or some crap but it solves that issue.

[stormshadow]

Yeah, you have a point there. Usually, I don’t buy things in that fashion, but that’s a great return policy nevertheless.

Also, as said before, these items are in high demand, so it shouldn’t be a problem selling even without the return policy.

Thanks for offering that different point of view.

As for the pic upload, I think I read somewhere a while back that the pic has to be under (around) 800 x 800 pixels. Hope that helps a bit.

Originally Posted by MzHammer

I mean, that is pretty fair and I cannot see how online sales of a limited item are unethical. They have a no questions asked return policy on top of the likelihood to flip for more if you hate it... and having open online sales means anyone can get it no matter how hot the watch is. I have no BP purchase history and likely will never own another but I was able to buy this one knowing full well I could return it if I wanted to.

Also this forum is the worst for image upload limits... all cell phone pics are too large to upload here?

[ChaseATX]

I’m patiently awaiting mine to actually ship. And I though I was fast!!!

Anyone buy a new strap for it yet? New to the brand and don’t know where to start. Olive seems to be a good play.


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[MzHammer]

Originally Posted by stormshadow

Yeah, you have a point there. Usually, I don’t buy things in that fashion, but that’s a great return policy nevertheless.

Also, as said before, these items are in high demand, so it shouldn’t be a problem selling even without the return policy.

Thanks for offering that different point of view.

As for the pic upload, I think I read somewhere a while back that the pic has to be under (around) 800 x 800 pixels. Hope that helps a bit.

Almost all of my watches have been purchased pre-owned, and I try to only have 1 or 2 watches per brand, so I never get to make that relationship with a Boutique or AD, which would preclude me from being on a list for a hot LE if they were ever boutique only.

So that egalitarian purchase system, coupled with a really generous return policy (let alone the likelihood for resale appreciation), is probably the only way to make really expensive, limited edition purchases impulse-able for people like me (where ~16K all in is a LOT).

So, I appreciate it! Now, I have a few watches to list on sales forums...