Fresh from the Showcase here at SwissWatchExpo.
We have chosen one of my favorite pieces that we just got in.
It's the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in the ceramic model.
Now, this particular model is my favorite because of a few reasons.
One, the absolute color of it.
It's just tuxedo black.
That's what I've always referred to it as.
There's two models of this - there's the three-hand non-chronograph version and then there's the
chronograph version.
This happens to be the chronograph version.
This is also on the sailcloth strap with the pin buckle.
Now, the interesting thing about the Blancpain, the pin buckle is also ceramic.
Everything about this watch that you see is ceramic.
Now, one of the things that Blancpain also uses, that Omega uses, is liquid metal.
That liquid metal is actually in the bezel of this watch.
Each one of the hour indicators and minute indicators are dripped with liquid metal inside
of the original ceramic filling.
It's a high polish center, but the [neural] edge is more of a brushed satin ceramic, as
are the sides of the case.
The sides of the case aren't shiny, only on the top of the lugs and on the champers on
the edge of the lugs.
That's interesting because only metal watches are typically seen that way.
Usually, when you see ceramic watches, they're polished all the way around in every facet.
Another thing about this particular Blancpain that's also interesting, are the sides of
the case.
You still have that striated satin finish much like how Rolex does with their casings.
It looks like it's punched out of a centerpiece of ceramic or in Rolex's case, a centerpiece
of metal, whether it's precious metal or steel.
There's a lot of little details on the outside of the watch, but what you should be aware
of is, is that Blancpain is more than just a few details on the outside of the watch.
It's also the inside of the watch.
Blancpain decorates, every single moving component inside their watch, regardless of whether
you can see that item or not.
That's something that draws me heavily to the Blancpain.
It's a beautiful movement.
It is Blancpain's manufacturer movement.
Also one of the most important things about this particular watch, in Blancpains in general,
it depends on which model and series that you get.
but if you're talking about the dive watches, they'd have 120 hour power reserve.
That's standard on all Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, some Villarets
are like that as well.
It depends of course, on which model you have, but that's sort of Blancpain's claim to fame.
They have a five-hertz movement, which is a very fast beat movement, and for the chronograph,
is a leading industry movement.
In fact, so much so that at one time Vacheron Constantin used the same internal movement
that's in this watch.
It's very popular.
Blancpain makes a lot of movements.
They make about a hundred thousand movements per year for all manufacturers.
Only about 25 to 30,000 movements per year go into their own watches.
That's because Blancpain is a very limited series production piece across their entire
production line.
Only about 25 to 30,000 pieces per year.
Sometimes as few as 20,000.
You're never quite sure from year to year just how many they've made because they just
don't do that as much as other manufacturers.
It's very hand and precision done.
Now, a few other details about this watch, each one of the hour indicators of course,
they have the super LumiNova and they both glow very bright green.
They pick up light very quickly and they glow for a long time.
But when you look at the indicators here around the outside edge of the dial, you'll notice
that they're trimmed in white gold.
You have the luminescence with the white gold ring.
When you move the watch back and forth, you see a sparkle, it almost looks like diamonds
because it actually has that shimmer to it, giving it sort of that elegance that the black
watch normally doesn't have from other manufacturers, especially when you see them in DLC or PVD
coating.
Now, one of the other small details about this watch, what you won't pick up on right
away.
When you look at the hands they do have an elongated rectangular pattern, but at the
end of each one of the hands, there's a very small needle tip.
Now, of course, because they're done in the black color, you don't see them against that
black dial.
It's just another finite detail that Blancpain puts into each one of their pieces, where
if you're a big Blancpain fan, you'll start to look for those little small things that
you don't see on other watch manufacturers.
Again, I have to stress, this is my single favorite Fifty Fathom because of all of the
different characters of this watch, it just looks like a million dollars on your wrist.
Not only can you wear it casually, but boy, if you dress this up with a tuxedo, it really
looks great.
It also comes with a NATO strap.
If you want to get that as an option from Blancpain.
Now this watch was originally almost US $13,000.
This watch right now is $11,990, and it does have the box and cards, so this watch is essentially
in unworn condition.
You may think, wow, I thought Blancpain loses value over time.
It doesn't have the greatest secondary market value as other watches.
That's absolutely not true.
In the case of this, a lot of people fear that the ceramic on the model may break if
you drop it.
Well, that is true.
It is a lot more delicate, and ceramic just in general is more delicate when it takes
an impact.
But I can tell you that this is a very durable watch.
It won't scratch.
It'll leave marks in fact, on other things that you may have, you don't want to wear
it with your jewelry or your gold jewelry or bracelets or things like that.
Because if it gets up against that ceramic, you're going to have damage to your jewelry
instead of the watch.
You want to make sure you keep them on different wrists.
A lot of people these days like to wear bracelets behind the watch, don't do that.
The crystal on this watch is, the way that it's made it almost has a slight dome appearance
to it, which gives it just that edge of elegance.
That's got the anti-reflective coating, but also the sub-seconds hand for the watch glows
in addition to the entire rest of the dial.
When you're looking at this watch at night, you notice a few extra little details.
When you turn the back, the watch over to the back, you'll notice that as I talked about
the fully decorated movement, is just gorgeous.
Everything is hand decorated, and it's very time consuming.
But the rotor in this watch - this weighted rotor is engraved of course, with the Blancpain
logo.
But it's also white gold with a black antiquing.
That's not something you see on very many watches.
That's pretty much exclusive to the Blancpain.
It's just an absolutely gorgeous watch.
No matter how you look at the details from the side, it's not a very thick watch.
It is a 43-millimeter, but because it's black and because of the way that the thinness and
the way that the lugs are made, it doesn't feel that way.
Now, of course, I'm wearing the larger big brother to this, the Fifty Fathom chronograph,
which is another favorite of mine with the Sapphire crystal.
You've seen me detail that in other videos, I'm going to just put this particular watch
on right now, because I want to show you just how it looks.
Even on my large wrist.
It's absolutely phenomenal.
It's 300 meters water resistant, more than you're ever going to see in any other watch
of this type with the clear case back other than Omega.
The timekeeping is absolutely excellent.
Blancpain has a long history of being a very durable watch in this particular movement.
It's easy to wind.
It's easy to set.
The chronograph is easy to use.
It's got very specific pushers that have a very unique click to them.
I can't say enough about this watch.
It's absolutely beautiful.
I've got to have one of these in my collection.
I've been threatened for years to do it.
If you want to pick it up here from SwissWatchExpo, give us a call because we have some really
great Blancpains.
This Fifty Fathom included.
Also, we've got some other series in the Blancpain that you should be aware of, like the Trilogy.
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