In addition, the 913 includes a glucydur balance wheel with gold micrometric regulating screws, which makes it adjustable and also more shock-resistant compared to its predecessor. There’s also a better winding system that uses a ball-bearing mounted rotor. The sapphire case back reveals the rotor, which is reddish gold with a snailed bevel, polished chamfers and directly and round Côtes de Genève patterns. It has a 40-hour power reserve.At 29.2mm, the Blancpain Villeret Date Moonphase is a tiny watch considering there’s a moon phase plus a date and a seconds hand, a rare advantage in a small women’ automatic. It is proof of Blancpain’s commitment to producing size-appropriate high-grade calibers devoted to ladies’ watches in its elite collections. The date is elegantly spaced out only inside the hour trail, indicated by a red-tipped pointer. The bezel is set with 48 diamonds and there are eight diamond indicators in addition to four employed Roman numerals in the touch Villeret font. The dial is opaline and the strap is taupe-colored alligator. Even as purveyors of possibly among the world’s first truly purpose-built dive watches, there’s no denying it has been a very long time since Blancpain has even been remotely close to the tool watch kingdom it once initiated. That being said, it’s still neat to find the brand revisit those days using a marked level of panache from the recently declared Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec — a watch that might cost $14,000, but it is still every bit the capable instrument once depended upon by battle divers in the late fifties.
At its heart, this watch is all about offering a special design for two negative sets that you don’t often find together. That’s a subsidiary GMT hand to indicate another time zone, as well as an yearly calendar complication. The latter is rather elegantly laid out using the calendar data being indicated via three distinct windows on the dial. Underneath is a series of three discs which overlap. What is interesting is that regardless of the volume of information about the dial (period, second 24-hour time period, date, day( and month) that the surface of the Blancpain 2017 Schedule Villeret Quantieme Annuel GMT is comparatively thin and clean.Lovers of only symmetrical dials will probably locate the eccentric layout on the Blancpain Quantieme Annuel GMT dial bothersome, and those who enjoy a little bit of asymmetry within their watches will appreciate the appearance in addition to the immaculate legibility. This steel version of the Blancpain Quaniteme Annuel GMT is the most bizarre looking of this series. “I want to add here that the model you’re seeing images of is really in an 18k white gold case, but it seems as though Blancpain will create it like a steel version and the exact same 18k white gold case for a different dial choice. This is a chance, but it’s difficult to confirm, as their website is unclear regarding whether or not an 18k white gold version with this clean white dial is available.As a dress opinion, I like the calming effect of this clean dial that’s otherwise very practical. The 40mm-wide case is 11.04mm thick, and water resistant to 30 meters. It wears well as a result of the comfortable case and looks larger given the thin bezel construction. Distinctive Blancpain Villeret-style Roman numerals and fitting leaf-style hands add to the brand’s signature appearance. In steel and red gold, the Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Annuel GMT see also comes on a matching bracelet option that I really like – in addition to the black alligator strap option.
When the watch has been jeopardized (as many watches were likely to back then), he had to rely on alternate means for timekeeping, or abort the dive to avoid decompression illness (or worse). Additionally, it is probably worth pointing out that such a safeguard is admittedly somewhat silly on an ultra-modern dive watch that’s already water-resistant to some crushing 300 meters (and costs $14k), however the allure of the Blancpain Ireland Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec isn’t its utility, but its admirable commitment to the origin material.Speaking of source material, although the situation size to the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec has been increased from 37mm to 40mm, it’s nevertheless a merciful decrease from the previous time we saw that a Tribute to Fifty Fathoms, which managed to actually wear larger than its sacrilegious 45mm situation width. This 40mm instance is really the sweet spot for Blancpain divers like the Mil-Spec, which eventually strikes that nice balance between taking the highly polished visual weight of being a contemporary “luxury diver” while still remaining true to Fiechter’s original vision. If this is a harbinger of what is to come for another generation of Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms collection, think about us fans.But back to the moisture index for a minute — an indicator one would pray one never sees change colour, particularly on a watch at this price range. On the original, the thought was that in the event of a moisture ingress, the contrasting white region of the half-circle on the dial would change to a dark pink colour. Along with the less contrast you see between the two, the higher your service bill is going to be. Blancpain wasn’t entirely clear about what materials actually comprise the indicator, but it is raised and subtly textured such as the encompassing luminous plots. Functionality-wise, it is not unlike a water contact indicating tape you may discover from manufacturers such as 3M.
The exhibition has traveled all around the world: China, Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo, and Moscow. This is going to be the second showing in North America after Las Vegas in January.For that the length of the display, CH Premier will soon be featuring a broad assortment of Fifty Fathom timepieces. This group embodies Blancpain’s enthusiasm for the underwater world since 1953 by creating the very first modern dive watch. Each Fifty Fathom model features the signature elements from the original diver’s watch and layout choices based on the dangers and necessities in the diving world. Latest editions introduced to the group cover tribute to the pioneers of diving, whose passion and dedication has continued to inspire Blancpain to make timepieces with technological advancement and innovative materials for underwater explorations.On May 5, 2016, CH Premier and Blancpain will soon be hosting an evening cocktail reception and talking engagement with Blancpain US Brand President, David Gely, where he will discuss the brand’s longstanding link with the underwater world and its commitment to protecting and preserving the world’s oceans.We invite visitors of all ages to research and find the underwater world through breathtaking images and learn about the ecological initiatives Blancpain supports to research, protect, and preserve the planet’s ocean. As people enter through the portal echoing the design of the Fifty Fathoms bezel, they are going to discover zones devoted to History; Science and Exploration; Art; and the Ocean Commitment Circle.To call additional attention to sea preservation and protection, Blancpain provides the limited variant Ocean Commitment Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback. Limited to 250 pieces, this exceptional timepiece includes Blancpain’s in-house movement and a unique gray ceramic case and blue dial and bezel. Blancpain will earn a charitable donation in the amount of 1,000 Euros for every watch sold in the limited collection.
Considering that the moisture index has no connection with the inner workings of the watch (unlike Sinn’s Ar-capsule technology which functions as an active dehumidifier for the motion), Blancpain’s Caliber 1150 has been allowed to perform as-is. Given the smaller profile of the case, Blancpain 2017 was advisable to select a slimmer movement, rather than use the 1315 found on additional Fifty Fathoms editions such as the Bathyscaphe. Therefore, the power book drops from 120 hours to 96 — that is still a generous amount, thanks to its twin-barrel design. The watch is completed with an exhibition caseback, granting a view of this platinum alloy-coated gold rotor — an extravagant detail for a watch with such humble beginnings, but a pleasant one to have a look at, nonetheless.The Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec can be obtained on one of three choices: Blancpain’s now-familiar rubber-backed sailcloth, a stainless steel bracelet, or a black NATO strap — the latter of which appears to best disguise the price point and match the watch’s UDT trappings most effectively between the three. No need to make a unique watch to celebrate guys, since most mechanical timepieces are already geared to male aficionados. Blancpain, nevertheless, thoughtfully singles out girls once annually to get a special-edition watch designed to be gifted to some female on St. Valentine’s Day. Blancpain, the maker of such tough-guy timepieces since the Fifty Fathoms and sophisticated complications like the Tourbillon Carrousel, has been making women watches since 1930, also lays claim to having made the very first automated watch for women.
That all sounds great but, unfortunately, I could not have the pleasure of testing out the watch first-hand since the model I got to play with was a “blocked” (the motion is stopped from functioning in order to maintain the position of the palms) prototype. Thus, I still yearn to wear a functioning among them and fully experience the Blancpain F185 Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Ocean Commitment II out and about.The first Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Ocean Commitment see has a gray ceramic case with a blue bezel and dial. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Ocean Commitment II kind of reverses that color palette with a blue ceramic case and bezel, and then a metallic grey dial. Both the first and second Ocean Commitment versions are pretty awesome, but ceramic watch fans will clearly flock to this particular sequel limited variant model.This is the very first blue ceramic watch case I’ve worn (from a luxury brand), and it looks fantastic – especially beside the glistening gray tones. In some lights, the blue ceramic merely looks like a black that has something going on with it, but in full light the rich blue tone of this instance material arrives. Blancpain couldn’t really go any lighter with the blue as it might have made the colour too unstable in regards to production purposes.Blancpain and Omega (both a part of the Swatch Group and who discuss technologies) have some of the best ceramic cases round. The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of the Moon (review here) and the ceramic variations of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph have something in common. That is having some of the very best-looking ceramic cases in the marketplace. What makes them so great is the sharpness of the angles in the case, as well as the caliber of the contrast polishing. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph case is one of the best available in a contemporary luxury dive watch, and that goes for the ceramic variant as well. Angles are just superbly sharp, and detailing throughout is fantastic. It’s tricky to experience quality like this and return to lower watches.
In the 50 years since its introduction, the IWC Ingenieur went from being a plain wristwatch created for engineers at nuclear power plants to looking like something produced at such plants. Recent generations of Ingenieur watches tended towards an over designed aesthetic reminiscent of Richard Mille and Hublot.
Continuing the look established with a trio of limited editions launched last year, the latest generation of Ingenieurs reset the design clock, returning to the original models, particularly the ref. 666, for inspiration. The result is a conventional looking timepiece that will be widely palatable.
The entry-level model in the new range is the Ingenieur Automatic, a 40mm wristwatch with an automatic Sellita movement inside. It’s available in red gold (ref. IW357003) or stainless steel (refs. IW357001 and IW357002).
The Ingenieur Automatic costs US$4590 in steel on strap, US$5500 on a steel bracelet, and US$13,600 in red gold.
Also available in red gold or steel, the Ingenieur Chronograph is 42mm in diameter and powered by the calibre 69375. It’s an in-house movement developed as the most basic of IWC’s own chronograph movements.
Unsurprisingly it has similarities to the Valjoux 7750 it’s intended to replace, including size and its 46-hour power reserve, but has some upgrades, including a column wheel and “Magic Lever” winding mechanism.
The Ingenieur Chronograph starts at US$7950 in steel with a matching bracelet.
Slightly fancier is the Ingenieur Chronograph Sport (ref. IW380901), a limited edition of 500. Its case is titanium and 44mm in diameter, while inside sits the calibre 89361.
The movement is IWC’s top of the line in-house chronograph movement, featuring a flyback function and 68-hour power reserve. It’s priced at US$11,100.
The flagship of the new line is the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (ref. IW381701).
Limited to 100 pieces, this is a large, 45mm watch in red gold with the calibre 89800 inside. It’s similar to the movement in the titanium chronograph above, but with the addition of IWC’s proprietary perpetual calendar mechanism with extra-large digital displays for the month and date.
