Last but not least comes the
Bathyscaphe 38 (!) mm version for ladies:
Looks tine, right? More on that later.
But first one might ask - is this necessary? I think it is and there is indeed a very good reason for a ladies version:
This is a vintage ladies Bathyscaphe which I found 10 years ago in the archive of Blancpain in Le Brassus - quite impressive what use an image that slept 10 yours on my hard drive might have on day, right?
If you take a closer view you actually see the true significance of the vintage piece: Note the similarity of bezel, dial (particularly the shape of the indices!) right down to the crown and the case. Is this the true ancestor of the modern Bathyscaphe? I did not realise the eventual role of the piece (and I remember running out of both battery as well as card space when taking the images) and thus forgot to take more detailed shots - sorry for that.
In contrast to the other versions the dial is simply lacquered white while otherwise keeping the very same design elements. I personally would have preferred a silver etc. dial with more structure, but my lady disagrees fiercely, so who am I to criticise?
Due to the lower contrast I think its more difficult to read the time, but its still a perfectly legible watch. During night its absolutely on par with its siblings:
The case equally is typical Bathyscaphe, no surpasses here. The attention to the detail and its execution is top notch like the others as well. Strap here is the same NATO concept as I showed for the steel gentleman's version, but a normal cloth strap is available as well.
An interesting view is a view n the back. If course, size does not permit using the same Cal. 1315, but Blancpain has a special treat for the ladies as well:
What is this? The old Cal. 1150 (nicely finished)?
Yes, but horological fine-tuned with a free sprung balance and a silicon hairspring!
Thus, also the ladies get a fully antimagnetic watch!
The rotor - same execution and finishing a with the larger versions. Also the movement itself:
On the wrist - I personally feel the white colour makes the watch appear much colder, but Isabelle would take it in a second! It again swears smaller than 38mm would suggest:
My personal feeling is that particular with this smaller diameter the NATO strap disturbs the proportions of the watch way to much. It also accumulates dirt like a magnet, I really have no clue why a tool watch needs a cloth strap in white!