Blancpain

I get more and more e-mails from collectors asking me questions about the early FF's in general, or questions about specific watches. Apparently, some Rolex collectors are interested in Blancpain now and try to apply the "Rolex rules" to the world of 1950...  

Things are not easy when it comes to vintage FFs... Some references are well known, like the Barakuda or the No Rad, or the TR 900. But many others are more complex, and require a lot of work to be deciphered. They need even more " homework " than Vintage... 

Maybe a bit of good news. Blancpain has just published a massive book: Fifty Fathoms The Dive and Watch History 1953-2013. I wrote all of the watch chapters in the book. As much as we could we drew upon the memories of key people, principally Jean-Jacques... 

... last Saturaday, and I was told that they had not the book at the moment, but were expecting to get it in a couple of weeks. Then, on Sunday past week end, while attending the Belles Montres expo at the Louvre, I met the people of the Editorial firm, w... 

I agree with you these FF are industrial objects made for intensive use (nothing more difficult than making a completely waterproof watch) results the few survivors that we now find ourselves often bear the traces of their adventurous life and it makes th... 

...write a book based on your collection only !

... always nice to read information or hints about it! Cordial regards, Abel.

In recent years with the increase in prices people have started to cobble watches together. I find it amazing seeing some of the bastard watches that have been selling. I have seen a lot of very early watches parted together with the 70's era watches. Bri...