Blancpain

For the last few years we were concerned about the direction of Blancpain, it seemed to lack focus and appeared as a result of a lot of trial & error in search for answers to a changing market. 

With this year’s novelties we have the impression that Blancpain changed with its market, or, better perhaps, decided to focus on different markets. In fact, we have the impression that Blancpain took its collections and streamlined them individually to broaden the appeal to a wider audience:

1. One focus market clearly is the Chinese or in a wider sense Asian customer in general. The Villeret line seems to be dedicated to the now affluent Asian client with a lot of detail work and playfulness.
2. The L-Evolution collection is aimed to address new (& younger) customers with its racing car theme. Blancpain makes good use of car-inspired references and materials albeit it lacks some originality (which is common to similar watches of almost any manufacturer).
3. Third, the ‘real’ tool watches are well represented with the 50, 500 and X Fathoms where some really outstanding watches are to be seen.

To sum up, the ‘old’ Blancpain collector may like it or not, we are witnessing the arrival of the ‘third’ Blancpain (after the original firm & the resurrection in the 1980s). This ‘new’ Blancpain is a diversified company that caters to many with interesting products, but it is not the brand that produces watches immediately recognised as a ‘Blancpain’. This development is less a watchmaking- but a business-driven development, and makes sense in respect to the latter.

Magnus

I think it comes with no surprise that I love the X Fathoms. It’s a tool and not a watch, thus I do not care about the humongous size. Given the merits of the watch I can happily accept it. It plays the technical strength of the brand well but might overdo it a bit in its features (thus diminishing a bit its practical value). Its an impressive statement, well done!

The second welcome addition to me – in principle – is the re-introduction of the Cal. 15 derivatives. I am in deep love with this simple but distinctive calibre, and ever since Blancpain presented the 40mm Villeret in 2005 I urged Marc Hayek to fit this movement into the new cases.

I would have preferred a simple decoration in a simple watch (at best a marriage between the movement of the Chinese limited edition and the face of the Minute Repeater), but I applaud Blancpain for playing the strength of the movement with its different presentations this year. It shows that the watchmakers have understood its potential which is a good thing and definitely stirs a craving for more!

Finally, the matte finish of the 50 Fathoms is just splendid - I loved it already with the Aqualung of last year and this year it comes as it should be: as a 'simple' 50 Fathoms with no frills!

Oliver

I am not a diver, but already bought three diving watches from Blancpain in the past. Is it weakness, craziness or just stupidity, what makes me love them? But once more my first choice would be a diver -the X Fathoms. The concept behind, the execution, the style … and even in this (big) size comfortable on my wrist, to make it short – I love it ?

My second choice would be the simple Fifty Fathoms with the matt finished red gold case and a dark brown Barennia strap. I know the movement since five years now and it still is one of my most reliable and perfect running movements. In that “luxury” combination it is just perfect for a chilling summer holiday.

L-Evolution Chronographe Flyback À Rattrapante, this is one more watch that I appreciate for several reasons. To me it is the first watch from Blancpain that really fits to their car racing ambitions – not only because of its complication. Most of the details (design of the case, the crown, the pushers, the indexes …, carbon fibre inserts, the matt finished cases …) are very nice and very well made. Only the big red numbers I don´t like that much and I would prefer the Alcantara strap with grey stitching for both versions. The digital style Large Date adds some extra spice and the jump in a second at midnight I always liked a lot. The finish of the movement and the view on the movement is very nice. Could imagine that watch in a titanium version or another light metal … in the future.

(sorry, no pics of the two photographers here... ;-()

Magnus & Oliver

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