Ornatus-Mundi[Zenith]
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(Almost) Live News: Blancpain unveils the X Fathoms: a high-performance diving watch!
Oct 25, 2011,10:00 AM
Dear All:
I had my undercover spy in Dubai (thanks Alexander Linz ;-)) I could participate in this event - sitting on my screen and smartphonely interacting with the event via Alex... Here are some impressions (press data, live shots, questions to Marc Hayek):
First, the watch, the new Blancpain X Fathoms (Ref. 5018):
Blancpain presented a novel - really impressive! - tool watch aimed at professional divers (well, I guess it exceeds a tool budget ;-)). Marc Hayek's passion for scuba diving clearly brought fruit. It features some true technical marvels:
- Depth measure up to 90 meters
- Maximum depth reached memory
- Separate indication on the 0- 15m scale with an exceptional +/- 30 cm precision
- Retrograde 5-minute counter for decompression stops
All packed into a 55.65 mm case (!) made of satin-brushed titanium with a helium decompression valve.
Its movement, reference 9918B, is based on the Manufacture-made Calibre 1315, which has already proved its worth by successfully powering several models in the Fifty Fathoms collection. It has been adequately modified to fit the purpose (self-winding and equipped with three barrels ensuring a five-day power reserve, silicium balance-spring to withstand magnetic disturbances).
Blancpain made use of significant R&D reseources available within Swatch Group. E.g. Blancpain chose an amorphous metal for the membrane of the depth gauge membrane, which is individually calibrated for each watch. Its non-linear nature of the membrane deformation has been corrected through employment of asymmetrical toothing of the rack and pinion.
Displays result from in-depth research to offer optimal legibility, with central depth indication hands, matt black background colour to enhance contrast and three-colour luminescence to distinguish indications useful underwater:
The unique injected rubber strap ever conceived gives the final finishing touch. It comprises 14 articulated parts to ensure a perfect fit on the wrist and allow water to seep in under the watch in order to come in contact with the membrane under all circumstances.
But now lets see some screenshots (literally as I captured the images from display via camera) from the launching event at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo:
Jeff Kingston gave a detailed presentation of the technical intricacies of the watch:
Marc Hayek enters the stage and gives insights into motivation and challenges as well as answering questions from the audience (you see Alexander Linz standing posing my questions, see below):
Hey Marc, don't be shy and show us the watch!
Ah, THERE we are:
The presentation finished with an appreciation of the Dubai authorities and partners who made this launch even possible:
Then, Marc escorts his mother Nayla Hayek from the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo stage:
That's it!
Now the inevitable detail: It costs between 30. - and 40.000 CHF.
My questions to Marc Hayek were the following:
- Did Blancpain collborate with independent technology providers and/or centers of excellence)? Marc: "To a very large extent we can rely on expertise inside the group (mentions the liquid metal technology), so very little third-party know-how was necessary to realise this watch".
- Does Blancpain plan to introduce additional comparable tool watches in the 50 Fathoms collection? Marc Hayek: "It took us 5 years to develop this watch. This one will likely be a one-off. Perhaps we will introduce a somehow simplified version of this watch in the future."
I take this as a hint that the technical were quite significant (and the watch is a prototype still), likely steeper than expected.
But that all aside: Congratulations to Blancpain for creating a watch that is again true to its predecessors, a tool watch, innovative (not only in terms of mechanics but also in terms of materials), and credible (it fits to Blancpain, it fits to Marc's private ambitions, etc.).
EXACTLY SUCH A WATCH IS NECESSARY TO SECURE SWISS WATCHMAKING AND DIFFERENTIATE EUROPEAN ENGINEERING FROM COMPETITION AND COPYING! Crazy designs, PVD treatments and tourbillons can be done by anybody today!
that I had to emphasise the latter says something, but for now....
A very happy, exhausted and tired Magnus wishes you a nice evening! And a big, big thanks to Alexander Linz!
This message has been edited by Magnus Bosse on 2011-10-25 10:04:36