Interesting Article

[DonBateman]

Really cool history on Navy SEAL dive watches. I was surprised to see the Sub failed the Navy's test.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/vi...ving-in-depth#

[tyler1980]

Rolex failed the NASA test too. So they are consistent

thanks for the link

[Uhtred59]

[_speedmaster_]

Awesome read. It's funny (and a little odd) that the Blancpain FF gets very little recognition to this day, even with its superior pedigree and history (both of which are better than the sub). Ah, the power of marketing.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

Awesome read. It's funny (and a little odd) that the Blancpain FF gets very little recognition to this day, even with its superior pedigree and history (both of which are better than the sub). Ah, the power of marketing.

The FF is an awesome watch with fantastic pedigree. But it looks stupid silly on my wrist, and it’s near 7.25”. Completely unrealistic for somebody under 7” IMO.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by dmash

The FF is an awesome watch with fantastic pedigree. But it looks stupid silly on my wrist, and it’s near 7.25”. Completely unrealistic for somebody under 7” IMO.

It's an incredible watch design that has suffered from the same overinflation so many other classics have. The maxi case lug change, seems mild in comparison to some other upsizes

[dmash]

Originally Posted by 904VT

It's an incredible watch design that has suffered from the same overinflation so many other classics have. The maxi case lug change, seems mild in comparison to some other upsizes

Yup, completely agree. 45mm is just ridiculous and looks like some trendy clown piece IMO (sorry FF owners).

[GerardoG]

Nice read, thank you for sharing!

[DonBateman]

Originally Posted by dmash

The FF is an awesome watch with fantastic pedigree. But it looks stupid silly on my wrist, and it’s near 7.25”. Completely unrealistic for somebody under 7” IMO.

That is why it does not get as much love as the Sub. That, and Rolex is a master at marketing.

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by dmash

The FF is an awesome watch with fantastic pedigree. But it looks stupid silly on my wrist, and it’s near 7.25”. Completely unrealistic for somebody under 7” IMO.

It's marketing. Plain and simple.

Just look at how many people wet themselves over the Deepsea. Or the SD43. Those are equally "stupid silly" on smaller wrists. How many of those people considered a FF?

Also, BP make a 40mm limited edition (500 pieces) tribute to mil-spec. There is also a 38mm bathyscaphe. Both of those watches are extremely easy to obtain. Meanwhile, you have people paying thousands premium subs.

[DonBateman]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

Rolex failed the NASA test too. So they are consistent

thanks for the link

Good point! I forget about that one.

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by dmash

Yup, completely agree. 45mm is just ridiculous and looks like some trendy clown piece IMO (sorry FF owners).

Curious. Would you also tell Deepsea and SD 43 owners the same? Or owners of certain AP ROs?

[dmash]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

It's marketing. Plain and simple.

Just look at how many people wet themselves over the Deepsea. Or the SD43. Those are equally "stupid silly" on smaller wrists. How many of those people considered a FF?

Also, BP make a 40mm limited edition (500 pieces) tribute to mil-spec. There is also a 38mm bathyscaphe. Both of those watches are extremely easy to obtain. Meanwhile, you have people paying thousands premium subs.

I dislike the anniversary model due to the text and dislike the milspec due to the indicator at 6 o’clock. I’d 100% be interested in a regular FF at 40-41mm. 45mm isn’t even big, it’s ridiculously huge (IMO). A lot of people use a black diver as their daily, that’s a chunk and a half to wear every day.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

Curious. Would you also tell Deepsea and SD 43 owners the same? Or owners of certain AP ROs?

You’re *technically* comparing 43-44mm to 45mm

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by dmash

You’re *technically* comparing 43-44mm to 45mm

Haha. Fair enough.

The tribute to mil-spec isn't for everyone stylistically, i certainly get that.

A part of me wonders what would happen if Rolex released a tribute sub with red text limited to 500 pieces. You wouldn't get able to get your hands on one unless you ran OPEC.

Im curious to see it BP release a regular 40mm FF. They released a smaller bathyscaphe, so maybe they're starting to wise up and realize 40mm and under is the way to go (certainly for people with small wrists like myself).

[DonBateman]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

Haha. Fair enough.

The tribute to mil-spec isn't for everyone stylistically, i certainly get that.

A part of me wonders what would happen if Rolex released a tribute sub with red text limited to 500 pieces. You wouldn't get able to get your hands on one unless you ran OPEC.

Im curious to see it BP release a regular 40mm FF. They released a smaller bathyscaphe, so maybe they're starting to wise up and realize 40mm and under is the way to go (certainly for people with small wrists like myself).

If they release a smaller (40-42mm) FF, I'm all over it. They have to know that would sell like hot cakes.

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by DonBateman

If they release a smaller (40-42mm) FF, I'm all over it. They have to know that would sell like hot cakes.

Would certainly make sense in this current environment of SS sport models shortages from Rolex, AP and PP. Prime time for them to swoop in an offer a reasonably sized alternative.

I will say that I tried on the limited Mil-spec (40mm) and loved it. Great proportions and the build quality was actually better than Rolex (imho). So, if they can do that for the regular FF line, it would be a great offering.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

Would certainly make sense in this current environment of SS sport models shortages from Rolex, AP and PP. Prime time for them to swoop in an offer a reasonably sized alternative.

I will say that I tried on the limited Mil-spec (40mm) and loved it. Great proportions and the build quality was actually better than Rolex (imho). So, if they can do that for the regular FF line, it would be a great offering.

I don’t get why the don’t do something like Omega with the Planet Ocean. A large and ‘mid size’

[_speedmaster_]

Originally Posted by dmash

I don’t get why the don’t do something like Omega with the Planet Ocean. A large and ‘mid size’

It's really foolish. They're forgoing such a large potential customer base by only offering very large FF watches. Even the bathyscaphe was large at 43mm (until this very recent 38mm offering).

I never even gave BP a thought for this very reason, until I saw that mil-spec 40mm from last year's Basel. When I went to try it on, I was kind of blown away by the quality and feel of the watch. Would have never stepped foot in a BP boutique if that 40mm never came out.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

It's really foolish. They're forgoing such a large potential customer base by only offering very large FF watches. Even the bathyscaphe was large at 43mm (until this very recent 38mm offering).

I never even gave BP a thought for this very reason, until I saw that mil-spec 40mm from last year's Basel. When I went to try it on, I was kind of blown away by the quality and feel of the watch. Would have never stepped foot in a BP boutique if that 40mm never came out.

What’s so funny, is if you think about it, even Rolex has done this. A SD at 43 and a Sub at 40mm (and even a Deep Sea for another 44mm option). It’s just smart to offer that variety nowadays, especially if the movement can simply plug and play into the other case. It’s so little work to actually make it happen.


As stated before, the FF definitely an awesome watch, and one is just being a fanboy to try and talk down its pedigree. I agree with the other poster, 40-42mm and not extra writing like they did on the anniversary model, I would definitely take a look at this HARD. It’s different enough for me, to run alongside a Sub or SD too. It’s an all around cool piece, just too big at current state.