Blancpain fifty fathoms bathyscaphe

[MaxCargo]

Hi! I think this is a nice watch. Any owners who can coment on pro and cons.

[MaxCargo]

okey, it's time to post in another forum

[craniotes]

What would you like to know? Other than that it's awesome, that is?



Regards,
Adam

[MaxCargo]

Love it How is the strap? The cal 1315 +\- a day ?

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by craniotes

What would you like to know? Other than that it's awesome, that is?

looks great, adam!!

i would like to know how it wears compared to a FF. smaller? thinner?

thanks.

[craniotes]

Originally Posted by MaxCargo

Love it How is the strap? The cal 1315 +\- a day ?

The OEM NATO is pretty much the most badass NATO yet devised by man. Not only is the hardware machined to the same exacting standards as the case, but they're affixed with double springbars, to boot. As for the strap itself, it's high-quality nylon and the holes are reinforced with a strip of stitched-in leather. For me, it's the only way to wear this watch.



The c.1315 is a known quantity, and has been rightly lauded for its reliability and accuracy, to say nothing of its long 5-day power reserve. However, as I'm sure you're no doubt aware, it has been upgraded with a silicon balance spring for Bathyscaphe duty, which improves the isochronism and allows for a sapphire display back without affecting the movement's antimagnetic properties. Timekeeping hasn't deviated from +2 sec/day since I got it, and it doesn't seem to matter if it's on the wrist, or face up in the watch box.



All-in-all, it's a fantastic watch that wears beautifully. Sizewise, 43mm is perfect, and the relatively slim case allows it to be worn under most shirt cuffs (though, it goes without saying that having it on the sailcloth strap will make it wear even thinner).

Regards,
Adam

PS - Now I just have to save up for the ceramic Flyback Chrono version...

[craniotes]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

looks great, adam!!

i would like to know how it wears compared to a FF. smaller? thinner?

thanks.

Definitely wears smaller and thinner.

Regards,
Adam

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by craniotes

Definitely wears smaller and thinner.

Regards,
Adam

cool, thanks.

since they are both divers and second hand prices on the bathyscape put it in the same ball park, how would you compare the bathyscape to the 116610LN/LV?

and, did you consider the grey dial?

[craniotes]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

cool, thanks.

since they are both divers and second hand prices on the bathyscape put it in the same ball park, how would you compare the bathyscape to the 116610LN/LV?

and, did you consider the grey dial?

While I love the Submariner, and the Hulk in particular, the Bathyscaphe moves me more by virtue of its larger (but not too large) case, spectacular movement and relative rarity. Ultimately, the decision to go with one over the other amounts to an emotional choice, however, as they're both fantastic watches from storied brands with a history of innovation beneath the waves.

And yes, I did consider the meteor grey dial, but ultimately I was swayed by the unique appearance of the hardened "ceramised" titanium case. Mind you, now that this option has been discontinued in favor of standard satin-brushed titanium (which looks quite similar to the steel case), I'd definitely choose the meteor grey/steel Bathyscaphe -- the dial is positively mesmerizing in person. Pictures DO NOT do it justice.

Regards,
Adam

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by craniotes

While I love the Submariner, and the Hulk in particular, the Bathyscaphe moves me more by virtue of its larger (but not too large) case, spectacular movement and relative rarity. Ultimately, the decision to go with one over the other amounts to an emotional choice, however, as they're both fantastic watches from storied brands with a history of innovation beneath the waves.

And yes, I did consider the meteor grey dial, but ultimately I was swayed by the unique appearance of the hardened "ceramised" titanium case. Mind you, now that this option has been discontinued in favor of standard satin-brushed titanium (which looks quite similar to the steel case), I'd definitely choose the meteor grey/steel Bathyscaphe -- the dial is positively mesmerizing in person. Pictures DO NOT do it justice.

Regards,
Adam

Thanks, Adam, for your thoughts. Sometimes I toy with the idea of a less "recognizable" diver compared to the Submariner, and the Bathyscape has my attention (esp grey dial/sailcloth).

[MaxCargo]

Thanks Adam! This is on my short list

[sebastien1975]

I love the meteor grey dial one. I am currently hesitating between this model and the new Sea Dweller as my next watch...

[Psmith]

Beautiful pieces that need to be seen/handled

I love the black dial of the titanium model, and the grey is very nice too

Interestingly, the finish of the titanium case is very similar to the steel case

Ideally I would like the steel model with the black dial

I'm slightly puzzled as to why they produced a titanium model, bacause the the steel version is not a heavy watch, especially on a strap and with a display back (a few grams less metal)

It's great to see a nice variety of strap options, especially as Blancpain use a non-standard 23mm size

My only whinge is that they use springbars for the Bathy instead of the FF's screwbars (which admittedly are a pain unless you have the expensive jig)

[craniotes]

Originally Posted by Psmith

Interestingly, the finish of the titanium case is very similar to the steel case

I'm slightly puzzled as to why they produced a titanium model, because the the steel version is not a heavy watch, especially on a strap and with a display back (a few grams less metal)

Initially, the titanium model used a proprietary "ceramised" titanium, which had a unique, matte gunmetal finish that was wholly different from the steel version. After they gave up on that material (less than 40 ceramised titanium Bathyscapes were produced), I can only assume that they saw a need to continue to offer titanium as an option, hence the current satin-brushed titanium case, which, as you noted, looks very similar to the steel case.

Regards,
Adam

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by craniotes

Initially, the titanium model used a proprietary "ceramised" titanium, which had a unique, matte gunmetal finish that was wholly different from the steel version. After they gave up on that material (less than 40 ceramised titanium Bathyscapes were produced), I can only assume that they saw a need to continue to offer titanium as an option, hence the current satin-brushed titanium case, which, as you noted, looks very similar to the steel case.

Regards,
Adam

I've handled the ceramised Ti model and very nice it is too. You are lucky to own one of the few

[Psmith]

Here's a very nice video review of the Bathy