After the exciting news from Montres Bianchi that they will release a JB200 remake (the legendary left-handed crown dive watch), I felt it a good idea to do a short video featuring this little known Military watch from Marseilles, France.
So...
After collecting watches for over 40 years and owning all sorts of watches these days my passion is collecting military issued watches. Here is my 1993 Jacques Bianchi JB300 or ADT. 300 were made in 93.
Mr Bianchi is a bit of a legend in the watchmaking world and has early connections to Comex, Rolex, Breitling and Omega.
The Jacques Bianchi "Armée de Terre" watch.
This watch was issued to divers in the French Army (note, not the Navy - or better known to mil collectors as "MN/Marine Nationale") - les plongeurs de l'Armée de Terre. There were two basic groups - the SAF (spécialistes d'aide au franchissement) and the TSIO (travaux subaquatiques/intervention offensive). The SAF had duties that included specialization in assisting with armoured crossings, mine clearance, and recon missions in "dirty" water, or inner waters, rivers, lakes, and sewage. The TSIO were a specialized subgroup of the SAF, who were known as combat divers.
The history of these watches started in 1992, at the CEPAT (Centre Ecole de Plongée de l'Armée de Terre or the main Army Diving School). The Captains of CEPAT put together the specs/standards for the eventual contract.
In a French forum, one of the moderators happened to work in the J Bianchi workshop (atelier) in Marseilles, France, during the time the French army let out the contract. The Bianchi workshop was (and still is) quite a large outfit that handled all the dive watches of the French army/navy, including COMEX watches. He describes Mr Bianchi having designed the watch with the following characteristics in mind: shock resistance, oversized bezel (for that time), special notches on the bezel to make it easier for gloves to handle, satin-finished to reduce reflections, the maximum amount of tritium on the dial, and topped with a nylon perlon bracelet with a special buckle.
Bianchi sent 3 prototypes to the French army for testing, along with other competitors for the contract. Two protos were completely destroyed. Bianchi finally won the contract and the army put in an initial order for 300 watches, which were delivered in May, 1993. Following that, the army requested two additional orders (delivered through the end of 1994), for a total of 1000 watches delivered.
Info courtesy of Braindrain
*Watch strap featured is from NDCstraps®
NDC strap (Nageur De Combat) . Here is more about them:-
NDCstraps® :-
100% the real deal and actually made from new/ NOS Marine Nationale parachute elastic. Total military provenance.
Supremely comfortable as they are elasticated.
Highly adjustable so you can get the perfect fit every time.
INCREDIBLY durable Milspec material (NOT repro).
21mm approx width but good for 19-22mm lugs
Standard length will fit most wrists XS to XL.
For XXL wrists custom lengths are available.
To purchase one now please visit the NDCstraps website:-
WWW.NDCSTRAPS.COM
Please follow us on Instagram @ndcstraps