Blancpain 70th Anniversary FF & The "Limited Edition" Problem
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- Опубліковано 8 сер 2024
- A Discussion around Blancpain and their significant innovations of 1953. The 70th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms looks almost identical to the 50th Anniversary that was released in 2003, but with all the great design details and elements, the fundamental is it's a Limited Edition... yet another Limited Edition and its an Issue that the brand cannot seem to shake.
#blancpain #divewatch #fiftyfathoms
Intro 0:00
Blancpain's Influence 1:35
Fifty Fathoms 70th & 50th Anniversary 2:35
Fifty Fathoms 70th Details 3:36
Blancpain's Limited Edition Problem 5:39
Conclusion 7:03
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Yet another gorgeous watch that we won't be able to get our hands on - The issue remains that Special / Limited Editions remain…Limited. The one thing we all want is for these watches to be a part of Blancpain's current production line. Will that ever happen?
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms History: ua-cam.com/video/UuI6SAF1Js8/v-deo.html - well worth a watch 🥃
Great video, but very hard to get excited for a watch that is what all of us want, but 99.9% of us will never see, let alone own, due to its limited production. I rate this a Fail by Blancpain.
That’s a good documentary. Do you have more to suggest, from other brands?
@@richardwarren2024 A safe design for sure and it is a letdown for all of us that these are not being produced. You'd think someone would've heard that we want these designs now? 😆🥃
@@ID-Guy If they only hired you…
I don't think you are in touch with reality if you think 'deep down we all want to own'.
You won't last long when there's a food storage.
Yay! Another watch I will never see in person and never own.
That's the underlying argument... seeing these as standard production models would be incredible BUT then odds are we still would never see them, Blancpain would never meet the demand regardless 🥃
It’s still brilliant to see videos on these pieces. Most of the stuff we see on UA-cam, we’re never going to see or get hold of. I can still appreciate these for what they are. Fantastic pieces with a rich horological history
Really? More so than Omega’s $450k Chrono Chime Speedy?
Not with that attitude.
Owning a diver from Blancpain would be awesome, but the perfect ones are always sold out or unattainable.
I have a Helm Miyako, a microbrand that takes a lot of inspiration from the Fifty Fathoms. 40mm, It's got a gorgeous sapphire bezel and outstanding build quality. ISO rated as well. I keep wanting to sell it but I think these BP videos make me understand how amazing they are and how fortunate I am to own the Helm.
You are spot on regarding the indices....£18,500 I'd want white gold applied indices.....not those almost 3d printed lume indices. But the size is spot on....so frustrating they're not listening to what people want!!!!
I feel like it's going to be a trend to have these 3D "ceramic" looking plots for a while... can't say they're going to gel with a lot of people 😆 Man, if they made these models standard production at this size (for a reasonable price with bracelet) they'd dominate 🥃
Only recently started researching watches. This guy is a gem.
Spot on. I would love to own a FF, and I'm happy to pay the asking (retail) price for it, but simply won't as long as all that's only available is an unwearable (for my wrists) 45mm behemoth.
Hello
Totally agree with you, that’s why a keep my FF 45mm, black dial, always in my safe when I’m not wearing it.
When educating my hypothetical future son or daughter about watches, I will no doubt be showing them a multitude of IDGuy videos to assist me in the process, as they are educational, interesting, inspiring and so well put together. I know that you're a designer by trade, but I think that you'd also make a great university professor or documentary filmmaker as well. Do I spy a Gibson L-00 in the back? Vintage 30s or reissue? Love those small body banner logo Gibsons! An IDGuy guitar collection video would be welcomed LOL! Great video, man!
Great video as always. Liking the sped-up format!
Such a great Watch with so many great editions. My favourite is the Barakuda. An absolutely beautiful piece. Thank you for putting the link to the Blancpain video in your comment. I’ll watch that next. Hope you are keeping safe and well Boet. Great content as always. ✊
The Barakuda... imagine they gave us a faithful 1:1 reissue of that machine? It would our top 5 of all time I reckon 😉Enjoy the doc, boet. It is so bloody fantastic... watched it at least 3 times in the past. And much love! Hope you're having a cracking start to your New Year 🥃
70th Anniversary...this means its my year to pick up a Zodiac! I've held off long enough now!
Something tells me they'll be giving us some '53 Reissue gems this year! 🥃
I had a WMT Sea Wolf and it was awesome. All the vintage Fifty Fathoms inspiration you could possibly want with a workhorse Seiko movement. Only sold it to fund my Speedmaster.
Thanks for the video! Love the Fifty Fathoms… if only Blancpain could give us a standard 38/40 mm with a brushed thin case on a steel bracelet, it would become a serious competitor to the Sub. I was given a modern fifty fathoms by a dear friend, but it’s just too big and too thick on my wrist … it looks blingy and not tool watch enough …., a shame for a truly beautiful watch….
Beautiful watch. Excellent presentation! Thanks for including the link! 🥃
My pleasure Alvin. The documentary is so damn good... think I've watched it about 3 times at least 🥃
@@ID-Guy Makes me wonder why every watch brand doesn’t make an in-depth video like this. I’ve seen a few others but not many.
Remember this is just 'Act 1', keep the faith that we will see a non LE model this year in a more modest 40-42mm! Surely they will have heard the feedback by now :)
"Act 2" will be in Blue and only a batch of 100 pieces, guaranteed 😉
If you look at the watch with a QR code in their advertisements, the case shape mirrors the first 50 fathoms. So perhaps the regular production model will have that case?
@@GCPlati85 A thought crossed my mind while making this video but then they've used 40mm cases in the past with some of their other other Special Editions, so it's hard to know BUT they've also just introduced a new caliber into the mix? These models in 42mm's would be so good man 🥃
@@ID-Guy I’ll take it 😂
@@ID-Guy in what case size? You’re positive?
There will be "5008" sized (or in other words, ~40mm sized) FF available starting the 2nd half of this year. Stay tuned and we will see 🙂
We can only hope... Maybe, just maybe, word has gotten around that slightly smaller watches are in 😉
@@ID-Guy My source person is quite certain about this rumor. Let's see! BTW, great great contents from you as always! Thanks for making these videos
@@tianqi0324 your source is 雨林? My source told me no more 5008.
@@MrRogerYin Someone from my AD. Not exactly 5008, but something with a similar size. That's why I put quotation marks on 5008 in my first comment.
Deep down 😄 , I DO own a Fifty Fathoms. Recent purchase of a 5015-12B30-98B; that's titanium, black dial on the bracelet. I'm fortunate enough to have a wrist that can accomodate the 45mm case. The quality is amazing. Rock solid and the bezel feel is amazing.
If you ever do a wristshot live stream again, I'll send in a pic.
If you remember that reference no. off the top of your head, then damn Meson, all the props! 😆 Must be such a banging piece... and in full titanium...
When I tried it on it was like a ufo landed on my wrist! Glad you can pull it off
Your so lucky I had the titanium on my skinny wrist and it just didn't work so I settled for a ceramic Bathyscaphe and it just fits.
@@IDKline 19cm or 7.5 inches.
@@ID-Guy Well the different bits of the Blancpain reference number do actually mean something. I don't know their entire system, but so far I have deduced the following. So from the 5015-12B30-98B reference number:
5015 = model number
12B30 = variant
98B = strap/bracelet
In the variant part, the
12B = titanium, if it were steel it'd be 11, black ceramic is 01, 36 would be rose gold
30 = black dial, if it were blue it'd be 40, and grey would be 10
In the strap/bracelet part,
98B is the titanium bracelet
71B is their steel bracelet
B52A is their black sailcloth strap
So that gives a basic idea of how it works.
Whenever you post a new video I first click the like button, then I watch with great satisfaction!
Thank you Scott, truly. It means so much that these videos resonate (or at least keeps someone awake longer than 3 minutes) 😆 Really appreciate it brother 🥃
Great job. Will watch the doc - thx for the link. And yes, 1 step forward and 1 back. We can only presume that Blancpain is content w their niche status, unwilling to attempt to compete.
Nicely said Mark. Ah, half of this hobby (2/3rds) is hoping and dreaming 😆🥃
great, great video as always yeah, it feels like every brands doing ltd editions every 6 months to create hype, and yes, the same collectors will get the same calls from their AD's asking if they want one. Us mere mortals, then just dream of owning one, so until then, I will enjoy my Certina PH200, which has so many of the 50 Fathoms characteristics 👌🏻👍🏼
Many pieces have managed to fill that fathomless void for us 😉
Such a stunning watch even on the canvas strap 😍
Few brands have such a repertoire 😉
This is only Act 1. My gut feeling is one of the Acts will be a 40mm regular production. Fingers cross, friends.
I’ve said it before, a smaller FF non-LE would compete favorably to a Rolex Submariner! I guess some companies just don’t want to make a ton of money 💰 🤔.
I feel you. They couldn't keep them if they wanted to 🥃
I’ve been waiting for this watch in 40-42mm and I love it!
Imagine this is the turn around the corner for them? These 42's as a standard would bring so many new enthusiasts in! 🥃
@@ID-Guy totally agree. I think it’s only a matter of time before 40 & 42mm models are offered as standard production versions with subtle updates like the platinum rotor. I think they are just working through ALL the global inventory of 45’s as they introduce a newer & smaller FF’s in limited editions to keep the brand relevant. After all, they have to actually sell watches. And personally I would already own one if I could have gotten a true to historical spec 40mm (the 45mm is just too big for my wrist to displace other pieces in the watchbox and go into regular rotation. And I’m not spending $15k for a safe queen) Awesome video as always.
As always, plenty of depth in your video for all to submerge in (those are the best diving puns I could think of 😅).
Like the headstock of a Gibson acoustic (nice touch btw), I like how the FF has retained such a recognizable design and look over half a century. Credit to Blancpain for not messing with a tried and true piece of art and engineering. Now if only I have $15-20K to burn... 😁
Cheers 🍺
Decent pun Snow 😉and I'm a sucker for 30's Gibsons... screenprint font, small headstock, ah... it's such a great lil guitar. Good call about the fact that BP haven't deviated from their original look (one of the few brands that keep on their own course) - just imagine if we could all get one of these? 🥃
great video! by the way, what's the nato strap and clasp function you use on your pelagos? it's very cool
It’s great to see these watches as it’s a brand I don’t know much about and I should as they are the pioneers of the dive watch. Great piece as always and thank you for bringing different stuff to our attention. The fact that “Rolex “ doesn’t appear in your titles is why I love your channel. It’s just all about watches 👍
The Rolex Clickbait titles are still going on today? Sad state man... sad state 😆 Highly recommend studying Blancpain (and that clip i've put at the top of the comments, would recommend watching it 500% percent) 🥃
@@ID-Guy yes, the Rolex click bait titles are still going on! 😉😂 I will definitely checkout that link, really enjoy that kind of thing , Slainte! 🥃
I owned one of the Fifty-Fathoms Barakuda special editions - although I let it go. It was a sensational little watch, maybe a little on the small side for me at 40mm.
One lucky guy to experience the Barakuda! Understand about the size though. It's a mixed bag of a watch when you see it beside the original. Something about those OG straight lugs and full graduated bezel... what a gem! I doubt we'll ever see the Barakuda revived again BUT never say never 🥃
An awesome watch! If Rolex changed hands, markers, bezel and size they'd be a revolution! I think there may well be more later in the year - this is just a curtain raiser on a year of celebration! The 1315 movement (purpose built for the 50) won't fit in anything smaller than 42mm. The 40mm (and 38mm Bathy) watches use the nice, but not tool watch intended 11150 movement as they're primarily collector/casual pieces. As for production volume, Blancpain is tiny! Way smaller than even JLC (and higher quality). As for size, I recommend anyone try a 45mm FF. I thought 45mm would be too big (my daily is a 36mm), but no - it's a clever design that wears smaller than you'd think (like many Seikos). Really nice to be discussing a super high quality, authentic product, that isn't just hype.
Those stubby lugs of the BP make all the difference with the 45mm size, like you said, similar to Seiko's. The Tuna and Willard (44mm) wear so brilliantly! Alas, we can only dream that a brand like Rolex would change their ways and spice things up a bit 😆 Man, Blancpain makes great machines 🥃
These watches look so good, but so hard to get.
Virtually impossible to get.. it's kinda infuriating 😆🥃
Brilliant. I am such a Fifty Fathoms fan. The Tourbillion Fifty Fathoms is a grail watch for me. It is a silly watch, because a Tourbillion is simply not necessary, but still a brilliant watch.
Another great example of a beautiful watch from a historic brand being stifled by the Swatch group marketing team
The date window not being at 3 kills it for me
So your telling me I'll have to satisfied with my ceramic Bathyscaphe. Oh how I would love a 50 42mm. Great comments as usual.
I’ve always fancied the FF ,my AD called me to try on the new Omega Ultra dive with the blue black face with rubber strap nice , but I’d rather have a FF in blue or GO sea Q pano , thanks 😊
Given all the options you've shared, I'd definitely say go after the SeaQ. They've hit the ball out of the park with them, offering different colours and sizes. A really stellar job from GO 🥃
@@ID-Guy thanks for getting back 🏴👍
Can t wait what the year ll bring in terms of new releases
You and me both, brother 🥃 There's always a surprise around the corner!
I was able to preorder and check out. But at ~19k for delivery in 4-6 months and with the 14.3mm thickness. I decided to not proceed and the second I exited the checkout process, it’s sold out. In the US btw.
I actually prefer the non limited produced 45mm FF stainless steel over all of the LE. But the best LE is probably the Hodinkee collab Bathyscaphe imo, now that’s a handsome watch
I think it is very nice with great heritage, but for about £10k you can get the Glashutte original Sea Q Pan date. A cheaper but as high in horology for me. I parted with my Blancpain for the GO and two years later I don't regret it one bit. The GO will plough a new tradition as a quiet revolution in very high horological dive pieces. For me the GO is the only real comparison for the fabled BP . watch thus space.
There is not one Blanc Pain watch in the current catalog that I would like to own.
And sadly 90% of the Limited Editions we all want. It just doesn't make sense 😆🥃
Yes, a real dream watch - I love the history of the Blancpain owner Jean Jacques Fiechter developing with his team the Fifty Fathoms while Rolex guys got hold of this development because of common scuba diving events at the Cote d'Azur and launching quite in parallel the Submariner which failed in the first US Navy test. Let it be a dream watch - Rolex and Omega are for the "masses" - Blancpain is Blancpain - a dream
Imagine if Tudor made a sapphire bezel GMT that harkens back to the days of the bakelite GMTs??? Please made a mock up of this!
Nailed it. And so I bought a JLC...
Keeping the legend in honor - and doing skx mods😉
And those SKX mods keep getting better and better 😉🥃
How does the make of the fifty address the note in their manuals diclaimer that these divers are not professional dive equipment intended. Thus eludes to jewelry status/ purpose instead?? Hard to compete with competitors who continue engineer/ develop towards professional applications and luxury simultaneously. If i am incorrect about thus observation, please advise.
Sold out, I missed yet another one from BP.
Nice, but way too much for printed dial and nylon strap. Great content in your videos, keep it up 👍
Imagine for 1/3rd less, on bracelet (with rubber and nylon) and available to everyone... we can only dream 🥃
I definitely agree, I love their watch but 45mm 😳😳😳 and those which are wearable are very limited run... I will also pass on this 70th one cause it's missing a bracelet
I love this watch soooo much. But every time I put one on my wrist, it just doesn't work for me. It's infuriating.
Simple elegance.
I could suggest that my birth in 1953, influenced the creation.😂😂
You played a big part in the equation George 😆🥃
It’s crazy they really could be a very popular brand if they made their limited editions wider releases but they just won’t
I really want one.. but I don't get why this is a limited edition.. especially at 70 pieces per region.
Dear Mr IDGuy.
Hope you’re doing ok.
Blancpain, bring on the unobtainable.
Nothing we’re not used to.
In the meantime, there are plenty of others to lust over.
❤
Plenty of other pieces out there brother. Something about Blancpain's designs will always have a place BUT the amazing stuff on offer today, pretty amazing. Hope you're well Dave! 🥃
Good video.
I would not agree that Blancpain is among the best watchmakers today.
I am the fortunate owner of the 50 fathoms Hodinkee limited edition and I had to send the timepiece TWICE for repair (under warranty) because of quality issues.
Never had any such problems with the many other brands I got.
Fifty fathoms are great looking watches but quality at Blancpain is not what it should be for timepieces at this price bracket.
Blancpain FF... people made an aura of something special around it for some reason, but me, besides the history, I don't see it as anything special at all. What's so unique about it, that others don't have ?
If I got one somehow, for free even, I get the feeling I would've sold it pretty quick. It's a good watch for sure, but that's all it is, good, not special. Remove the name Blancpain from the dial and I doubt so many ppl wuld talk about it.
Why can’t they make a no date version?
I think Blancpain are afraid to share dive watches that don't have date complication included (it's a theory I'm currently working on 😆)
I’d just love to get any fifty-fathoms 40-42mm on a bracelet or at least know that they exist and are possibly obtainable if the universe aligns properly 😂
The universe will always be a tilt at this rate 😆🥃
Beauty
Hope you're well m'boy! 🥃
@@ID-Guy I'm good dude. Contact me about meeting up. Would be nice if you're in Edinburgh some day
The Progenitor;)
The foresight that went into these machines...
@@ID-Guy substantial
Be careful of long term storage of your guitars in those stands. Can discolor the nitro finish.
I move them around almost every day 😉 Been getting lots of play time in the new place and thank you! I'll also be moving them around in cases soon enough. Big bonus is this room doesn't get a lot of sunlight (I see you're a Fender & Gibson lover - there's not much else we really need in life) 🥃
Exclusivity for exclusivity’s sake is lucrative, but it’s not inspirational. I wanted a FF because it started a revolution and looked good doing it. The FF is a hype piece now, any inspiration feels contrived.
Nicely said man. We've seen so many of these machines and all wish they'd finally give us something that's "obtainable" ..alas 🥃
An anniverssry submariner would rocket in demand but I doubt theyd do it seeing as tbe Black Bay 58 is supposed to be in that niche.
Jean - Jacque Fiechter was told there is no future in diving Watches 😱
A true visionary. Love that he designed the watch around practicality too. No future in the dive watch... yikes... imagine? 😆🥃
@@ID-Guy In Chess that's called a vast oversight 🤗
Is that an L00?
It most definitely is 😉 Absolutely love 30's Gibson Acoustics (I was really lucky to find this L-00 quite recently) Just set it up properly and it's a lil beaut 🥃
@@ID-Guy Jealous!
Platinum rotor ?
I hope it's not steel! 😆
I love thier watches, except for the bathyscaphe 😉
The Bathyscaphe... oh don't we love em ;)
Some of us….do! 🥰😉
The pun made me laugh.
Always ends up happening in a Blancpain video... think I'll make it a trend in the future 😉🥃
Why wouldn’t they issue a dive watch on a nylon strap instead of a bracelet? Nylon (NATO) straps will wear forever and you don’t have to worry if you have a spring bar failure.
1
Design is perfect for me and size works but price does not. Can’t afford 26k
The hodinkee edition should be a standard production model. It makes no sense to me why Blancpain refuse to do the right thing and make some (more) money.
Blancpain (Whitebread) was bought and resurrected as an ultra luxury brand, so my guess is they don't want most people to get them.
White bread is very scarse and expensive nowadays
Sign me up for an (unlimited!) BP50F 40mm and applied white indices
Fantastic idea! 🥃
The BP FF has never appealed to me. This one is no different. I've wanted to like it, but the aesthetics leave me cold. I'm not going to buy and wear watches because of "significance". I buy and wear watches that make me smile.
Fathoms schmatoms, your Pelagos FXD is prettier and manlier at the same time. My LHD Single Red prettier/manlier still. It's a pass for me.😄
The LHD red is a such a killer. And to think these are a fraction of what a FF would cost too... lends a lot of perspective, right? ;)
WARNING
The Fifty Fathoms models are not professional diving instruments. They must
be backed up where necessary by a professional diving computer.
The water-resistance value is expressed in bar. 1 bar corresponds to a 10-metre
Lovely, but unobtainable, even if one had the bucks. (But, man, you need to deep-six those puns...oops...)
I love the look of the Blancpain, but it should be clear this isn't the same company that introduced the diver watch 70 years ago. It's a new company with the same name.
So, are you really paying for the heritage of what is realistically a fairly new watch and company?
I'll likely never own one, because the price is unrealistically high.
Overpriced like Hublot.
Priced and as rare as they are it’s no wonder the homage market is doing so well. 210 watches is of no use to the watch world. You’ll never see one or ever meet anyone that owns one. Sorry but it’s a pointless re-issue
And for a 70th Anniversary moment, surely now would be the ideal time to make these for everyone. Makes no sense 🥃
Submariner came out first.
Flawless, perhaps, but pointless if unobtainable and unwearable.
I find it quite ugly so not for mec
25000 fathoms is better
Blancpain one of the best watchmakers today? lol It’s a resurrected brand 😂 Just like BS Zodiac. Pure marketing and ok quality.
Sorry, but plain boring. And too expensive.
니가직접산거아니이상 리뷰하지마라!
저는 이 비디오를 "리뷰"라고 부르지 않습니다 🥃
@@ID-Guy 오.예!
I feel what Blancpain need is it’s own FXD equivalent - a tool designed by a specific group for specific purpose, and not limited but cheaper too.