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Skipdawg 3T WIS 
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There are quite a few watches out there that really catch my eye but this one is one that lately I have been drawn back to a few times to look at and today it came to my attention again. But I'd have to sell off a few of my Grails or take out a loan to jump on this 45mm awesome Chrono. :):cool: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Air Command hearteyes.gif http://forums.watchnet.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=228337&rid=0 http://www.prestigetime.com/item.php?item_id=7552 http://www.pakiemak.com/2008/05/blancpain-fifty-fathoms-air-command.html Pic found and borrowed from Google images. Attachment: BFFC000.jpg (Downloaded 131 times) |
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KenC Admin 
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It is a beautiful watch...I especially like the domed acrylic bezel insert which Eddie Platts was able to represent in his Precista PRS-50. |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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Yea Ken those are sweet! hearteyes.gif Eddie Platts did a heck of a good job there. ;) One is on my "to buy" list. :cool: |
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canadajo 3T WIS 
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man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? |
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KenC Admin
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canadajo wrote: man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? Yes...but, Blancpain does not, as a SWATCH owned company, use a proprietary movement as do the others mentioned...although one could argue that since SWATCH also owns ETA, the movements are proprietary!!! |
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Willieboy 3T WIS 
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That truly is a beauty Skip. |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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Aside from money falling in my lap from a inheritance or winning the lottery this Zenith could be a nice alternate substatute in a more affordable range. ;) If I behave myself in watch buying long enough I may try to find myself one at a good price for Christmas. :cool: Maybe? :D :) Attachment: zenithflyback1.jpg (Downloaded 122 times) |
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teddyhanna Guest
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John that Blancpain looks awesome. Gee i would have to sell my Truck to pay for one....... |
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obsidian 3T WIS 
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KenC wrote: canadajo wrote:man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? Well, but Blancpain doesn't use ETA movements-- they uses much more high end stuff-- a number of which were designed specifically and exclusively for Blancpain. The caliber F185 in that FF Air Command is actually a F. Piguet 1185, which was exclusively designed for Blancpain by Frederic Piquet in 1988. At the time it was the world's smallest and thinnest automatic chronograph movement. Nowadays the F. Piguet 1185 is the base caliber for chronographs from Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin. Not bad company. Last edited on Sat Aug 9th, 2008 06:06 pm by obsidian |
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KenC Admin
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obsidian wrote: KenC wrote:canadajo wrote:man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? I stand corrected...you are absolutely right...my mistake...ETA does not make Blancpain movements...their are made by F. Piquet which are excellent...which in turn, negates any claim of a proprietary movement. :dude: |
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obsidian 3T WIS
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canadajo wrote: man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? From the periodic arguments, ehrr... I mean discussions on the various forums about which are the top ten finest watch brands, most collectors seem to put Blancpain much higher on their list than Rolex, but several notches below Patek and VC. |
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obsidian 3T WIS
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KenC wrote: obsidian wrote:KenC wrote:canadajo wrote:man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? But nobody made any claim of a proprietary movement, or lack there of..... except you..... It just goes to show how silly and subjective all this talk of "inhouse" movements from "true manufacturers" can get. The Seiko 7S26 is a proprietary inhouse movement from a true manufacturer, yet if I was given the choice of either a Seiko Black Monster with the 7S26 movement, or a Cartier Seatimer with a non-proprietary ETA 2892-- I'm pretty sure I'd take the Cartier. :D |
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obsidian 3T WIS
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Skipdawg wrote: Aside from money falling in my lap from a inheritance or winning the lottery this Zenith could be a nice alternate substatute in a more affordable range. ;) If I behave myself in watch buying long enough I may try to find myself one at a good price for Christmas. :cool: Maybe? :D :) The Zenith Rainbow on the left sure has a cool military look to it-- and the El Pimero can give the F. Piguet 1185 in the FF a run for it's money. Plus it's a Flyback! . I recently handled the Bulgari Diagono Pro Acqua with flyback, and the function was so much fun to fool around with-- I'm sure I had such a goofy grin on my face as I hit the flyback pusher over and over again-- that the sales person looked like she wanted to say: "Give me that, your going to break it!" :D :D :D |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS 
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Message to self: I've could have bought a Movado Datograph with a Zenith El-Primero Movement from 1969 ! Last edited on Sun Aug 10th, 2008 01:20 am by Simon_Leung |
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obsidian 3T WIS
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Simon_Leung wrote: Message to self: I love chronographs, but I avoid buying vintage ones-- there are so many things that can go wrong with them, and they will certainly be expensive to fix. |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS
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I agree that vintage chronographs are expensive to repair, but luckily for me after years of establishing contacts with a local watchmaker for over 15 years,has helped to ease the burden of watch repairs. Parts are hard to obtain,but somehow my watchmaker has gotten connection to every brand name in existence. How he does it I will never know. For Example: I bought a 1950's Chronograph with a Landeron 248 17 Jewel manual wind movement from him and the split-second hand was out of alignment. He took the watch apart and noticed that the column wheel wasn't functioning. Two days later, I get a call from stating that he found a replacement part. He gave me one year warranty for both the watch and the new column wheel. |
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KenC Admin
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obsidian wrote: KenC wrote:obsidian wrote:KenC wrote:canadajo wrote:man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? Knock it off please and stop trying to start a flame...we don't do that here. I was responding to a comparison of the other brands mentioned...not knocking the watch! You are trying...no, you are putting words into my mouth that I never said. Your comparison of Cartier Pasha Seatimer @ $5,000 (+/-) to a $150 Seiko Monster, in order to prove a point that was not even proffered is simply ludicrous. Try, instead to compare perhaps the Cartier Seatimer with a Grand Seiko Automatic 9S55-0010... It has the highest grade Seiko movement (caliber 9S55) which promises to keep time within -3 to +5 sec per day. The range is even more stringent than for chronometer grade watches...and at a cost of less that half of the Cartier. In the Cartier price range, one could get a Grand Seiko with Spring Drive. Quite frankly, your absurd attempt at comparisons are beneath the standards of any intelligent discussion! |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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OK no saber rattling in my thread, I do bite. :D hehehehe :P Now about Flybacks. :) They are just awesome and some amazing Chronos. Big drool factor KEWL watches. hearteyes.gif |
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KenC Admin
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Skipdawg wrote: OK no saber rattling in my thread, I do bite. :D hehehehe :P Sorry, Skip...I do not suffer absurdly ridiculous comments well! |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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KenC wrote: Skipdawg wrote:OK no saber rattling in my thread, I do bite. :D hehehehe :P Hay that is why I am here. :cool: For all the newbies when I post you have to wonder what is that crazy Dawg posting about now. heheheheehee :D  |
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KenC Admin
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Well Skip...there is a difference between a newbie and a fool trying to start a flame by attempting to spin a thread with the use of idiotic and absurd comparisons simply to create a problem. |
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goldengrr 3T WIS 
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Let me chime in here as a Zenith owner...I love mine! Reasonable size, the flyback function is very cool, comfortable bracelet and the color version is very unique. Mine gets a lot of wrist time (I dont own many watches) as my dress up (work) watch during the week. Definitely get the bracelet version, IMHO |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS
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I agree that the El-Primero has one of the most comfortable bracelets on the market. The Defy series,is one of the most hideous designs ever produced by Zenith...It's like every time I look at one, sends shivers down my spine. |
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Foster 3T WIS 
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Swatch owns Frederic Piguet you know. ::ducks:: |
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Goofy 3T WIS 
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I think I'd go for the Zenith for the money. Both have great movements and you really can't go wrong at either price point. I have had my eye on a Chopard Flyback Chrono that has been sitting in my local Costco for the last 9 months at $3,099.00, but I know my wife would shoot me. |
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KenC Admin
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Foster wrote: Swatch owns Frederic Piguet you know. I did not know that, but you are correct...interesting. I learned something this morning. The company joined the Swatch Group in 1992 and manufactures prestige movements based on 15 standard calibers. |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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Another great flyback is made by Montblanc. I think they were the ones to develop the flyback chronograph maybe someone knows for sure about that. but this baby is sweet too. http://www.pensinasia.com/flyback_watch-montblanc.htm But here is another Blancpain I have been drooling over this Summer. hearteyes.gif Attachment: bscc01.jpg (Downloaded 41 times) |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS
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Breitling invented the Flyback Chronograph in 1923. This means that when you first push of the chrono button starts the seconds hand. Second push causes the seconds hand to reset to zero and begins. This is opposed to a normal chrono where you push once to start, once more to stop, and another button to return to zero, and once more to begin again. The purpose of the flyback is to begin retiming quickly. Blancpain uses the Rattrapante (Split-Second): Has two seconds hands, the first push starts both hands together, the second push stops one hand while the other continues, and another push allows the stopped hand to catchup with the moving seconds. |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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actually all Breitling is responsible for is adding the chrono pushers as we use today back in 1923 which previously was done by using only the crown ;)...Adolphe Nicole invented the chronograph back in 1862 or sohand6.gif |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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oagaspar wrote: actually all Breitling is responsible for is adding the chrono pushers as we use today back in 1923 which previously was done by using only the crown ;)...Adolphe Nicole invented the chronograph back in 1862 or sohand6.gif Not sure about that with Adolf Nicole Oscar? George Graham is know as the "grandfather of the chronograph" at a much earlier time period. http://www.interwatches.com/index.php?Action=History&Brand=Graham&RBrandId=70 |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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And if that is not right there is this referance also. :shock: :):dude: |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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Adolphe Nicole actually patented the chronograph as we know it today...whereas we push a button to return the chrono hand to 0hand6.gif May 14, 1862 in History  Event: Adolphe Nicole of Switzerland patents chronograph He was known for other complications as well ... http://www.nicolenielsenandco.com/ |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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Right on, gotcha Oscar thanks. I could of looked it up but my 10 minutes of motivation ran out. ;) LOL :D :cool: |
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Foster 3T WIS
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I find it hard to believe that Mont Blanc has ever been responsible for any kind of horological innovation. They are a pen company.....and not even innovators in that field. |
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canadajo 3T WIS
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Swatch owns this as well !?! Does that compromise the integrity of a brand like Blancpain when a mega-corp like Swatch buys you up ... or does Swatch let alone what works and works well ??? KenC wrote: canadajo wrote:man o man ! ..... that is a sweetheart ..... it go's without saying that Blancpain makes superlative watches.....I would think they are elite like Rolex , Vacharon Constatin and Patek , etc. ? |
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Foster 3T WIS
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Swatch owns Breguet, Jacquet Droz, and Glashutte Original too. I don't see them lowering the prestige of those brands at all. They're pretty hands off when it comes to the high end stuff. Last edited on Tue Aug 12th, 2008 11:35 am by Foster |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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Foster wrote: gotta agree with you there Fosterhand6.gif...they don't even manufacture their own watches they are contracted out(I believe Minerva Watch is the source).... but do have some very well made watches that I have seen at the AD ;) I find it hard to believe that Mont Blanc has ever been responsible for any kind of horological innovation. |
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Foster 3T WIS
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Well, if Minerva is doing the work that is great. They are a wonderful company. |
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KenC Admin
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Foster wrote: Swatch owns Breguet, Jacquet Droz, and Glashutte Original too. To make it easy for everyone...here is a link to all of their brands categorized as: 1) Luxury/Prestige Range 2) High Range 3) Middle Range 4) Basic Range 5) Private Label http://www.swatchgroup.com/en/brands_and_companies/watches_and_jewelry |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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Minerva has been around since the mid 1800's and make some sweet watcheshand6.gif. ...here is a Longines Flyback vid... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz2FzTxgX4w and here is a split seconds U.N vid for those not familiar with how these movements workhand6.gif http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCIbhitA-fY |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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Yea I think Mont Blanc has had Minerva do work for a little while now and in 2007 they bought Minerva. So that was a very nice step up. ;) |
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SHADY 3T WIS 
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The Blancpain was on my short list but decided to go with the Panerai. As much as I love complications and chronos....I am finding myself wanting a much simpler watch. I guess I am getting old. |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS
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However, we as watch enthusiasts mustn't forget about IWC,Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piquet for their complications and chronographs. |
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AntFarm 3T WIS 
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KenC wrote: Foster wrote:Swatch owns Breguet, Jacquet Droz, and Glashutte Original too. Cool link Ken, thanks. I didn't realize Swatch was made up of all these companies. |
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Topher1556 3T WIS 
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What a great thread to just read and learn from hand6.gif. And KenC, great job diffusing the situation earlier with the crazy comparison. You mentioned exactly the models/comperable comparisons I was thinking! :D This forum is great to be in. |
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