Author Archives: Timmy Tan

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe: depth issues?

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Blancpain’s 2013 novelty, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe as seen on the 19th storey of OUE Bayfront at ME@OUE in Singapore on 20 June 2013 at 3.10pm. At 3pm, the PSI (pollution standard index) reading was 312. In the background, one can briefly make out Marina Bay Sands even in the haze. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Blancpain’s 2013 novelty, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe as seen on the 19th storey of OUE Bayfront at ME@OUE in Singapore on 20 June 2013 at 3.10pm. At 3pm, the PSI (pollution standard index) reading was 312. In the background, one can briefly make out Marina Bay Sands even in the haze. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

One look will not allow you to totally figure out how the understated elegance of Blancpain’s sporty Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe was created. The watch is named after the bathyscaphe which is a deep-sea submersible.

The military feel is understandable because of the triple-loop NATO strap.

Observe carefully once more and take note of the refined hour markers which are made of gold and are luminescent.

What you might not know is that the graduated scale on the unidirectional bezel is in Liquidmetal. This is an “amorphous metal alloy” highly resistant to deformation which bonds well with the ceramic bezel insert.

One pleasant surprise is the open sapphire crystal case back. Most diving watches would have a closed case back for water-resistance security issues.

By having an open sapphire crystal case back, Blancpain offers more

By having an open sapphire crystal case back, Blancpain offers more “viewing depth” by exposing its Calibre 1315 automatic movement with five days (120 hours) of power reserve. With an open case back, the watch still has the water-resistance of 30 bar or 300 metres and the anti-magnetic feature. Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience museum can be roughly made out in the background despite the haze. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Similar to the Fifty Fathoms Automatique of 2007, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe houses the Calibre 1315 automatic movement.

The Fifty Fathoms Automatique has the water-resistance of 300 metres and a closed case back.

So was the water-resistance level of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe compromised with an open case back?

It wasn’t simply because the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is also water-resistant to 30 bar or 300 metres.

Due to the haze over Singapore, it was even easier to create what is known in photography as the shallow depth of field effect and that is, keeping Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in sharp focus and having a blurry background as seen in the two earlier images. This image was taken at 12.37pm on 20 June 2013. The PSI at 1pm was 371, the day’s high. A PSI reading above 300 means that the air quality is hazardous. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

Due to the haze over Singapore, it was even easier to create what is known in photography as the shallow depth of field effect and that is, keeping Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in sharp focus and having a blurry background as seen in the two earlier images. This image was taken at 12.37pm on 20 June 2013. The PSI at 1pm was 371, the day’s high. A PSI reading above 300 means that the air quality is hazardous. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

What is also intriguing is the claim of being anti-magnetic; after all, watches with anti-magnetic features typically have closed case backs.

One explanation for this feature in Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe being the use of the non-magnetic silicon balance spring (which is not used in the Fifty Fathoms Automatique).

For us, Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is an understated elegant sports watch with an open back that offers more “depth” so to speak, allowing one the pleasure of viewing its movement – the Calibre 1315.

Zenith Pilot: Type 20 – the 6 C-type?

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Zenith’s Pilot: Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 with full pavé dial and bezel. Diameter: 60mm. Priced at around US$200,000 or 150,000 euros or slightly above S$250,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio, at BaselWorld 2013

Zenith’s Pilot: Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 with full pavé dial and bezel. Diameter: 60mm. Priced at around US$200,000 or 150,000 euros or slightly above S$250,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio, at BaselWorld 2013

If you enjoy huge aviator-type wristwatches, then Zenith’s Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 from the brand’s Pilot collection is worth consideration.

With its diameter of 57.5mm, you simply cannot miss it.

Though large in size, one thing is for sure, you will not spot many because the Zenith Pilot Montre D’Aéronef Type 20, launched in 2012, is a limited edition model; 250 pieces in titanium and 75 pieces in rose gold.

There is an obvious reason for the size of the Zenith Type 20 wristwatch. It is powered by the manual-winding Calibre 5011K movement, a descendent of Zenith’s 5011 pocket watch movement from the 1960s.

The Zenith Type 20 is large is size but has a slow heartbeat, beating at half the rate of its famed El Primero 36,000 vibrations per hour movement.

Running at the frequency of 2.5 Hertz or 18,000 vibrations per hour, the Zenith Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 offers 48 hours of power reserve after being fully wound.

Do take note that the image of the Zenith Pilot Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 shown above is an atypical example. This is an “off-catalogue” white gold piece made for those who wish to sport a super large bling watch and have US$200,000 or 150,000 euros to spare (priced at slightly above S$250,000).

This diamond timepiece is not only larger with a diameter of 60mm, it also features skeletonised hands for better viewing and appreciation of the precious stones. We suspect one reason for the larger diameter is to accommodate the diamonds.

We had the opportunity to have a take a look at this special watch during the 2013 BaselWorld watch fair in April. There is unconfirmed talk that only five such pieces will be made.

In fact, from what we know, there has already been one request for a customised full-pavé diamond set Type 20 wristwatch with baguette diamonds from a gentleman watch collector based in Southeast Asia.

For us, the full pavé Zenith Pilot Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 can also be known as a 5C-type simply because of the diamonds. The 5Cs for assessing the quality of diamonds being carat, cut, clarity, colour and certification.

Well, then again, maybe it should be a 6C-type. Why? This Zenith Type 20 is also COSC-certified, hence the sixth “C” – the “chronometer” label on the dial (seen on the power reserve indicator).