Blancpain - Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph BOC II. Blancpain reconfirms its commitment with the launch of a new limited edition, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment II (BOC II). The price of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph BOC II is Euro 19,000 / US$ 20,100.
Blancpain’s commitment to oceanic environmental causes took on a new dimension in 2014 with the collaborative gathering of all its partnerships in the realm of ocean exploration and preservation under the label Blancpain Ocean Commitment, as well as with the launch of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Ocean Commitment limited edition.
Two years and ten expeditions later (three million square kilometers of marine protected areas have been added with Blancpain’s contribution), the Swiss brand reconfirms its commitment with the launch of a new limited edition watch, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment II (BOC II).
For the first time, this piece features an all-blue ceramic case.
This colouring is achieved by adding pigments during the ceramic production process, together with a binding agent. Subsequently, to obtain this uniform, long-lasting hue throughout the entire case, two techniques were used. The first is a compaction process, where ceramic in powder form is pressed into a mold to obtain its shape. The second technique involves using an injection process to insert ceramic in the form of granules into the mold. This step enables the creation of a blueprint in the final shape.
After this, the piece is placed in an oven on a low temperature in order to eliminate the bonding agent. When this is done, the latter is heated at a high temperature – a phase known as sintering – in order to give the ceramic its ultimate hardness. Lastly, the machining and finishing operations take place in order to provide the geometry and final look of each part.
The compacting process was used for the case-middle, case-back, bezel and chapter-ring insert. The second technique involving the injection method - highly complex to master but particularly suitable for small pieces for its high precision - was adopted for the crown and push-pieces.
In the past it had not been possible to obtain a perfectly identical colour for the two techniques. After several years of trials, Blancpain has now been able to successfully master the injection method to obtain the desired colour. As a result, the entire case of the watch is a uniform shade of blue, the blue of the oceans to which the Blancpain brand is so attached.
The 43.60 mm x 15.25 mm case houses the F385 automatic calibre beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz), an ideal frequency for a chronograph as it enables each second to be divided into intervals of a tenth of a second. The flyback chronograph is driven by a column-wheel and features a vertical clutch to ensure faultless operation and eliminate any unexpected jerking of the watch hand when the chronograph is engaged.
This solution is also important to allow the chronograph mechanism to operate without any negative impact on the watch’s rate accuracy.
The flyback function enables immediate resetting of the chronograph to zero or restarting by simply pressing a pusher at 4 o’clock, in contrast to standard chronographs which require three steps to time successive events.
In addition, like all recent movements made by the Manufacture Blancpain, this calibre is equipped with a silicon balance-spring. Power reserve is 50 hours.
Water-resistant to 300 metres / 990 feet, the Fifty Fathoms Flyback Chronograph BOC II features a unidirectional bezel with grey inserts and hour-markers in Liquidmetal.
This 250-piece limited-edition watch is also distinguished by its oscillating weight - visible through the sapphire crystal case-back - engraved with the words "Ocean Commitment”.
The price of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph BOC II is Euro 19,000 / US$ 20,100. An amount of 1,000 Euro is taken from the price of each watch and committed by the brand to the support of scientific expeditions. Clients receive a certificate that a donation has been done and are entitled to join the select group of Ocean Commitment Circle members. More info at blancpain-ocean-commitment.com and blancpain.com
Two years and ten expeditions later (three million square kilometers of marine protected areas have been added with Blancpain’s contribution), the Swiss brand reconfirms its commitment with the launch of a new limited edition watch, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment II (BOC II).
For the first time, this piece features an all-blue ceramic case.
This colouring is achieved by adding pigments during the ceramic production process, together with a binding agent. Subsequently, to obtain this uniform, long-lasting hue throughout the entire case, two techniques were used. The first is a compaction process, where ceramic in powder form is pressed into a mold to obtain its shape. The second technique involves using an injection process to insert ceramic in the form of granules into the mold. This step enables the creation of a blueprint in the final shape.
After this, the piece is placed in an oven on a low temperature in order to eliminate the bonding agent. When this is done, the latter is heated at a high temperature – a phase known as sintering – in order to give the ceramic its ultimate hardness. Lastly, the machining and finishing operations take place in order to provide the geometry and final look of each part.
In the past it had not been possible to obtain a perfectly identical colour for the two techniques. After several years of trials, Blancpain has now been able to successfully master the injection method to obtain the desired colour. As a result, the entire case of the watch is a uniform shade of blue, the blue of the oceans to which the Blancpain brand is so attached.
The 43.60 mm x 15.25 mm case houses the F385 automatic calibre beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz), an ideal frequency for a chronograph as it enables each second to be divided into intervals of a tenth of a second. The flyback chronograph is driven by a column-wheel and features a vertical clutch to ensure faultless operation and eliminate any unexpected jerking of the watch hand when the chronograph is engaged.
This solution is also important to allow the chronograph mechanism to operate without any negative impact on the watch’s rate accuracy.
The flyback function enables immediate resetting of the chronograph to zero or restarting by simply pressing a pusher at 4 o’clock, in contrast to standard chronographs which require three steps to time successive events.
In addition, like all recent movements made by the Manufacture Blancpain, this calibre is equipped with a silicon balance-spring. Power reserve is 50 hours.
Water-resistant to 300 metres / 990 feet, the Fifty Fathoms Flyback Chronograph BOC II features a unidirectional bezel with grey inserts and hour-markers in Liquidmetal.
This 250-piece limited-edition watch is also distinguished by its oscillating weight - visible through the sapphire crystal case-back - engraved with the words "Ocean Commitment”.
The price of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph BOC II is Euro 19,000 / US$ 20,100. An amount of 1,000 Euro is taken from the price of each watch and committed by the brand to the support of scientific expeditions. Clients receive a certificate that a donation has been done and are entitled to join the select group of Ocean Commitment Circle members. More info at blancpain-ocean-commitment.com and blancpain.com
COMMENTS