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Like BP but do not like this watch.
Jeff,
I like many offerings in BP's line-up of watches and I own a Leman Ultra Slim Grande Date (great watch). I also agree with your statement regarding BP's investment into watchmaking and the quality of their offerings. But it's here where we depart on this issue.
The problem with the X fathoms is not in its quality of construction nor in its mechanical performance. The problem lies in it's design. Aside from its massive 55.7 mm size and subjective aesthetic preferences, the watches display system has been poorly designed from a human factors perspective making all the mechanical innovation useless to a diver.
Let's evaluate the color choices in this functional "tool"
watch:
- Hour, minute,second hands and time indices are luminova (off white)
- Real Depth Hand and 0-90m scale are gold
- Real Depth Hand 0-15m hand and scale are blue
- Maximal depth memory hand is red
- The retrograde 0-5 min hand is blue and the indices are blue and gold
Are ya with me so far? OK, let's submerge then...
At about 15' (5m) the red will look gray. Between 30-35' (10m) the gold will go to light gray. So now we have a complex analog white, light gray, gray and blue display system. Forgeting it's size, aesthetics or violation of human factors display guidelines; this is a galactic oversight by their design team.
My $.02,
Bob
- Hour, minute,second hands and time indices are luminova (off white)
- Real Depth Hand and 0-90m scale are gold
- Real Depth Hand 0-15m hand and scale are blue
- Maximal depth memory hand is red
- The retrograde 0-5 min hand is blue and the indices are blue and gold
Are ya with me so far? OK, let's submerge then...
At about 15' (5m) the red will look gray. Between 30-35' (10m) the gold will go to light gray. So now we have a complex analog white, light gray, gray and blue display system. Forgeting it's size, aesthetics or violation of human factors display guidelines; this is a galactic oversight by their design team.
My $.02,
Bob
(Almost) Live News: Blancpain unveils the X Fathoms: a high-performance diving watch!
Dear All: I had my undercover spy in Dubai (thanks Alexander Linz ;-)) I could participate in this event - sitting on my screen and smartphonely interacting with the event via Alex... Here are some impressions (press data, live shots, questions to Marc Ha...
Well...
This watch represents nearly everything a diver needs. Another story is if a diver needs a mechanical dive computer which is costing some 30-40 times what a good computer is costing. However, the desk divers will get an impressive piece of titanium to the...
Everything...
....yep, when I'm at depth, I really want to try to distinguish between the multitude of hands and a blue 0-15m scale... Clarity is the first job of a dive watch but they did 'in-depth research to offer optimise legibilty' so what would I know? The 90m ga...
In recreational diving
one of the main issues is to stay within non-decompression limits. For that a good dive computer is needed. Surely one can dive with the help of dive tables, depth gauge and a good watch. However, nothing can really replace a dive computer. This new Blanc...
Completely agree.
For recreational diving, the enjoyment and safety is greatly enhanced by a dive computer over the square profile of tables- timer-depth gauge. (That said, for my technical diving, all I use is a schedule on wetnotes, a bottom timer/depth gauge. I've tried...
Completely agree BUT
I guess that it would be difficult to dive a FULL year with the savings in Philippines. In Thailand that's easy. It's true what you are saying about technical diving. Anyhow, I guess that the new Blancpain will be seen just on the wrists of desk divers. B...
Well said!
With the money spent on a Blancpain FF, I could do 10 live-onboards to Rajah Ampat for 10 days each. A submariner or LLD or seamaster on the other hand is another story.
Agree
Now that's a serious monster on the loose. Let's hope this design is sound and has no weak links in the chain - that said- I am infuriated by my NSA being "repaired" for a glued on bezel. My next dive watch has to be bulletproof.
Stunning diving tool.
Design? well, who am I to say if it's ok or not. A bit busy, but seen as a diving tool, I like it. Size? NO WAY!!! Thanks for sharing, Vte
What seems to save the wearability of this FF is the fact that
There are no lugs. The lugs seem to be incorporated in the strap, not in the prolongation of the case. So 55 mm should not be too problematic. This point has to be checked in the real, though. What to think and to say? If you want to go far from the roots...
Another thing, dude's wrist is HUGE!
Lug or no lug it is still a 55mm watch. Last time I check most people can't handle the 52mm Mare but Marc mades the X Fathoms looks like vintage Subs. I'm crying over I can't wear comfortably the new FF (45mm). I do hope Blancpain can release an Asian fri...
Well, I know some 36 mm watches, which, with the lugs are 44 / 45 mm.
Imagine a 47 mm watch with lugs, you may well have a 55mm case, at the end. Still, it has to be checked in the real. Yes, the watch is naturally big, but this is the too big which has to be checked. Nicolas
Hmmm...
.. I’m disappointed aesthetically.Technically I’m absolutely impressed and have no doubt of the world class fit and finish on this or any Blancpain.
Aside from being grotesque...
The red will disappear at about 5 meters and the yellow some where between 10-15 meters. Only the white and blue will hold up at depth. I am not expecting any industrial design awards or calls from Stockholm on this one. It kind of reminds me of a bad Det...
I am impressed.
One can criticize as much as they want and say that this and that is not perfect and that a diving computer is better, but I fear that this is not the point. This is about watches and I must say that in this case, Blancpain has demonstrated that they real...
This is about watches, indeed
If some day a manufacturer is trying to replace iPhone by building a telex into a watch, it might be impressive technically but for communication it's stupidity. The new X Fathoms is not for diving and divers. Period. Best, Kari
Speechless....
The size, the price, it's a nonsense watch! Did Blancpain employ Nathaf?
Comments about dive computers and more
I understand that a modern microchip infested dive computer can do more than this watch and do it more cheaply. But my friends so can my $20 Casio quartz watch which has a perpetual calendar, calculator, alarm function, chronograph, note taking memo funct...
Hi Jeff ...
good to see you here and to read your thoughts about the novelty. Mine you will find below your post. Only one recommendation, if that is ok for you: You should go for some cool surf shorts from sunny California, instead of cords, for such an event See yo...
55 mm
is the perfect size for an everyday watch. It's not matter of quartz or PC, it's a matter of reason...good for a (expensive) diving week-end and nothing more.
That may be so...
...this is presented as a Dive Watch , therefore it is about the best tool/instrument/what-have-you for the job. It is not as simple as the 'dreaded' quartz versus pushing what can be done mechanically. To dismiss dive computers as just a bunch of microch...
First of all ...
thanks to Magnus & Alex for that slightly different report, which fits to the watch as it is slightly different as well After all those FF limited editions lately, with more or less just cosemetic make-up it is very refreshing to see something new - a...
Thanks for all your comments, I'll provide more thoughts later...
need some fresh air. Best, Magnus
Magnus, are you sure ...
it is not fresh water what you need Anyway take a deep dive, ääähhhhhh breath ... Oliver
"fresh water"...
to dilute a 12-year Langavulin Cask Strength into a magical dink? Cheers, Magnus
Can we make it Four....
and may I propose an 18 year old Fettercairn ? (I keep a nice wee supply here when ever I come back from Scotland) Cheers Tony
I like it for its mechanical engineering......
Firstly, thankyou to Mr Magnus Bosse for bringing this to us - a great post! Love it or hate it - the volume of posts stating everyones valued opinions just tells us all how passionate we are for the Fifty Fathoms legacy! The look is fantastic (for me), I...
Great Tool.
If you want to look at it as a watch, forget it. For a watch it is complicated, too big, "ugly" or "bold" depending on your taste. But I had some diver point of view, and if they didn't all like the look they were surprised by the performance adn the pres...
forget Blancpain as long as they are part of Hayeks Mafia
I really love old Blancpains. But the design and quality fot he current ones is horribel and a shame for the brand. Nice report. Many thx. But the brand is lost as long as they are part of Hayeks group.
What do you have to say not about the design, which is by essence subjective...
But about the quality of the modern FFs? You know I'm a big fan of the Vintage, and less fan of the moderns, but how can you say that the quality is lacking? What are your criterias? At the contrary, I do think that the quality is much better on the moder...
Let me weigh in as well.
I am rather disappointed to see the charge of quality of Blancpain being "horrible". Let's examine this statement (which is backed by no specifics at all). Do you measure quality of the movements? Blancpain is a 100% manufacture. Every single movement is ...
Like BP but do not like this watch.
Jeff, I like many offerings in BP's line-up of watches and I own a Leman Ultra Slim Grande Date (great watch). I also agree with your statement regarding BP's investment into watchmaking and the quality of their offerings. But it's here where we depart on...
Great post Magnus!.........
I've seen photo's of this watch 4 or 5 times now. The first time I looked at the photos I wasn't much of a fan, looking at it again a couple times now I really like the watch. My only concern is the size so I would have to see the watch in person. Tony
Many thanks for your report, I wish I was a fortunate professional diver.
I congratulate Blancpain for such technical abilities and execution, and for setting new standards in this highly coveted field. It is amassing to see all those resources united in one piece. I do not know that I like the watch, but I admire it. Blancpain...