Comments:
To be saved!
I was intrigued by these few lines Mr Maloubier wrote and always wondered what could be this famous Lip he saw, Rue Royale...
Thanks to this journey in Time, now we know!
Mr Maloubier told us, with his natural humour, that you can find in his dedicace he wrote to you, that Lip didn't survive to Blancpain, and that, a few years after, they died.
Of course, this horological death was not due to the fact that they refused the " Maloubier Riffaud " project, but it is alwats funny, to read, some almost 60 years after, that Diving watches had no future ( Johnny Rotten didn't invent nothing, as he surely quoted these words from the Lip Salesman...
)
Back to this Lip Abyssal, this is an incredible coincidence that a few time before the exhibition, you fell on such a watch!
I like a lot this small but huge monster, with its thick and surdimensionned plexy.
But I'm finaly very happy to see that Blancpain " played the game ", as these FFs are really beautiful.
Thaks for this slice of History, Marv.
If you don't mind, I will save it for the biggest pleasure and interest of our Community.
Best,
Nicolas
... that is life: someone lost and some gained!!!
Marv, thanks for sharing and filling the gap of our knowledge.
stefan
for posting....
It seems that LIP missed a big chance....
and Blancpain gained one...
Cheers
Fifty Fathoms – How LIP missed the chance
Thanks to Blancpain, I had the opportunity to discuss with Robert Maloubier about the origin of the Fifty Fathoms.
As you may know, Robert Maloubier founded in the early 50ies the first French combat divers. But this is only a very limited experience with respect to his incredible life. When I read his biography, I was especially impressed by his youth when he joined the British Intelligence to support the Free French Force. But that is another story.
Going back to watches, I was also very interested in a quick extract of his biography : In the early 50ies, standards for diving watches were not yet defined. There were few waterproof watches, but none of them was really a professionnal diving instrument. Therefore, Robert Maloubier was considering a bespoke watch when he first contacted LIP, a famous French watchmaking firm.
The scene is described hereafter (sorry, it is in French):
credit : Robert Maloubier, Plonge dans l'or noir, espion !, Editions Robert Laffont, 1986
For non French speaker, in few words, Robert Maloubier explains that LIP first proposed a very small gold-filled watch with a massive domed crystal... very far from his requirements. Then, Robert asked if LIP would consider a dedicated production based on detailed specifications that he submitted : bigger watch, rotatable outer bezel, large numerals, LIP answered « No future »
When I met Rober Maloubier last week, I asked him about the LIP watch that was mentioned in his book. Did he remember the watch?
- Oh, yes, perfectly, he said
- Can I show show some photos?
I did not come with empty pockets. I had photos of a watch called LIP Abyssal. A watch that could match the description.
« Gold-filled watch »
« Small diameter »
The watch is about 35mm.
« Massive domed crystal »
Verdict : Yes. Robert Maloubier confirmed me that these photos show the exact same watch as the one proposed by LIP at that time.
I think this LIP Abyssal watch is very interesting because it illustrates how big the gap was at the very beginnning of the diving activity. Watchmakers were very far from the needs that divers could have.
It is not because you print a frog on the dial that you design a watch for frogmen!
The size of the domed crystal is also very impressive and smells like an experimental try. It also reminds me of the Rolex bathyscaphe with its huge domed crystal.
"Finally, a small watchmaking company, Blancpain, agreed to realize our project whose requirements were: black dial, bold large numerals and clear markings: triangles, circles, squares; a rotatable outer bezel which repeated the markings of the dial."
Who said: "No future?"
To conclude, I let you enjoy the inscription that Bob Maloubier kindly wrote on the book.
"Few marks of LIP
A lot of Blancpain
What's the big hurry?
As the Blancpain
is still here !
Kind regards,"
This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-11-05 23:24:56 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-11-05 23:26:06 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-11-11 09:51:35
As you may know, Robert Maloubier founded in the early 50ies the first French combat divers. But this is only a very limited experience with respect to his incredible life. When I read his biography, I was especially impressed by his youth when he joined the British Intelligence to support the Free French Force. But that is another story.
Going back to watches, I was also very interested in a quick extract of his biography : In the early 50ies, standards for diving watches were not yet defined. There were few waterproof watches, but none of them was really a professionnal diving instrument. Therefore, Robert Maloubier was considering a bespoke watch when he first contacted LIP, a famous French watchmaking firm.
The scene is described hereafter (sorry, it is in French):
credit : Robert Maloubier, Plonge dans l'or noir, espion !, Editions Robert Laffont, 1986
For non French speaker, in few words, Robert Maloubier explains that LIP first proposed a very small gold-filled watch with a massive domed crystal... very far from his requirements. Then, Robert asked if LIP would consider a dedicated production based on detailed specifications that he submitted : bigger watch, rotatable outer bezel, large numerals, LIP answered « No future »
When I met Rober Maloubier last week, I asked him about the LIP watch that was mentioned in his book. Did he remember the watch?
- Oh, yes, perfectly, he said
- Can I show show some photos?
I did not come with empty pockets. I had photos of a watch called LIP Abyssal. A watch that could match the description.
« Gold-filled watch »
« Small diameter »
The watch is about 35mm.
« Massive domed crystal »
Verdict : Yes. Robert Maloubier confirmed me that these photos show the exact same watch as the one proposed by LIP at that time.
I think this LIP Abyssal watch is very interesting because it illustrates how big the gap was at the very beginnning of the diving activity. Watchmakers were very far from the needs that divers could have.
It is not because you print a frog on the dial that you design a watch for frogmen!
The size of the domed crystal is also very impressive and smells like an experimental try. It also reminds me of the Rolex bathyscaphe with its huge domed crystal.
"Finally, a small watchmaking company, Blancpain, agreed to realize our project whose requirements were: black dial, bold large numerals and clear markings: triangles, circles, squares; a rotatable outer bezel which repeated the markings of the dial."
Who said: "No future?"
To conclude, I let you enjoy the inscription that Bob Maloubier kindly wrote on the book.
"Few marks of LIP
A lot of Blancpain
What's the big hurry?
As the Blancpain
is still here !
Kind regards,"
This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-11-05 23:24:56 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-11-05 23:26:06 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-11-11 09:51:35
Very interesting post, Marv.
To be saved!
I was intrigued by these few lines Mr Maloubier wrote and always wondered what could be this famous Lip he saw, Rue Royale...
Thanks to this journey in Time, now we know!
Mr Maloubier told us, with his natural humour, that you can find in his dedicace he wrote to you, that Lip didn't survive to Blancpain, and that, a few years after, they died.
Of course, this horological death was not due to the fact that they refused the " Maloubier Riffaud " project, but it is alwats funny, to read, some almost 60 years after, that Diving watches had no future ( Johnny Rotten didn't invent nothing, as he surely quoted these words from the Lip Salesman...
)Back to this Lip Abyssal, this is an incredible coincidence that a few time before the exhibition, you fell on such a watch!
I like a lot this small but huge monster, with its thick and surdimensionned plexy.
But I'm finaly very happy to see that Blancpain " played the game ", as these FFs are really beautiful.
Thaks for this slice of History, Marv.
If you don't mind, I will save it for the biggest pleasure and interest of our Community.
Best,
Nicolas
Nice reading. Interesting.
It's always nice to read where an original concept comes from. Specially when we talk about watches.
Thanks for sharing.
Vte
Innovation is a messy business
A very nice story and great example of how much of a challenge it can be to create new innovative objects of any sort. No future indeed!
interesting story...
... that is life: someone lost and some gained!!!
Marv, thanks for sharing and filling the gap of our knowledge.
stefan
What a great post, Marv!
The dome on that LIP Abyssal is crazy! Imagine wearing something like that everyday. Thanks for sharing this rare piece of dive watch history!
Cheers,
Daos
Cheers,
Daos
Excellent detective work
That's an brilliant piece of deduction Marv. Thanks for posting.
BTW - it was a pleasure to meet you at the exhibition, do you know if the biography was
translated into English? I would love to read more about his life story.
BTW - it was a pleasure to meet you at the exhibition, do you know if the biography was
translated into English? I would love to read more about his life story.
Thanks.....
for posting....
It seems that LIP missed a big chance....
and Blancpain gained one...
Cheers
Late.. But hopefully not too late .. A MARVellous post, Merci !:)
Stumbled on this, when browsing and also thanks to Nicolas, who kindly posted the link
What a nice piece of history, personality and vision proving that the tides of time pass their own marks,
on what is to be the 'future', often quite contraty to what is in someones eyes.
So enjoyable read, with a lot of wisdom..
Thank you, albeit on a late entry but with my honest appreciation !
Best, hs
PS:
- Specifically enjoyed the sentence:
".. It is not because you print a frog on the dial that you design a watch for frogmen"
( credit: Marv)
What a nice piece of history, personality and vision proving that the tides of time pass their own marks,
on what is to be the 'future', often quite contraty to what is in someones eyes.
So enjoyable read, with a lot of wisdom..
Thank you, albeit on a late entry but with my honest appreciation !
Best, hs
PS:
- Specifically enjoyed the sentence:
".. It is not because you print a frog on the dial that you design a watch for frogmen"
( credit: Marv)
Lip Watch style
I rather like the old Lip divers watch, they may have missed an opportunity but their design stands out. I recently bought the last Lip LCD digital gold watch on www.loveexcellence.co.uk
and I love it. Actually it was a good investment too, though that's not why I bought it. It doubled in price, in fact I was offered over twice the price a week ago and turned it down. Nothing like a watch range being stopped to make it more valuable.It is absolutely lovely, much heavier than it looks in the images and really very bling but in a stylish way. The French do style well!