Blancpain

Hoping someone might have a thought on this please.

We all know that all Rolex watches will survive train crashes and, along with Sinn and Bremont, etc., they use a variant of steel much harder than normal your normal cutlery. A Leman will cost anything up to 3 x your average Rolex. But how does a Leman stack up for durability? Ignore for a moment the price and the treatment it might deserve, will the train crash damage the Leman more than the Rolex?

Thanks 

This message has been edited by ollydlf on 2014-07-02 02:31:55

Hi,

I'm going to advise somewhat outside my area of expertise and propose that Leman models not be subjected to golf, tennis, or locomotive derailments. The Leman isn't really a hardcore sports watch the way many Rolex models like the GMT, Sub, SeaDweller, and other definitely are. Those watches sacrifice a great deal of finish detail, craft attention, and traditional watchmaking handiwork in order to be rugged above all else.

The Leman line isn't really that type of sports watch. It's more of a "sportsman's" watch. The kind of watch you might wear in casual company *at* a sporting event when formal attire isn't necessary and a watch should be handsome but issue no pretense.

Most Blancpain movements are hereditary designs from the original F. Piguet/Blancpain resurrection era, and they are exquisite pieces. These movements prioritize fine finish, long power reserves, complications, and elegant engineering. These movements are throwbacks to the best of mid century mechanical watchmaking. Withstanding indifferent owners who might play tennis or golf with the watch wasn't part of F. Piguet's design brief.

As far as movements go, only the 1315 and 13R0 were designed explicitly for the way people wear fine sports watches today. Thanks to the Rolex, which must design watches for owners who have little sympathy for mechanical movements, many other watchmakers, Blancpain included, have been forced to rethink the design parameters of their new products. People now expect premium watches to accompany them to the beach, while jogging, and even to the gym(!).

Seriously, the premium watch buyer of today increasingly expects near quartz durability and reliability from mechanical watches.

For maximum durability in a Blancpain sports model, go with a post 2007 FF with the 1315 or an L-Evolution with the 13R0 and its derivatives.

Best,

Tim

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Tim, thanks for such a comprehensive reply. Presumably though the Leman series have a degree of shock-resistance designed into them for the occasional drop or knock?

which are appropriate as well:

FF Bathyscaphe (2013)

cal. 1315, as well

FF Bathyscaphe Chronograph (2014)

Both have modern movements which are more sophisticated and tough as their predecessors from the 80s/90s.

Cheers,
Oliver

Dear Oliver, This message has been edited by MTR on 2014-07-08 03:12:35

with that case. But I am also not sure if it is already available in the shops. Sorry!

Oliver

I would not use any Piguet 1150 based watch for heavy activities. Sports are forbidden, I had to learn this the expensive way ;-)

My Rolexes scratched as much if not more than my Omegas, Pateks and Blancpain Lehman. The only advantage of wearing the typical ubiquitous Rolex complication is that it is the least complicated of watches with less precious metal in the mechanism than a Patek or Blancpain. With parts made of teflon etc. and with a fewer number of parts its easier for innards of the typical Rolex piece to be a bit more rugged. But all my watches including the Lehman have shot, swam and climbed in the hardiest of conditions. 

if the case/bracelet survives, but the movement is damaged? The weakest point is the movement and especially if it is a small & complicated one.

Sorry, I am confused by your arguments.

Oliver

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It is quite uncommon to ask about the steel instead of the movement in that context. Nonetheless when it comes to steel and durabiliy I would bet on the X-71 (bracelet for Leman) as it is just sooooo solid.

Examples:

Sidenote: tried to upload more pictures, but uploader didn´t work anymore. Sorry :-(