small-luxury-world: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms - parts of the family (Part 2)

Recently there is a bit more interest in the roots of Blancpain and the Fifty Fathoms – internal & external. Interest for vintage pieces get stronger, prices increase and we can even find lots of fakes in the market. As mentioned before, there is still a lack of in-depth knowledge written down.

There was a comprehensive exhibition held at the Blancpain-Boutique in Paris (November 2010), which moves on to China and the USA.

Most of the (about 100) pieces shown are loans from collectors. Obviously it is used to promote the current Fifty Fathoms Sports collection in some markets, but I still hope that they will do more. At least I could imagine a catalogue about the exhibition and the collected pieces. Blancpain, it would be a great opportunity to do it now!

My topic for the further report is the Trilogy & Concept 2000 and I will try (!) to give you an overview. I don´t know of any source which covers them all and it is a challenge to get them all in detail.

Fifty Fathoms Trilogy

SEA – Fifty Fathoms (Diver Watch)
EARTH – GMT 24 (Two Time Zones)
SKY – Air Command (Self-Winding Chronograph)

“Climbing the Echelons of the Trilogy

Look to the past for guidance into the future. This is the path taken by Blancpain to arrive at the Trilogy.

A strong development yet quiet a natural one, in line with the brand´s own historical concept. This is how Blancpain arrived at the classical look of its six masterpieces and the 2100 line, finally leading up to the Fifty Fathoms´expression of the 21^st century – the birth of a totally new concept. The expression of the traditional art of watchmaking in the oceans, on land and in the air … The birth of an exceptional collection in which man´s universe opens to the art of watchmaking … A collection only Blancpain is capable of offering today.”

(Extract from the above mentioned catalogue)

Case diameter of most of the members from the Trilogy family: 40.3mm

The limited pieces from the Monaco YS editions will not be listed here.

Ref. 2200 – Fifty Fathoms

Calibre 1151, 12 lines, hand-decorated and finished. With a height of 3.25 mm, it is composed of 185 pieces including two barrels which enable a power reserve of over 100 hours.

Calibre 1151

2200-1130 (ST, black sun-ray dial, faceted hour markers and numeral)

2200-1142 (ST, opaline dial)

2200-1540 (WG, blue dial)

2200-1430 (YG, black dial)

2200-3618 (RG, white dial)

2200-3630 (RG, black dial). Limited series of 100 numbered pieces. Each timepiece is signed by the watchmaker who finished and adjusted it.

2200-3642 (RG, opaline dial)

Ref. 2250 – FF GMT 24

Display of second time-zone over 24 hours and bidirectional turning bezel. 2.95mm thick scratch-resistant sapphire crystal antireflective on both sides. Self-winding calibre 5A50, 11 ^1/2 lines, 4.35mm high, composed of 236 pieces with 100-hour power reserve.

2250-1130 (ST, black dial)

2250-1142 (ST, opaline dial)

2250-1430 (YG, black dial)

2250-1442 (YG, opaline dial)

2250-3630 (RG, black dial). Series limited to 100 numbered pieces.

2250-1540 (WG, blue dial)

2250-1540 (WG, blue dial, LE for Asprey)

2250-1542 (WG, opaline dial)

Ref. 2255 – FF GMT 24 Perpetual Calendar

2255A-3630 (RG, black dial)

Ref. 2258F – FF Air Command Perpetual Calendar

2258-3630 (RG, black dial)

Ref. 2285F – FF Air Command

Chronograph movement with Flyback system, self-winding, calibre F185. Diameter 25.6mm or 11 ½ lines, height 5.40mm, components 308, power reserve 40 hours

2285F-1130 (ST, black sun-ray dial)

2285F-1142 (ST, opaline dial)

2285F-1140 (WG, blue dial, LE 8 for Asprey)

2285F-3630 (RG, black dial). Series limited to 100 numbered pieces.

2285F-3642 (RG, opaline dial)

2285F-1430 (YG, black dial)

Mysteries of the 2285F

There have been two different bezels, but I don´t know when they changed it and why. The (probably) early one looks like this – without 5 and 10:

(early)

(late)

The later ones show 5 and 10 at the bezel.

Maybe you already saw the next mystery at the dial. Water-resistant to 200 m … or 300 m – both have been available. Both mysteries can be found together – bezel and writing at the dial, in each variation. Most of the versions in steel (2200-11xx) show 300m on the dial and the versions in precious metals show 200m or nothing. My guess is - if there are steel versions available with 200m on the dial, they just got the wrong dial from the Concept 2000 Air Command. Maybe I am wrong. Who knows?