Singapore retailer The Hour Glass is staging IAMWATCH over four days in October 2024. The event is conceived as a gathering for watch enthusiasts with notable independent watchmakers in attendance, including Felix Baumgartner of Urwerk, Florian Bédat and Gaël Petermann, Kari Voutilainen, Raúl Pagès, and Rexhep Rexhepi of Akrivia.
IAMWATCH will serve as a platform for face-to-face engagement between watch enthusiasts and noted industry personalities like Aurel Bacs, Jean Arnault, Maximilian Büsser, and Pierre Biver, providing enthusiasts opportunities to connect and learn. The event includes presentations, lectures, and fireside chats with more than 40 industry insiders.
IAMWATCH will be held at the Singapore Edition hotel. Admission is free and open to the public daily October 18-20, from 11 am-8 pm, however, registration is required and it can be done online at Iamwatch.com.
Blancpain just unveiled an all-ceramic bracelet to match the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe models in black ceramic: the time-and-date, flyback chronograph, and Quantième Complet (or triple calendar). Positioned as the entry-level model in the Fifty Fathom collection of historically-inspired dive watches, the Bathyscaphe has long been available in ceramic, so a bracelet is long overdue.
According to Blancpain, each link of the bracelet unique in shape and size, so each link has to be manufactured individually, requiring an enormous amount of skilled labour – which helps to explain the price of almost US$8,000 for the bracelet.
All three are now available with a matching bracelet
Initial thoughts
Though it was a pioneer in the dive watch as we know it, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms has remained fairly under the radar, despite its relatively strong price-quality ratio. The ceramic bracelet for the Bathyscaphe helps it stand out, as few brands offer a matching bracelet for ceramic watches. While ceramic watch cases are common and found across the price spectrum, ceramic bracelets remain relatively uncommon, especially bracelets that are hand finished with a brushed surface like this.
All links are manufactured individually, with each link differing in shape and size
The ceramic bracelet is expensive – it costs just under US$8,000 extra compared to the same on a strap. That means the three-hand diver costs US$21,300, while the flyback chronograph and triple calendar are both US$26,000. Even so it’s still a good-enough value proposition considering the fit and finish – the case, bracelet, and movement are executed to a high level – and the rarity of a ceramic bracelet of this quality.
Ceramic bracelet
The bracelet fits all ceramic Bathyscaphe models, which are identical in diameter at 43.6 mm, but different in thickness; the time-only is the thinnest of the three as expected.
The Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet is an unusual – and slightly counterintuitive – dive watch with a triple calendar with moon phase laid out in the traditional manner with windows for the calendar as well as a red-tipped date pointer. It has a 43.6 mm by 14.10 mm ceramic case containing the cal. 6654.P.4.
The Quantième Complet displays the date, day of the week, month and moon phase
The Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph has a 43.6 mm by 15.25 mm black ceramic case matched with a green sunburst dial and green ceramic bezel insert. It is powered by the cal. F385, which is an integrated chronograph movement with a column-wheel and vertical clutch.
The chronograph features a green sunburst dial
Last but not least, the base model Bathyscaphe indicates the time and date inside a 43.6 mm by 13.83 mm black ceramic case. The cal. 1310 inside is one of Blancpain’s high-spec movements and boasts a 120-hour, or five day, power reserve.
The red tip of the second hand pops.
Key facts and price
Blancpain Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de Lune in Ceramic Ref. 5054 0140 01S
Diameter: 43.6 mm Height: 14.1 mm Material: Ceramic Crystal: Sapphire Water resistance: 300 m
Movement: Cal. 6654.P.4 Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month and moonphase Winding: Automatic Frequency: 28,800 beats per second (4 Hz) Power reserve: 72 hours
Strap: Matching ceramic bracelet
Limited edition: No Availability: Available at Blancpain boutiques and retailers starting July 2024 Price: US$26,000
Blancpain Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback in Ceramic Ref. 5200 0153 01S
Diameter: 43.6 mm Height: 15.25 mm Material: Ceramic Crystal: Sapphire Water resistance: 300 m
Movement: Cal. F385 Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and flyback chronograph Winding: Automatic Frequency: 36,000 beats per second (5 Hz) Power reserve: 50 hours
Strap: Matching ceramic bracelet
Limited edition: No Availability: Available at Blancpain boutiques and retailers starting July 2024 Price: US$26,000
Blancpain Bathyscaphe in Ceramic Ref. 5000 0130 01S
Diameter: 43.6 mm Height: 13.8 mm Material: Ceramic Crystal: Sapphire Water resistance: 300 m
Movement: Cal. 1315 Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date Winding: Automatic Frequency: 28,800 beats per second (4 Hz) Power reserve: 120 hours
Strap: Matching ceramic bracelet
Limited edition: No Availability: Available at Blancpain boutiques and retailers starting July 2024 Price: US$21,300
