Arms-On Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph Titanium

For a big majority of watch lovers, Blancpain is generally recognized for 2 issues; its high-end, elegant and sophisticated watches from the Villeret assortment and, in fact, its dive watches beneath the Fifty Fathoms vary. And if the watchmaker is extraordinarily good at each, there’s extra to Blancpain than simply that. And right here, we imply pilot’s watches and a extremely mysterious and uncommon mannequin generally known as the Air Command. When offered again in 2019, the primary re-edition of this elusive watch made fairly an impression. Following this now sold-out metal model, the model comes again with a brand new mannequin, this time in a extra trendy look, with the Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph in Titanium.

Historic Reminder

As defined in our first encounter with the stainless mannequin, the Blancpain Air Command is sort of complicated and never essentially well-known. The story behind this pilot’s watch might be traced to the creation of the Kind 20 normal for the French Ministry of Defence, which was searching for a high-precision chronograph able to assembly demanding specs – black dial with luminous hour markers and fingers to maximise legibility, motion with a flyback perform, in addition to a small seconds hand. Blancpain may need began to look into chronographs, even with out being chosen by the French military. Just a few years later, different armed forces started searching for an analogous instrument. Blancpain, which had already received over the American Navy with its Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, drew inspiration from it to develop a chronograph for the US Air Power. This timepiece was provided to American army pilots via the distributor Allen V. Tornek, for whom Blancpain is believed to have created a dozen watches as prototypes. The overall manufacturing of Blancpain Air Command chronographs was most likely very restricted.

In keeping with Phillips Watches, “there isn’t a official documentation about this mannequin and students are of the opinion that it was by no means commercialized or produced in sequence” and “no orders had been positioned and the Air Command challenge was not pursued”. The few current examples of classic Blancpain Air Command might be described as a pilot-oriented chronograph model of the Fifty Fathoms, with which it shares similarities within the design. It was outfitted with a 42mm metal case, a bi-directional bezel, a black dial with luminous Arabic numerals and fingers, a tachymeter scale on the dial and a Valjoux 222 Flyback.

Famend as some of the sought-after army chronographs of the late Nineteen Fifties, the Blancpain Air Command mannequin was reissued in 2019 in a restricted version stainless-steel model, with a transparent retro type and patina-like markers. Now, a brand new, extra technical-looking version surfaces, in titanium with a blue dial.

The brand new Blancpain Air Command Titanium-Blue

When launched, the metal model of the Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph was actually a really devoted re-creation of the unique mannequin, not less than relating to design since mechanics, supplies and manufacturing strategies had been actually not Nineteen Fifties requirements anymore. However nonetheless, one may solely applaud the work accomplished by the model by way of faithfulness. Very enticing, rapidly sold-out and now collectable (perceive, on the market on the second-hand market with a premium), this watch is now the bottom for a brand new version that leaves the retro styling apart and opts for extra a technical look.

Supplies and colors aside, the brand new titanium version Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph is totally equivalent to the metal mannequin of 2019… however you understand {that a} completely different color can totally change a watch! If the case retains its Nineteen Fifties form with a diameter of 42.5mm and a peak of 13.7mm, it’s now made in grade 23 titanium (which we explored on this article on the Bathyscaphe). It alternates between brushed surfaces and polished accents on the edges of the lugs, and the result’s a watch with refinement but a sportier apparel – resulting from each the lighter case and the colder, barely darker color of titanium. True to the unique, it’s outfitted with a bidirectional bezel with a countdown scale, executed in a extra trendy white color (no extra fauxtina right here). The bezel is now made from blue, polished ceramic. The case additionally retains its configuration with two box-shaped sapphire crystals, enhancing the classic look, and it’s nonetheless waterproof to 30m.

Following the brand new supplies and colors of the habillage, this new titanium version of the Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph additionally comes outfitted with a brand new deep blue dial that distills a contact of modernity and technicality. The color is bolstered by a finely sunray-brushed floor, whereas the chronograph counters are snailed. In the identical vein, the painted Arabic numerals, typical of pilot’s watches, are actually made with off-white-coloured Tremendous-LumiNova, and so are the fingers, which are actually polished steel (and never painted white anymore) and crammed with the identical color of SLN. The show is basic at first, with two sub-counters and a tachymeter scale on the periphery, however observe that as a result of motion, this Blancpain Air Command doesn’t have a working second however as a substitute options 30-minute and 12-hour counters.

Below the sapphire caseback is a motion that’s, opposite to the look of the watch, something however vintage-inspired. The in-house Calibre F388B is certainly some of the technically-advanced actions of the model. There’s loads to say about this calibre, beginning with its structure, as we’re speaking about an built-in automated chronograph with column-wheel and vertical clutch – which ensures good beginning and stopping with out the jerks that often happen with horizontal constructions. Second, it’s a flyback chronograph, a worthwhile component for pilots, because it permits them in a single press to reset the present timing operation and begin a brand new one whereas the chronograph is working, as a substitute of the three-step stop-reset-start operation.

Additionally essential, the Calibre F388B is a hi-beat motion, with a 5Hz frequency that permits 1/tenth of a second calculation and in addition improves accuracy. The regulating organ is supplied with a free-sprung steadiness wheel in silicon regulated by inertia screws – to facilitate nice changes and enhance shock-resistance. Additionally, it incorporates a silicon hairspring, which is insensitive to magnetic fields. The ornament of the motion has additionally developed in comparison with the metal mannequin, because it now incorporates a extra trendy openworked gold oscillating weight. The bridges and the rotor are completed with a snailed sample and have polished bevels.

The Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph in titanium (ref. AC02-12B40-63) is worn on a blue calfskin leather-based strap closed by a titanium pin buckle (a folding clasp can be obtainable on request). It’s launched as a part of the everlasting assortment and is priced at CHF 17,300 or USD 18,500.

The Blancpain Air Command Purple Gold

Along with the grade 23 titanium version we had been capable of {photograph}, Blancpain can be releasing an 18k crimson gold version of its Air Command Flyback Chronograph. Aside from the completely different materials for the case, bezel and fingers, this version is totally equivalent to the titanium mannequin. The caseback reveals a rotor that’s gold-coloured, matching the case. This version (ref. AC02-36B40-63) might be priced at CHF 27,300.

Extra particulars to be discovered at blancpain.com.