The Breitling Watch Source Forums

replay monday 6/27/11 at 12:00 a.m. pacific time
I was very surprised how little hands on work are done on panerai's, mostly machines. they had a episode with blancpain watches and they are pretty much all hands on, one watchmaker from start to finish. but then again Panerais are not Blancpain. Steve

That Blancpain episode featured a rose gold tourbillon model with a price tag of $150,000. I have to wonder if the Fifty Fathoms, which retails for $10k, has that much hands-on work going into it.

They did say that each blancpain is made by one watchmaker start to finish?

FF retails for $15k....but I see your point.

I got to see this episode the other night, looks like the cases are made in house by machines but finished by hand.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

ALL BPs are made at one bench, by one watchmaker, from start to finish. The case, etc.. is brought to the bench already made, etc... But the watch is assembled by one person. As far as I know they are the only major brand that does that.

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SHARKMAN

Don't think that any other brand does it across the range. Pretty common for high end complications, but not for mass production and I think that it's a very good commitment to the consumer.

Authenticwatches.com shows the 5015-1130-52 retailing for $13k. They may be wrong, but even if they aren't, that's closer to $15k than $10k, so I stand corrected.


They may well have; I don't remember. Based on what Tom says, though, that's right. But as Roff points out, that's pretty unusual for the industry, and pretty admirable. I personally wouldn't see that as a reason to look askance at Panerai's machine finishing - or any other brand's - on mass-produced models. But that's my take.

FF is $13.8 and the Dark Knight FF is $15.3

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Agreed. But it is one thing that distinguishes Blancpain, is quite amazing in this day and age, and allows them to claim their watches are hand made. Doesn't necessarily follow it makes BP better, just unique.

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SHARKMAN

Doesn't get better for me than a Blancpain....and I originally HATED them more so than I used to hate Rolex and Panerai....all of which I now love.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

The blancpain f.f. is my dream watch, I hope someday i will own it for real.

I watched the clip again. At the opening, the announcer says, "In this Swiss workshop, the mechanisms are meticulously handcrafted, just like they were centuries ago." I remember that when I heard that the first time, I wondered if literally all the mechanisms were handcrafted, or just the higher-end ones. Evidently, it's all of them.

The FF is a fantastic watch. I just wish Blancpain was still making them in 40mm. 45mm is just too big for me. Although maybe it's just as well they don't, as I don't need to be lusting after a $13k+ watch.

The standard 5 day FF has always been something I have aspired to since its release.

They are silly money for a SS three hand watch but I still can't stop myself really wanting one.

THE ultimate divers watch in my opinion.

Would have loved to have seen this program you talk about in the US. Maybe it will find its way to Youtube one day.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Damn, I missed it.

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-RJ