New Arrival : Blancpain Air Command Concept (keeper and cull)

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1st December 2022, 19:23
gregory

New Arrival : Blancpain Air Command Concept (keeper and cull)

Well I recently stated on here that I was happy with my collection... yet I have a week off work this week and got bitten again.

It is a disease which sadly never leaves us.

Anyhoo... I am after getting my watch numbers down now as I am simply not rotating my stock at all. I even am finding myself coming home in my Railway issue TOC watch... leaving it on my wrist without grabbing one of my own pieces to wear. So in a way I am glad I got bitten again. I miss the hobby.

So yeah. I am really after getting down to four watches. A couple of beaters and a couple of special pieces.

I was already in possession of two Speedmaster Professionals. One, a 50th Anniversary patch, and the other the standard classic hesalite with some amazing old lume on it.
The 50th Anniversary piece had actually broken. I was due to send it off to Duncan at Genesis for a new mainspring repair and service / breathe over. However, I got in touch with a shop who deal in pre-worn classics and enquired about what they would give me, and they gave me a wonderful part-ex price regardless of the fact that it wasn't even running.

I also had to source a couple of links, from a Blancpain dealership... otherwise the sale couldn't have gone through. The beauty of having large-ish wrists. Those have been sourced using the correct model number etc. so I was good to take the watch away knowing that I will wear it in future... and I won't lie... the wait is killing me.

So yeah... not your regular Blancpain but I am absolutely smitten with it.

I was after something unique... and I have had a look round and there aren't many of these to be had these days. Obviously a discontinued stock, but still very rare. I have seen a couple and they are coming in at much more than I had to part with to get this. One in the UK and one in the USA.

I have owned some lovely watches over the years... and even so I have become disillusioned with it all. Rolexes are now getting bought to move on for profit, same with the Speedie Tuesday. Watches, as a hobby, have felt distant to me of late. Blatant profiteering between peers on here... it all made my passion for certain brands and watches in general turn a little sour. So taking all that into consideration... I wanted something with that DIFFERENT satisfaction touch. A piece that you can tell is a quality piece, even if you aren't really wholly up on watches.. but one that is also anonimous by nature. Your average non-watch fan doesn't even know who Blancpain are... and that appeals to me.

And I love the model. It is a tool watch but the actual bezel and its mirrored numbers give a very SLIGHT tinge of bling. But not too much. They reflect in a way that gives it a jewellry feel but it's also a functionable watch.

It also has a feel of the Muhle Glasshute SAR... with the 'rubber on steel' effect bracelet.

It ticks many boxes for me... but mainly... I feel an individual with this piece. I took the train journey to the shop knowing that I could pick up a certain Panerai for the same price if it didn't fit and I couldn't source the links for the Blancpain... but I wouldn't be as excited. I even mentioned this to the guy working the shop who said: "Yeah... but I can source one of those any time you like. I doubt I will see another Blancpain in this design any time soon." And do you know what? He is right.

I don't even think that this piece is one for the Blancpain purists... and to be honest... I don't care.

It's for me... and I love it... and it has rekindled something in me.

I feel free for having it. I don't feel like I am running with a pack. Or bothered about the 'pack' even.

I feel ME with this piece.

Happy at finding a 'little corner of my own' in our great hobby.

https://i.imgur.com/2ZC1jJRl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BjterA2l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TMqaS2al.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sms9WnPl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BLnrDz7l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nz4eRuIl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6sS4wUAl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OjyCwUwl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/XukikSfl.jpg
1st December 2022, 19:31
Sinnlover

Wow that’s a bit different in a good way.
I never new this model existed.
Thanks for sharing the story, glad you are smitten with it.
I think it would look killer on a sale cloth strap.
1st December 2022, 19:41
gregory

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinnlover

Wow that’s a bit different in a good way.
I never new this model existed.
Thanks for sharing the story, glad you are smitten with it.
I think it would look killer on a sale cloth strap.

Cheers mate.

Yeah.. me neither.. never knew of it until I saw it sat there.. and instantly wanted it.

I am not sure how the sail cloth will go. The shop guy was gonna give me a nato and shove it on it for me.. but came back and mentioned something about screws and the bracelet attachment.

I will have a play with it soon, see what I can use until the links arrive. It need to be worn.

But yeah.. smitten indeed.
2nd December 2022, 17:21
abraxas

It is magnificent!!!

It will be interesting to see it on some straps.
2nd December 2022, 17:29
gregory

Quote:

Originally Posted by abraxas

It is magnificent!!!

It will be interesting to see it on some straps.

Thank you.

And yeah.. the links on these are screw fixings but a good size so I won't struggle with that.. however.. where the bar is attached to the drilled lugs there is the TINYEST of screws and the screw head is blowing my mind just looking at it.

I am simply gonna wait for the links to come. The last thing I need to do is butcher then screw heads on the bar.

As much as I am tempted! :)
2nd December 2022, 17:59
bry nylon

nice watch, not too common for sure!
if the screw heads are hexagonal (like on the Fifty Fathoms), you need a couple of 0.9mm hex screwdrivers. search for Wera 118062 or similar. then it's fairly easy to change straps & bracelet.
15th January 2023, 15:34
Kitz

I am a Blancpain fan and that is an intriguing watch … what is the bracelet made of and what is the word on the case back ..? The reason you enjoy the brand is same I like . it .. enjoy .

Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
15th January 2023, 18:39
earlofsodbury

A truly distinctive piece - can certainly see the appeal, I even like the bracelet, which is rare. Is the movement 7750-based or in-house?
15th January 2023, 19:58
jwg663

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitz

...what is the word on the case back?...

The watch is an Blancpain Air Command Concept. On the caseback it says 'Concept 2000' & 'No.189'.
15th January 2023, 20:51
cirotti

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlofsodbury

A truly distinctive piece - can certainly see the appeal, I even like the bracelet, which is rare. Is the movement 7750-based or in-house?

Frédéric Piguet 1185
15th January 2023, 23:44
Paul J

Now that really is something!
23rd January 2023, 17:50
Filterlab

Not my usual cup of tea, but I find it oddly enticing.

Damn it! :smile-new:
23rd January 2023, 23:15
Shakespeare

New Arrival : Blancpain Air Command Concept (keeper and cull)

Thanks for posting this. It certainly is a rare find but upon seeing the pictures I realised I had seen the model before. This screenshot from the 1999 edition of the Wristwatch Annual shows a model from that range. There were 3 hand and GMT variants as well as the chronograph, in steel and with steel or rubber bracelets too.

https://i.imgur.com/u9SYaQw.jpg

It seemed to still be in the Blancpain range a few years later as there is a different variant featured in the 2004 edition:

https://i.imgur.com/bL9r8Ck.jpg

This looks more like your model. If you want info on the other variants let me know and I can scan the appropriate pages.

Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
26th January 2023, 23:41
gregory

Well I have just seen this getting some new repies in watch talk.. many thanks for all who have replied.

I FINALLY got my links and the bracelet on this fitted TODAY.

I purchased it on 31st November so exactly EIGHT WEEKS to the day of purchase and I finally have it on my wrist.

Imagine THAT wait on an an incoming. Man... it felt like forever.

I knew this when I bought it so I felt it was worth it. Sometimes waiting makes something more appreciated and special. Anyway... I have her on right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry nylon

nice watch, not too common for sure!
if the screw heads are hexagonal (like on the Fifty Fathoms), you need a couple of 0.9mm hex screwdrivers. search for Wera 118062 or similar. then it's fairly easy to change straps & bracelet.

Thank you very much... I was aware that it would be difficult to do any playing around with the straps etc... so this is a welcome info. Much appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitz

I am a Blancpain fan and that is an intriguing watch … what is the bracelet made of and what is the word on the case back ..? The reason you enjoy the brand is same I like . it .. enjoy .

Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

The bracelet is steel with fibre glass apparently. Many thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlofsodbury

A truly distinctive piece - can certainly see the appeal, I even like the bracelet, which is rare. Is the movement 7750-based or in-house?

Cirotti has commented below mate. On searching dually on the stated movement (it is down as a Blancpain f185) and Cirotti's Frédéric Piguet 1185 reply, it appears both are correct. The bp f185 has that 1185 is the base calibre.

https://calibercorner.com/blancpain-caliber-f185/

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwg663

The watch is an Blancpain Air Command Concept. On the caseback it says 'Concept 2000' & 'No.189'.

Indeed it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirotti

Frédéric Piguet 1185

This, having searched, it is a Blancpain f185 but based on the above? Many thanks cirotti.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul J

Now that really is something!

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filterlab

Not my usual cup of tea, but I find it oddly enticing.

Damn it! :smile-new:

Same here. I like a tooler and it has tooler elements but also some elegance about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakespeare

Thanks for posting this. It certainly is a rare find but upon seeing the pictures I realised I had seen the model before. This screenshot from the 1999 edition of the Wristwatch Annual shows a model from that range. There were 3 hand and GMT variants as well as the chronograph, in steel and with steel or rubber bracelets too.

https://i.imgur.com/u9SYaQw.jpg

It seemed to still be in the Blancpain range a few years later as there is a different variant featured in the 2004 edition:

https://i.imgur.com/bL9r8Ck.jpg

This looks more like your model. If you want info on the other variants let me know and I can scan the appropriate pages.

Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

Thank you for these recent uploads and pictures.

Yes.. it is indeed the bottom one. Thank you for sharing I have saved the image.. much appreciated.

Greg.