[Pictorial Review] Blancpain Fifty Fathoms (noob v2)

[BoredPanda]

First off, some glam shots

Some lume comparison with PAM111 v4

Here's how a Fifty Five Fathoms would look like, I've sold this about a year ago already as it it didn't feel right to me

Now onto the short review, I'll say I'm quite anal about finishing in general. I think that affirms my love for Grand Seiko as my grail watch eventually.

Good:

1. The crystal is beautiful, you have to love the domed crystal and bezel!
2. Hands and markers are generally well finished (can't get too anal about rep finishing, though I have bad experience with BP factory finishes on patek but that's for another thread)
3. The lume, it glows bright

Neutral:

1. Rep strap isn't that bad really, very wearable (I have 6.5" wrist for comparison, on the 3rd last hole). I'm in no rush to swap this out
2. Of course the bezel will rock a little (but it's just a tiiinnnyy bit, my Seiko Monster has better bezel action but most of us don't use the bezel anyway so it doesn't matter)

Bad:

1. To a certain extent.. price? But one could probably see why, it's not as simple a watch like PAMs

Ugly:

1. Not applicable

Anal Retentive Zone:

1. The markers will not align (on mine I noticed the 9 seems to be tilted clockwise). Prospective owners of BPFF rep should take note of this.
2. "3" seems to sit lower than "9" on mine OR "9" sits too high compared to "3". IDK, let me know what you think.
3. There's something I cannot put my finger on but something looks asymmetric whenever I look at it. Maybe the 9 is sitting too close to the bezel? It screams at me everytime I look at it.. :sigh:
4. All the above 3 points are something that "if I could fix it for a reasonable rate, I would get it fixed" and "if it's impossible to fix, I'll still live with it" just because it's a nice watch
5. The numbers 1 and 2 on the "12" will never be perfectly aligned, just find one that is reasonably aligned

I'll end this off with the not so glamorous shots

 

[Rotador]

Interesting pictures and comments. Thank you for sharing them, BoredPanda.

 

[Hyjynx]

Balanced review and beautiful pictures. The tilted "9" was an issue even on a few v1 (except the very first batch). The other issues you mentioned aren't even obvious to me from the pictures. Enjoy!

 

[AstroAvia]

Interesting review. I can clearly see the 9 is closer to the dial's edge than the 3 is, and the 9 is noticeably tilted.

 

[BurntSpawn]

I just love it, is so perfect, congrats!!!

Sent from the RWI mobile app

 

[Isragg16]

I have a v1 and Its a keeper. Awesome pics, makes me appreciate my ff even more

 

[BoredPanda]

Interesting pictures and comments. Thank you for sharing them, BoredPanda.

Balanced review and beautiful pictures. The tilted "9" was an issue even on a few v1 (except the very first batch). The other issues you mentioned aren't even obvious to me from the pictures. Enjoy!

Interesting review. I can clearly see the 9 is closer to the dial's edge than the 3 is, and the 9 is noticeably tilted.

I just love it, is so perfect, congrats!!!

Sent from the RWI mobile app

Thank you all!

I have a v1 and Its a keeper. Awesome pics, makes me appreciate my ff even more

Any pics to share? =P I'm a little jealous ahaha

 

[C124]

I used to own a V1 but sold it on due to it being a black diver .at the time I had 4 of this type of watch and I found the BPFF a little too big and dare I say a little too bland for me to wear it above the others.

That's why it's all the more strange that I keep checking the blancpain thread for new versions or for sale threads. It would seem I have sellers remorse .

 

[mgberns]

bought my v1 on a whim because of what i read about it being rare, right place, right time situation..didn't really anticipate liking it as much as i do...size, weight, the glimmer it gives off..all the other reps don't really even compare..

...old pic but a goodie..

 

[vanquish0000]

Nice pictures!! BFF and JLC NSD are two of my favorite reps, getting most of the wrist time as well

 

[wjmccaff]

Good review and excellent pictures. That 9 though...it would drive me nuts.

 

[Hyjynx]

My v1, first batch. Or as I like to call it, "Lightning in a Bottle."

[emoji7]

 

[BoredPanda]

I used to own a V1 but sold it on due to it being a black diver .at the time I had 4 of this type of watch and I found the BPFF a little too big and dare I say a little too bland for me to wear it above the others.

That's why it's all the more strange that I keep checking the blancpain thread for new versions or for sale threads. It would seem I have sellers remorse .

Oh dear, I'm afraid this is not your standard diver :whistling: but yes it is big though.

bought my v1 on a whim because of what i read about it being rare, right place, right time situation..didn't really anticipate liking it as much as i do...size, weight, the glimmer it gives off..all the other reps don't really even compare..

...old pic but a goodie..

I agree to a certain extent. If you got the perfect version then it's a keeper definitely! Wear it well man.

Nice pictures!! BFF and JLC NSD are two of my favorite reps, getting most of the wrist time as well

Yes!! I like the NSD as well, but I keep reading that it's not in production anymore. Didn't check with any TDs though, not sure if it's still available.

Good review and excellent pictures. That 9 though...it would drive me nuts.

YES! It's slowly driving me crazy. Sigh, I'll look to getting it fixed. If it gets fixed, I'll post an update here

My v1, first batch. Or as I like to call it, "Lightning in a Bottle."

[emoji7]

Lucky you :hypnotized:

 

[evilpenguin]

Thanks for the insightful review! I have a noob v2 and doesn't seem to have any issues with alignment, so perhaps it's more of a case by case basis.

 

[Tatagiba]

Nice review.

That nine would drive me nuts.
I had a problem with alignment with mine as well. The dial was croocked. I started a thread here and received a lot of help, in the end I managed to fix it by myself.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/286801-BPFF-with-crooked-dial-Can-it-be-fixed

 

[asiparks]

V1 and stunt double:

The 1 & 2 in my 12 are not quite perfect either, but that aside, Noob did a truly amazing job of repping quite a tricky watch

 

[cuba-2013]

Please tell me where you bought steel bracelet?

 

[Foggy]

Great review.

 

[asiparks]

Please tell me where you bought steel bracelet?

Hi Cuba, the bracelet, (and watch) are gen.

 

[mgberns]