Blancpain FF - factories - suggestions and/or experiences

[Boss666]

Hi,

I'm loooking for a Blancpain FF.

Unfortunatly the TI-Version is not available at the moment.

For a SS-Version I found a TD that offers the ZF-Version of the Ocean Commitment. Another TD offers the OMF-Version of the Flyback-Chrono. The Flyback-Chrono has a Asian 7750 chronograph automatic movement.

How are your experiences with this chrono-movement? How are the versions ZF vs. OMF compared to each other?

Thanks a lot in advice!

 

[ward1991]

Do you want a 40mm FF or a 45mm FF

ZF milspec or Barakuda if 40mm, the milspec rotor incorrectly states "ocean commitment" but the rest of the watch is solid.

GSF No radiation is great if you like No rads

Holdout and lookout on m2m for an old Noob FF if 45mm is what you want.

ZF is okay, just not quite as accurate as the Noobs were.

Can't speak on the chrono models other than the movements themselves can be pretty good or pretty bad. Either way, its best not to use the A7750 chrono function and they tend to take a poop a little more often than other movements as they are more complicated and have bad QC and weak parts, even some plastic parts too. That being said I have a few a7750s that have been running for 15 years.

 

[RepsAllDay]

Do you want a 40mm FF or a 45mm FF

ZF milspec or Barakuda if 40mm, the milspec rotor incorrectly states "ocean commitment" but the rest of the watch is solid.

GSF No radiation is great if you like No rads

Holdout and lookout on m2m for an old Noob FF if 45mm is what you want.

ZF is okay, just not quite as accurate as the Noobs were.

I was recently looking at the Milspec and Ocean Commitment models and noticed this - it's a shame they used the OC rotor on the Milspec, otherwise that would have been a nice little watch (if still flawed)
Wish someone did the smaller version of the Air Command (38mm?) - the standard 45mm one would be like a bin lid on my puny 6.75" wrist

 

[Boss666]

Do you want a 40mm FF or a 45mm FF

ZF milspec or Barakuda if 40mm, the milspec rotor incorrectly states "ocean commitment" but the rest of the watch is solid.

GSF No radiation is great if you like No rads

Holdout and lookout on m2m for an old Noob FF if 45mm is what you want.

ZF is okay, just not quite as accurate as the Noobs were.

Can't speak on the chrono models other than the movements themselves can be pretty good or pretty bad. Either way, its best not to use the A7750 chrono function and they tend to take a poop a little more often than other movements as they are more complicated and have bad QC and weak parts, even some plastic parts too. That being said I have a few a7750s that have been running for 15 years.

I want a 45mm FF. Milspec is not my pimary choice .

Puretime has the chrono and Hont for example the FF 5008 Ocean Commitment III.

In M2M is a beautiful watch 4 sale https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/conus-blancpain-fifty-fathoms.11009236/#post-12171488 But first it seems like no shipping to EU and second - I don't know if it's a real problem - seller can't tell which factory the watch came from.

 

[APjumbo]

If you are just getting into the hobby I would suggest staying away from the chrono. It is probably fine but runs the risk of being less reliable, not water resistant, probably thicker, difficult to find someone to service, and most importantly probably depreciates more if you try to sell later.

 

[Reaps]

Pass on the OMF like APJumbo said. That's not a high level rep.

Like others have stated. Noob is the best of the best for 45mm. ZF second. Noob only found M2M. ZF.... hard to say check with all dealers. I'm not up to date on this model but I recall they were OOP for a while.

I dont know of any others so search around.

 

[APjumbo]

I would post a WTB in the want to buy section for a ZF or noob 45mm

Someone out there likely has one they are too lazy to post for sale, but if they see your WTB might message you.
Only buy from certified known sellers if posting a WTB

 

[Boss666]

If you are just getting into the hobby I would suggest staying away from the chrono. It is probably fine but runs the risk of being less reliable, not water resistant, probably thicker, difficult to find someone to service, and most importantly probably depreciates more if you try to sell later.

Thanks a lot for this helpful reply. Is it on all reps the same, that the flyback-chronos with A7750 have the problem that the subdials on 3 and 9 don't work or do I have to ask the TD explicit for this function?

On trustytime this is mentioned "(Specially customed with working Subdial @ 6:00 and 3:00 & 9:00 Subdials are non-functional)". On puretime there is nothing to read about this (missing chrono? ) function.

 

[Reaps]

Thanks a lot for this helpful reply. Is it on all reps the same, that the flyback-chronos with A7750 have the problem that the subdials on 3 and 9 don't work or do I have to ask the TD explicit for this function?

On trustytime this is mentioned "(Specially customed with working Subdial @ 6:00 and 3:00 & 9:00 Subdials are non-functional)". On puretime there is nothing to read about this (missing chrono? ) function.

Always ask if you are unsure. Dealer websites info always must be double checked.

And also, there is no flyback chrono ever on a 7750 rep. These are just normal chrono.

There's only 1 flyback chrono ever repped, the new 4401.

Read my guide in my signature.

 

[APjumbo]

Even though I have plenty of 7750 chronos, if I was just starting a collection and there were 20 chronographs that I was drooling over, I would first buy the ones that have been reliable clones, not modified 7750s.

Example, why buy a 7750 chrono Blancpain when you could get a clone Daytona with a great movement that watchsmiths are happy to service or an AP royal oak with really nice clone.
Pick the low hanging fruit first, then get into the more niche finicky stuff.

Reps that are super accurate resell well on M2M and hold their value. 7750 Chronos with incorrect subdial placement don’t sell very well.

 

[Boss666]

Example, why buy a 7750 chrono Blancpain when you could get a clone Daytona with a great movement that watchsmiths are happy to service or an AP royal oak with really nice clone.
Pick the low hanging fruit first, then get into the more niche finicky stuff.

To be honest a argument if we all would buy watches only because of the movement. But the real life - maybe also my real life - is the way that i first have a look which watch I like because of the look or the understatement. Maybe I'm out of time, but I do prefer and enjoy the understatement of a Blancpain much more then a Rolex (especially Daytona). In my point of view only watch enthusiast know for example Blancpain. And this is something i really like.

 

[Fiddo]

Although, probably not even related to what you are asking........ I really like this---------------> https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/blancpain-fifty-fathoms-bathyscaphe-quantième.11007197/

 

[Boss666]

So far i would better not buy the chrono with this movement.

Btw if you recommend to look for a "regular" FF and use M2M in the forum:
Is there anything I should know about the titanium Version? That was my favourite but it's sold out or not available. Are there problems known, why it's better to buy the SS-version or something else what I should pay attention to?

 

[Boss666]

Although, probably not even related to what you are asking........ I really like this---------------> https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/blancpain-fifty-fathoms-bathyscaphe-quantième.11007197/

Thanks, ceramic material or titanium is great. Unfortunatly the rest of the watch - especially this green - is not my style to be honest.

 

[Boss666]

Wait .. it's also available in black: https://chazingtime08.io/product/ba...-edition-gray-dial-on-ceramic-bracelet-a6654/

 

[Fiddo]

Wait .. it's also available in black: https://chazingtime08.io/product/ba...-edition-gray-dial-on-ceramic-bracelet-a6654/

...and blue!

 

[Boss666]

...and blue!

Oh no ... I do not want the next watch...

 

[APjumbo]

My ceramic Bathyscaphe is one of my favorite watches for the reason stated above.
It’s a very , if you know, you know, watch.

I have never had the titanium but have read that the bezel action was not as good as the steel.
If a titanium fifty fathoms popped up for sale today I would certainly buy it. I haven’t seen one for quite long time now.
The steel 45mm no rad I had was nice but a little too heavy for my 7” wrist. (Not too big, just a little heavy, where as my large Pams seem to sit better on my particular wrist.

There was also a “combat” or something version, I think it was no date, I remember it looking very awesome.

 

[APjumbo]

If they would just rep the new 42mm FF in steel it would be perfect

My Barakuda is a tiny bit small, the 45mm is a tiny bit large.

They need the mumma bear version, right in the sweet spot.

 

[CF_Stan]

ZF have just re-released 3 FF’s in small quantity. Check with your TD.