Blancpain Air Command: The Manufacture’s Aeronautical Heritage
The new Blancpain Air Command is based on a historic timepiece that was only produced very limitedly in the 1950s. As a result, these originals always fetch large sums at auction. Now the descendant of the Blancpain Pilot’s Watch appears in a titanium or red gold case. The watch also features a chronograph with flyback function and an additional countdown bezel.
The Case of The Blancpain Air Command is Made of Either Titanium or Red Gold
The Blancpain Air Command comes in a case made of high-quality grade 23 titanium. Blancpain also presents a version with a red gold case. Either way, the watch measures 42.5 mm in diameter with a height of 13.77 mm. Satin and polished surfaces alternate here. The pushers and crown are on the right-hand side. The two-way rotating bezel has a ceramic insert with a graduation. This allows a countdown measurement to be taken. On the back, the sapphire crystal case back allows a view of the mechanics. Finally, the watch offers water resistance to 3 bar or 30 metres.
Dial in Elegant Blue
The deep blue dial is decorated with a sunburst finish and is surrounded by a tachymeter scale. It also bears large luminescent numerals and azure counters designed to enhance contrast. At 3 o’clock is a 30-minute counter, which also has elongated markers for the 3-minute increments. Opposite, the totaliser counts to 12-hours. The Blancpain Air Command, however, does not offer a seconds display. Nevertheless, a classic box sapphire crystal protects the front and is reminiscent of days gone by.
The High-Frequency Movement With Flyback Chronograph
Inside the Air Command is the F388B calibre. It is based on the Blancpain F385 and consists of 293 parts and 35 jewels. It also offers automatic winding with a maximum power autonomy of 50 hours. A free-sprung silicon spring, which operates at a high frequency of 5 hertz, sets the pace here. The chronograph operates by column wheel and integrates a vertical clutch. In addition, it offers a flyback function with which a running time measurement can be restarted at the touch of a single button. Last but not least, Blancpain uses an openworked rotor that is colour-coordinated with the case.
Price & Availability of The Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph
Both versions appear on the same blue leather strap with white stitching. The Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph is available now. The price for the model with a titanium case is 17,120 euros. For the gold version, on the other hand, 27,020 euros are due.
TUDOR presents a new variant of the Pelagos that does not have a date. The TUDOR Pelagos FXD was created in cooperation with a special unit of the French Navy and has some new function-forward features. The case is milled from a single block of titanium, which is supposed to benefit stability. The strap bars…
The Club Campus is the entry-level watch model from Nomos Glashütte. Now, the brand has introduced two new models in the colours Night Sky and Starlight. With a robust design, a mix of Roman and Arabic numerals on the dial, and the hand-wound Alpha calibre, these models are available in two sizes and offer a…
Breitling has introduced a brand new collection, the Breitling Capsule Collection Superocean Heritage '57. Its watches are reminiscent of the laid-back Californian surfer lifestyle of the 50s and 60s, while their inspiration stems from the original 1957 Breitling SuperOcean. As well as three variations, Breitling has also released the colourful Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition.…
Longines extends its Heritage segment with a new interpretation, the Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946 – the reissue of a piece produced in the late 1940s. Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946 In keeping with the design of the piece that inspired it, the watch features a domed silvered opaline dial enhanced by two finely sculptured counters (a…
In 1950 the first Memovox model started Jaeger-LeCoultres history of mechanical watches equipped with an alarm. The Memovox Polaris model from 1968 has now inspired the Grande Maison for its Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris collection, which is derived from the looks of its predecessor in a variety of watches and functions. Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox watch from 1950 During the years of economic recovery…
Lucerne-based manufacture Carl F. Bucherer is introducing a new edition of its COSC-certified Patravi chronograph: the Patravi TravelTec Color Edition Four Seasons. Four brightly coloured versions are available – including a yellow (summer), orange (autumn), green (spring), and or blue (winter) watch. Notably, the Patravi watch has a large case diameter of 46.6 mm, and…
TUDOR is presenting a new model from the Black Bay family, which comes in a completely black case. It is also made of scratch-resistant ceramic, something that no Black Bay has ever offered before. Inside is an in-house movement that features all black finishing and the METAS certificate. The new Black Bay Ceramic combines a…
In recent years, Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo has broken several records. Although there is no new record to celebrate this time, the Italian watch manufacture is adding two new models to its award-winning collection. One of them is the Octo Finissimo Yellow Gold in 18-carat yellow gold, which draws inspiration from the brand's Art Deco watches from the 1930s. The…
The Glashütte manufacture is presenting a new generation of the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk. The watch with mechanical digital display was launched in 2009 and is, 13 years later, receiving its first update. The timepiece is now available in either a red gold case with a black dial or a platinum case with a…
Abraham-Louis Breguet was the brain behind many inventions in the watchmaking world. In addition to the tourbillon and the pare-chute shock protection device, he also is the origin of the idea of the split-seconds chronograph, a complication that will soon be celebrating two centuries of existence. Before 1810 he produced certain timepieces equipped with a…
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet today unveils a series of new tourbillon models with a new movement and new design elements. The four new anniversary watches also include, for the first time, an openworked Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon in 41 mm. In addition, the Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture…
Patek Philippe is renowned for the sound quality of its minute repeaters. The manufacture now presents the Patek Philippe "Advanced Research" Fortissimo Ref. 5750P with an innovation that increases the volume of the striking mechanism. For this purpose, the watch has a thin glass plate that picks up and amplifies the vibrations of the hammers.…
The A. Lange & Söhne LANGE 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR integrates the eponymous complication into the iconic decentralised dial design. Accordingly, the watch offers displays for the date, day of the week, month and leap year, as well as a moonphase. There is a choice between a pink-gold case with a solid silver dial and a…