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Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph: Taking Flight

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Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph
Picture: Blancpain

A few years in the past, we gleefully reported on the return of the mysterious Blancpain Air Command watch, in print and on-line, with a few completely different takes. Given the origins of the watch as a prototype for the US Airforce that by no means went into manufacturing, the attraction of the Blancpain Air Command is a given.

As famous in these earlier tales, the watch even had an public sale monitor file and attendant legendary standing; these are components that cash can’t purchase. In brief, the watch accumulating market has determined that the Air Command is a watch value pursuing.

Blancpain, having tasted success with that 2019 metal restricted version reissue (simply shorthand for all-new however impressed by an previous prototype, which is greater than a mouthful and we won’t repeat it) is following up this 12 months with two variations, in titanium and rose gold. The important thing level to notice right here is that these usually are not restricted editions. The Blancpain Air Command seems like it’s right here to remain (Monochrome notes that the metal model is offered out, however it’s nonetheless listed on the Blancpain web site). 

Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph
Picture: Blancpain
Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph
Picture: Blancpain

To start with, apart from the supplies, all features of the brand new watches share the identical traits, together with the excellent 5 Hz calibre F388B with flyback chronograph. Since we have now coated all this floor earlier than, and since that is the Web, we invite you as soon as once more to reacquaint your self with the technical particulars of the Blancpain Air Command.

Few watches could be stated to have earned themselves their perches on folks’s wrists, however that is clearly one. This paragraph is a tld;dr that by no means substitutes for a complete refresher. At 42.5mm, the watch is just a bit bigger than the unique prototypes, together with the one which offered for CHF100,000 on the 2016 Phillips public sale.

Now we have skilled the precise watch, the restricted version in metal, and it was simple on the wrist. The truth that Blancpain is choosing two very completely different weights with the grade 23 titanium (most just lately seen on the Blancpain Bathyscaphe) and rose gold fashions looks as if an fascinating experiment find the candy spot for the Air Command. 

Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph
Picture: Blancpain
Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph
Picture: Blancpain

Different new touches listed here are the sunburst blue of the dial and blue ceramic bezel insert; these components are frequent to each variants, and match the blue calfskin leather-based straps with white stitching. One factor not making an look on this mannequin is a screw down crown, with water-resistance right here thus standing at 30 metres.

Such a crown would have been at odds with the styling of the unique watch, however then once more, so is the ceramic bezel insert, and the exhibition caseback. Regardless, we will anticipate to see way more selection on this slightly area of interest territory for Blancpain within the years to return.

For extra watch reads, click on here.

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