Most watch brands we can think of in one point in time copied Rolex in one way or another.
The amount of Mercedes-hands is too DAMN HIGH!!!
And I don't even like it on any other watch except one that is a Rolex.
Irony tho, I found this picture online:
funny that mercs own branded watch doesn't sport a merc style hand. If you understand german or use chrome, go check out mercedes web for their watches, some neat pieces that don't cost alot.
Earth to post, come back to topic. In the past, I'd like to think that there is only 4 original divers watch design and up till panerai's cushion case or uboat (clock-with-a-bottle-cap case) came into popularity, almost all all watches were inspired by 2 dive watches that started it all, it is what divine comedy is to modern Italian language.
Everyone is familiar with this:
The coveted Rolex submariner, older versions of this watch actually do not have crown guards and sport a bigger crown or so I'm told. Reasons this watch path the way for many divers watches to come.
- its Rolex
- its got bright lume
- good weight
- simple clean look
- its Rolex
And there is some watches today that do not have the Rolex look, original? Guess again.
Blancpain delivered not a watch but a legacy...
If you have never heard or seen this watch before, I don't blame you, almost no one in Singapore gives a hoot about this watch. I was into watches for about...18-23 years old...5 years before I first heard about this watch. Maybe its me I don't know but I blame myself for it.
This watch is the Blancpain fifty fathoms, which is about 94m. Today, fifty fathom is a name for this watch model as modern specs puts it streets ahead of mere 94 meters. Ref to my previous post about dive watches ISO standards. Back in the days, no such thing, the standard is anything that worked, period.
They didn't go to Blancpain (small company at that time) and ask for a ISO standard divers watch, they wanted a watch that is seen on most of today's watches. They wanted the following:
Black dial
Anti-clockwise rotating bezel with markings same as the dials
Big numbers
Antimagnetic movement, maybe so that will not be affected by bombs and all I guess
The reason why bezels rotate in anti clockwise directions is because that way, no divers will accidentally push it and lengthen the dive times. If anything, it should be shortened.
Ain't that just cool that we do not need IQ 180 scientists to come up with something so simple and brilliant.
There you have it, its that simple, people just wanted something and someone made it to be used forever.
One reason why you will want a Rolex not a Fifty Fathom: USD 4000 vs USD 14000. The smallest number adds the biggest difference.
The watch also has a lumed bezel. Not just a dot pip, the whole bezel is lumed.
FF history is a interesting article fully documenting the birth of this legacy.
And since in sunny island Singapore, we cannot even afford car, how can anyone bomb $14000 on a watch right? Not scared arm kena chop?
Finally the main point of my post, Seiko has a homage for almost every famous watch design. We have seen clearly on the Rolex influence and the Sinn dials watches too. Now Seiko had Seiko 5 to produce the Fifty Fathoms homage. The biggest giveaway is the hands and the bezel.
Itself being a handsome watch, still looks too vintage for me, this watch actually has alot of plus points that people look for in watches today. It has a high domed hardlex crystal, it runs on the workhorse movements seiko does, the bezel is also one of the watches most unique feature.
Because of that, alot of people getting this watch ends up modding it to look like the Blancpain FF. Changing mostly just the dial. Some fanatics, do change the hands, bezel and also include a proper caseback. The watch is no-longer a Seiko, it is just a watch with a Seiko movement, case and glass. The fact that the crown itself also has no markings as with other Seiko models, is another, non tell tale sign that it is Seiko.
One thing I must emphasize to potential buyers of this watch though, THIS IS NOT A DIVERS WATCH. It may be a tribute to the earliest one made, it may have a water resistance of 100m, but it is not a divers watch. A uncle in lucky plaza tried to hustle me, saying it is a divers watch. What irks me is not his sales pitch , using phrases like: You're the last customer, I'm not following retail price (showing a $500 price tag for this watch), I only make $20-$25 from this watch only, I'm not following agent's price. Well apparently, the agent wants your business to fail by setting such a high base price.
It goes a 100m no doubt, but it is no where near a divers watch (no lume tip on bezel). Beware of what you buy, don't be brought in by petty persuasions. If Seiko is selling you a divers watch, it will be shown on the dial.
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