Hands-on – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date (with more than just a change of display)
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms needs no introduction anymore. It was, back in 1953, one of the very first purpose-built dive watches and has since been in the minds of most collectors as a true icon. This watch – which production stopped when the brand was out of business during the 1970s – has been revived in 2007 and since then, multiple versions have been created. This year, the brand presented a new version with updated display, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date – which has more than a new date window to offer.
Editor’s note: In the land of watches, it’s easy to fall into an endless hole of segmentation. Dive watch begets dive chronograph begets dive chronograph in rose gold etc. And, fun as this never-ending narrowing of focus is, we should never forget that the number of people in the market for a rose gold dive chronograph is comparatively small. But you know what lots of people do want? A good, solid watch to wear every day. Which is why Andy Green’s round-up of eight of last year’s best all day, every day watches is such a winner. I like to think of myself as a very ‘everyday’ kind of guy who, for the most part, lives a life wearing smart casual. I’m talking that perfect balance of comfort, function and style. This balance, of course, extends to my tastes in watches, as versatility is paramount — and I like to be prepared. Today we’re looking at the best ‘everyday’ watches of 2017, and only the most versatile made the cut. We’re talking watches that you can start your day with at the gym, wear through a day at the office, and then out to a nice dinner. Tudor Heritage Black Bay…
It was always going to be a tough ask, Australia taking on the powerhouse French team. And in the end the 2-1 score proved the point, but didn’t tell the whole tale. Before we return to the game, let’s take a step back and ask the (very valid) question: Why is Time+Tide talking about the World Cup? Well, there are two answers. A: everyone is, and B: Hublot. It was an invitation from Hublot that found me sipping an Old Fashioned high above the Sydney skyline while I kicked footballs — in perhaps the most un-World Cup worthy manner ever seen — into a neon Hublot Loves Football goal, on the balcony of The Ivy’s Penthouse. As the minutes ticked down to kick-off time, I shouldered my way through the pack near the screens (clearly, Hublot’s party was one of the hotter tickets in town) to secure a prime position. But first, a surprise. Joel Ruiz, Hublot’s Brand Manager (a man who, commendably, made no bones about his hopes for an Australian win, even though no one would have blamed him for supporting the other side, given his French background), thanked us all for attending, and spoke about Hublot’s love…
