Blancpain’s allure lies in its blend of rich heritage, superb craftsmanship, innovation, and a steadfast dedication to quality and design. These highly desirable qualities are exemplified perfectly by the Air Command collection, whose history contributes to the brand’s prestige and craftsmanship.
The Air Command collection takes its design cues from a rare 1950s Blancpain chronograph, resulting in a model with a distinctly vintage look. The layout of the counters and the tachymeter scale on the dial, the shape of the luminescent hands and hour-markers, the piston-style chronograph pushers, and the “glass box” sapphire crystal all pay homage to the original timepiece.
Continuing the tradition of authentic vintage aviation watches, the Air Command offers two distinct timing modes: A flyback chronograph and a countdown bezel. However, this model firmly embraces the 21st century. The blue dial and the ceramic bezel insert give it a contemporary and elegant aesthetic. Further refinement can be found in the sunburst, snailed dial finishes, and alternating satin-brushed and polished case finishing.
Blancpain introduced the Air Command collection that embodies the spirit of vintage pilot’s watches. This is cleverly done with a flyback chronograph, which is invaluable for pilots, allowing them to reset the timing operation and start a new one with a single press while the chronograph runs.
This contrasts with conventional chronographs that require three presses on two separate pushers. The countdown bezel displays the time remaining until a destination is reached, with numerals or hour markers running counterclockwise, distinguishing it from the diver’s watch bezels. The Blancpain Air Command includes a tachymeter scale for ground speeds, a 30-minute counter with three elongated markers in three-minute increments, and a 12-hour counter.
See also: Defying traditions
Blancpain has chosen a deep blue colour to give the watch a touch of modernity. The dial features a fine sunburst pattern, while the chronograph counters have a finely snailed texture. Super-LumiNova is used on the hands and hour-markers for optimal legibility day and night, and the scratch-resistant ceramic insert on the bezel matches the dial colour. Both sides of the Air Command model are equipped with a “glass box” sapphire crystal, a nod to the aesthetics of 1950s models.
The watch’s case shows the Manufacture F388B movement, a variant of the F385, which features a free-sprung silicon balance oscillating at 5 Hz. The silicon balance spring is immune to magnetic fields and ensures greater precision throughout the power reserve. The 5 Hz frequency improves accuracy and allows for precise measurement in 1/10th-second intervals. The F388B movement includes a column-wheel system with Blancpain’s advanced vertical clutch, ensuring smooth starting and stopping. It is self-winding and features an open-worked gold oscillating weight with a matching finish.
See also: Testing QA Urban luxury
The case, available in red gold or grade 23 titanium, measures 42.5mm in diameter and is water-resistant to 3 bar (approximately 30m). Its alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces, like the outer edges of the lugs and pusher contact areas, add to its refinement. The watch is complemented by a blue calfskin strap with white stitching, enhancing the sporty look of this pilot’s timepiece.
In Blancpain’s watch repertoire, feminine timepieces hold a special place. Since the early 1930s, the manufacturer has dedicated itself to developing new movements and introducing innovations tailored to women.
Blancpain has a rich history of creating ladies’ chronographs. In 1998, it pioneered the introduction of a flyback chronograph tailored for women. While this feature has since been incorporated into various Blancpain models, the Air Command features a sportier, and more adventurous iteration of the watch.
The 36.2mm case houses the F188B self-winding movement while the vertical clutch ensures seamless activation of the chronograph seconds hand, ensuring smooth and precise start/stop functions. The movement also incorporates a silicon balance spring and a column-wheel system, guaranteeing a silky-smooth feel when initiating or concluding measurements and resetting the hands to zero. The watch’s rear exposes the beauty of this high-end mechanism, with an open-worked oscillating weight adorned with traditional watchmaking finishes like circular graining, bevelling, and snailing.
The Air Command comes in grade 23 titanium or red gold, with a blue calf leather strap adorned with white stitching. This offering underscores Blancpain’s dedication to providing feminine models across its entire collection of timepieces, making it an ideal companion for the most adventurous wrists.
