Blancpain vintage divers thread : from refs to builds

[toofsy]

Hi all,
As you know Blancpain is a mainstay of the diver watches history, especially with the Fifty Fathoms and all the variations.
This iconic watch this icon has never really been well represented in our hobby. There have been some productions, more or less accurate from :
DSN, Borealis, MKII, Vietnam case, Steeldive, Precista, Helson, WMT, and more...and there is a budget newcomer with Rduane R6 and his Tornek Rayville homage.

This watch start to be a good base and some skillfull members start to work on it to offer really build.
Stock RDuane



@Mir36 built : viewtopic.php?t=8311, who already a parefect built and nice review.



My first homages/mod before more

Screenshot_2023-01-10-13-49-12-460_com.google.android.apps.photos.jpg

I propose you to share in this thread you knowledge about this mythical diver from your ref/sources to your builds.


On my side I already got to 2 Rduane (logo & steril) and order a another variant (drilled lugs) I will make comparaison with measure as i will have received my last case.


Before I would like to share my last find in term of ref pics, from a french Forum with the impressive collection from a members.



https://montresmecaniques.forumactif.co ... s-le-clash





you can see the affluence of the FF versions...

Thanks to share your references, sources, experiences, builts, projects, ideas.

[Mir36]

@toofsy Yes! Looking forward to this! Can’t wait to see what comes next. Btw the background in my wristie is the center of Jakarta, I was visiting and wanted to give a shout out to @Athaya

[Mir36]

HF in six months

[madasboot]

HF in six months

@Mir36
ahah…
not far from the truth, I guess.

[madasboot]

Vietnam build, my second

base: @Mir36 (long story)
Dial: refinished by myself
Insert: design and production (myself) with base done by Adrian upon my vectors.

Hands: adapted and whitened.

0309EE93-D7E6-4239-8BA9-53B1149F61F0.jpeg

[madasboot]

By the way, does anyone know the RDUNAE crystal diameter?

Thx.
M.

[toofsy]

Nice guys...

@madasboot 29mm

[toofsy]

I'm very surprised by the numbers of different midcase profils

[toofsy]

My main aim to my project is to be able to make a custom bezel for the rduane R6 with the design of the civilian FF and his wider bezel and insert.
I made a 3D of what I would like according to the various ref i found and the Rduane Midcase parameters.
I'm going to ask the cost to a supplier who make custom part with metal3D/Lathe/CNC...just to have an idea, if it's too expansive I will try to do it bymyself in the Fablab.

My target :


The new bezel design : i'm going to remove the 120 clicks and try to use a compression spring

Capture d’écran 2023-02-04 à 11.12.13.png

Capture d’écran 2023-02-04 à 11.12.50.png

[madasboot]

Thank you @toofsy.
Guess that a GS-DT crystal upgrade will fit the bill…
Insert from what I read is ceramic, another upgrade possibility.

Best
M.