Introducing The Blancpain Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback AND The New High-Beat Caliber F385 (Which
This year at BaselWorld, Blancpain followed up last year's Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe (HODINKEE "A Week On The Wrist" review here) with a chronograph in a similar form. That's cool and all, but to me the most interesting aspect of this watch is not the available fully ceramic case, or the NATO with ridiculously hardcore hardware, or the general sleekness of the end product. Nay – the most interesting part of this new Bathyscaphe is actually what's inside. This is the first Blancpain to feature the brand new caliber F385, which is a ground-up new concept for them and a fairly impressive new development that doesn't seem to have gotten a lot of attention. That's about to change. 2 OF 24 First, the details of the watch. Sized at 43mm and available in either full ceramic or satin-brushed stainless steel, the chronograph is 300m water resistant and holds on to many of the design traits seen in last year's time-only Bathyscaphe. The dial o

Opinions on trade/upgrade...
Hey guys. I have an about 1.5 year old 8500 calibre Planet Ocean 45.5mm that is one of my favorite pieces. Good size for my wrist, and weight. However, I continue to be drawn to these newer 43.5mm 8900 calibre models for some reason.I know that the new model has a Master Chronometer rating, but aside from that, and size, would there be any real advantage to making the move to the newer piece?Price is pretty good on the new models. I would probably buy the black, with black leather/white stitch. I am interested in hearing what the opinions would be.Cheers!Jason

Where next?
This is my collection so far:I want one more (I think I always say that!).I tried on a few patek models yesterday and I've ruled out the 5196g, just too slim and not versatile enough for me. I loved the 5396g but I would only get that if I traded in one of my current Pateks and I don't want to do that.I think I've got it down to the 5296g or 5711. As much as I used to like the sector dial 5296 I'm not as keen as I was so I think it will be the original dial. I had always ruled out the 5711 as I have the 5167 and I don't want something so similar however I do like the fact that it can be dressed up or down.Thoughts and opinions please.

Large dial Pateks - fake or real?
Hi. In canvassing the web for Pateks, I notice some big ones that seem to suggest old movements from 1880s or so, purportedly pocket watches of that era that have now been converted into wrist watches, keeping the original 'enamel casing' but now housed in glass. Dial size is a massive 45mm to even 51mm (at which size it could be worn on the forearm more than on the wrist). I would imagine these would border on fakes but the machinery seems genuinely from that time, which means it's original Patek and the official servicing might still be supported. And the sellers who sell this type of stuff are rated 100% positive on big ecommerce sites -- like the bay one. So the watches seem legit. One of the sellers says that these movements are genuine and widely covered in the Patek books. How can I confirm (or otherwise) these claims? Where can I find these books? Google doesn't turn up anything meaningful. The seller has been quite convincing -- and he's the owner of a pretty solid looking bus

And Rolex Makes the List!
Interesting read .businessinsider/watch...o-of-amazon-19