James Robinson
With Only Watch 2019 now just a mere 11 days away from kicking off, we thought we'd take a look at Blancpain's Only entrant the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda.The unique piece from the storied Swiss marque is, rather obviously, based on the standard Fifty Fathoms Barakuda.However, the Only Watch Barakuda sports very fetching hints of baby blue that can be observed on the edges of the hour indices, seconds hand tip and the numerals of the unidirectional rotating bezel.The blue signifies the reason why the Only Watch event exists to support the research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.Another unique feature of this Fifty Fathoms Barakuda is that the oscillating weight has been engraved with the words Only Watch, which is a really nice touch.The movement itself is Blancpain's in-house Calibre 1151, a self-winding movement that benefits from 210 components, 28 jewels, silicon balance spring, 100 hours of power reserve, and ticks away at a relaxed 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz).The Only Watch Fifty Fathoms Barakuda's stainless steel case measures 40.3mm and a relatively slim 13.23mm and, as a result of being a purpose-built diver's watch, the Barakuda is capable of 300 metres of water resistance.And paired with a handsome and highly functional tropical rubber band there's no denying it the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda Only Watch is a good-looking timepiece.Only Watch themselves have put an estimate of $13,000 – $20,000 (roughly $19,000 – $28,000 AUD) for the one-of-one Barakuda, and we hope it achieves and goes on to exceed these expectations, because, at the end of the day, the money raised is going to a very noble cause.
29.10.19