Blancpain Le Brassus 8 Jours Limited Edition Watch Review

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The 1-of-260 limited edition Blancpain Le Brassus 8 Jours is a 42mm platinum formal watch with the heart of a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.

As the launch platform for Blancpain's epic 2006 caliber 13RO, the 8 Jours spawned an entire family of modern high horology movements... including the one in the famed Fifty Fathoms. But while the "Fifty" conceals its automatic variant (cal 1315) behind a solid case back, the Blancpain Le Brassus 8 Jours reveals its manually-wound caliber 13RO through a vast sapphire case back.

And this is a movement worthy of the distinction. Blancpain CEO Marc Hayek claimed to have tested prototype 13RO calibers while mountain biking. In a high horology world that regards mere gold outings at the ultimate mechanical torture test, Hayek's off road antics should have left the 13RO in pieces on the trail...

... but the movements endured and excelled. 13RO calibers boast an arsenal of anti-shock measures that range from the contemporary (ultra light titanium balance wheel) to the traditional (Breguet overcoil hairspring). Blancpain watchmakers added a secure free-sprung regulator for extra resilience.

Other notable refinements include an eight day (192-hour!) power reserve via three mainspring barrels, a power reserve indicator, a jump-date, hacking (stop seconds), and finish worthy of the top-tier of Swiss horology. The cotes de Geneve, mirror-polished anglage, graining of the wheels and regulator, and tight base plate perlage rival the best from Jaeger-LeCoultre, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin.

But the movement is only half of the story of the Blancpain Le Brassus 8 Jours; there's still the watch itself to enjoy! At 42mm in polished platinum, the 8-Jour translates traditional Blancpain formal design cues into a contemporary scale. The sheer mass of the platinum case and matching platinum deployant clasp are a pure pleasure to experience on the wrist. The robust clasp counterbalances the weight of the case, and the supple alligator strap ensures seamless comfort between the two.

A dial of silver opaline positions all of the functions along an orderly vertical axis. Date wheel, hands, and power reserve scale are rendered in silver, white gold, and gray respectively, and all of the Roman numerals along the hour track consist of applied white gold. Blancpain's traditional feuille hands have been extended to accommodate the extra span of the larger dial, and a mirror-polished inner case wall appears to extend the boarders of the dial farther still. Combine this effect with the high ratio of dial-to-bezel, and the Blancpain LeBrassus 8 Jours reads as an even larger watch than its 42mm nominal size. Make no mistake; this dress watch has presence to rival any dive watch... including the Fifty Fathoms.

Unlike the comparatively ubiquitous Fifty Fathoms diver, a pristine Blancpain Le Brassus 8 Jours may not "surface" again for some time...

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Video and content by Tim Mosso.