Blancpain and Hodinkee Achieve a Synergy Effect

Blancpain has joined a multitude of watch companies that have entered into partnerships with specialized sites.

We're not talking about well-known social media platforms, but mass media. In an era defined by Covid-19, which has catalyzed a dramatic increase in e-commerce, watchmakers are not only using professional sites to disseminate news, they're now also using them for special limited edition releases.

For instance, Urwerk, Vertex, Hanhart, Undone and Oris have found time to work with Revolution magazine, and the premiere of the Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date for Fratello at the beginning of December was a roaring success. But the American watch website Hodinkee is the real driver of this trend.

From Swatch and Casio to Grand Seiko, Montblanc and TAG Heuer, limited-edition novelties are flying out of there like hot cakes. Some of them have stood out more than others, including the pricey Hodinkee Eight-Day Travel Clock, which caused some commotion with its price tag at about USD 6,000. This is admittedly an exceptional price, yet it is a case in point that the more exclusive a model is, the more demand it generates.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC for Hodinkee is similar, which has already sold out. By joining forces, the two brands have achieved a synergy effect! Nevertheless, the model released in a 250-piece series is far too interesting in and of itself for us to be able to put all the demand for it down to the partnership with Hodinkee. The watch is inspired by the eponymous MIL-SPEC model from 1957-58.

As the name suggests, its main characteristic is its compliance with specifications for military watches, along with its special water-tightness moisture indicator. This function was designed by the company's CEO at the time, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, who incorporated an indicator on the dial that would change color from white to red in the dangerous situation if the watch leaked.

This model was approved by the US Navy as the only one suitable for military divers. As a result, it has been used by both Navy SEALs and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). The moisture indicator itself has also become a standard for the American Armed Forces.

Nevertheless, the model released in a 250-piece series is far too interesting in and of itself for us to be able to put all the demand for it down to the partnership with Hodinkee. The watch is inspired by the eponymous MIL-SPEC model from 1957-58. As the name suggests, its main characteristic is its compliance with specifications for military watches, along with its special water-tightness moisture indicator.

This function was designed by the company's CEO at the time, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, who incorporated an indicator on the dial that would change color from white to red in the dangerous situation if the watch leaked. This model was approved by the US Navy as the only one suitable for military divers.

As a result, it has been used by both Navy SEALs and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). The moisture indicator itself has also become a standard for the American Armed Forces.