Return of the Blancpain Air Command

Enigmatic watches are among the most valuable collector's finds — the kind which only rarely resurface in the lots at auction houses as if to prove they really do exist. One such uncommon model is the Air Commend series of twelve prototype watches, believed to have been commissioned and created in the 1950s for the American distributor Allen V. Tornek.

Considering how popular Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms diver's watch was, the company decided to create a watch with a similar design for pilots, so that Blancpain's timepieces would not only conquer the deep blue but also soar high in the sky. Tornek would go on to offer the Air Command chronographs to American military pilots.

When rare Air Command watches have turned up for sale, the results have been impressive: CHF 100 000 at Phillips in 2016, and HKD 1.1 million in 2019. Just a couple of years ago, it seemed as if the hunt for these historic models was an pursuit reserved for the most aggressive bidders, the diehard fans vying these archival rarities, but now Blancpain's Air Command has been added to a regular collection.

A new version of the pilot's chronograph has been introduced as a reissue this year which has held onto the characteristic stylish details from the 1950s. The Air Command Flyback Chronograph (ref. AC02-12B40-63 in titanium and ref. AC02-36B40-63 in red gold) are now back in blue. This was the shade chosen for the dial and countdown-type rotating bezel.

The dial encircled by a tachymeter scale allows you to appreciate how the designers have mastered working with different patterns: most of the dial is decorated with a sunray-brushed pattern, while the chronograph counters are snailed. The flyback function that enables the chronograph to be instantly reset to zero with one touch of a pusher is powered by caliber F388B.

This movement which consists of a column-wheel system and Blancpain's vertical clutch runs at a frequency of 5 Hz, ensuring precise timekeeping of up to one tenth of a second. The movment comprised of 297 components provides a power reserve which exceeds 50 hours.

The rotor's modern design is a real treat, which has been made to match the pattern decorating the caliber's bridges. The color of the rotor accentuates the shade of the case, which is 42.5 mm in diameter and water resistant to 30 meters, complemented by a deep blue calfskin strap with white stitching.