MYTH TO REALITY
“[It] is one of the most legendary
collectors’ wristwatches—but equally
myth-enshrouded. In fact, there is no offi cial
documentation about this model and
scholars are of the opinion that it was never
commercialised or produced in series.” This
is what leading auction house Phillips wrote
in a blurb about the Blancpain Air Command.
The story behind this elusive watch can
be traced back to the 1950s. The French
Ministry of Defence wanted a high-precision
chronograph that met an ambitious list of
specifi cations—a black dial with luminous
hour markers and hands, a fl yback function
and a smaller seconds hand. Blancpain
was already working closely with the
US Navy to create its Fifty Fathoms diver’s
watch and was inspired by the French
request. The Blancpain Air Command was
subsequently born, although few remain.
About 12 prototypes were said to have been
created but the watch never made it to
serial production.
Until now, that is. Blancpain has just
released the Air Command Flyback
Chronograph Limited Edition, with only 500
pieces available worldwide. At 42.5mm, its
steel case is slightly bigger than the 42mm
original and comes with chamfered lugs as
well as a bi-directional pilot’s bezel. Faithful
to the original, the 2019 Air Command’s dial
and bezel are even painted in “old radium”
Super-Luminova to ensure a vintage look
and feel, while a box-type sapphire crystal
resembles old Plexiglas.
Differences include the open caseback,
which reveals the calibre F388B with a high
frequency of 5Hz to ensure greater accuracy,
as well as a propeller-shaped rotor in a
playful nod to the model’s military roots.
In another departure, a 12-hour counter is
present at 9 o’clock, and a 30-minute counter
is at 3 o’clock.Air Command
Flyback
Chronograph
Limited Edition
by Blancpain