Blancpain Flyback Chronograph
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1995
Maker / issuer
BlancpainThis Blancpain Flyback chronograph, numbered 13 and produced circa 1995, is a self-winding stainless steel wristwatch featuring a round-button chronograph, subsidiary registers, and a date aperture.
The watch is housed in a three-body case measuring 38 mm in diameter, featuring a polished finish, a stepped bezel, and a screwed-down case back. It is equipped with a stainless steel link bracelet secured by a double deployant clasp. The black dial exhibits painted luminous Arabic numerals, luminous steel épée hands, and three sub-registers. Internally, the timepiece is powered by the rhodium-plated caliber F185, a movement incorporating 37 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, and a gold rotor segment.
The dial, case, and movement are signed by the manufacturer. Notably, this particular example lacks the word "Flyback" on the dial, a variation hypothesized to be the result of a special order commemorating the original owner's birthday.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Flyback chronograph
- Maker
- Blancpain
- Movement
- Caliber F185
- Provenance
- Peter F. Baumberger
- Jewel Count
- 37
- Case Diameter
- 38 mm
- Serial Number
- 13
- Date of Manufacture
- circa 1995
- Maker / attribution
- Blancpain
Design
- Visible features
- • Luminous painted Arabic numeral hour markers • Three subsidiary chronograph registers • Date display window at the 6 o'clock position • Polished finish with a stepped bezel design
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch features a three-body, stainless steel case with a diameter of 38 mm and a thickness of 12 mm. The exterior includes a polished finish, a distinctive stepped bezel, and a screwed-down case back which bears an inscription. The watch is fitted to a stainless steel link bracelet that closes with a double deployant clasp. The dial is black and marked with painted luminous Arabic numerals. It features subsidiary dials for constant seconds, a 12-hour register, and a 30-minute register, alongside a date aperture positioned at 6 o'clock. Time is indicated by luminous steel épée hands. A notable detail is that this specific dial does not include the word "Flyback," which differs from other examples of the same model documented by the auction house.
- Movement and Mechanics
- The timepiece is powered by the caliber F185, a self-winding mechanical movement. The architecture includes rhodium plating and decoration in the style of fausses cotes. The movement is constructed with 37 jewels and features a straight-line lever escapement. Technical specifications of the movement include a monometallic balance adjusted to five positions, a shock absorber, and a self-compensating flat balance spring. The winding mechanism utilizes a gold rotor segment. The movement is signed by the manufacturer.
- Provenance and History
- This watch is historically linked to Peter F. Baumberger, a collector of automobiles and the heir to a Swiss brewing dynasty. The watch was given to Baumberger as a birthday gift by his friends. Due to the unique absence of the term "Flyback" on the dial, it is suggested that the watch may have been a special order commissioned for the occasion of the gift.
Identification
- Serial number
- 13
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The absence of the word 'Flyback' on the dial is hypothesized by the source as potentially being a special order, but is unverified.
- Research required: The movement is reported to require an overhaul.