With its new Speed Command Chronograph watch, Blancpain has intensely increased the appeal of its brand to a younger, dynamic clientele. With its large 45mm size, striking materials (sapphire, carbon, DLC-coated steel, etc.) and bold use of sporting colors, this watch should prove to be a real success for those who admire fine watchmaking but may have found that other Blancpain models were perhaps too formal, old-fashioned, or small.

I think the Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph is a very well designed timepiece. Precisely because it emphasizes sport so strongly, there is no conflict of identity; you aren’t left thinking “could be a sports watch, could be a dress watch”. Like an exotic sports car, this watch is beautifully crafted and emphasizes high performance. And, much like a high-performance engine defines such a car, the superb F185 caliber movement gives this watch a great technical pedigree.

Beautifully decorated in the manner of all Blancpain watches, the F185 has a number of distinguished features, including a column-wheel. Thanks to the vertical clutch coupling, the owner may keep the chronograph running continually with no risk of damage to the mechanism–something not possible with a traditional, horizontally-coupled solution.

While I love the classic style that has come to define much of the Blancpain collection, I’m gratified to see the brand offer watches such as the Speed Command. I suspect this one will be a big hit for 2008.