EP56: A Rare Look Inside "The Farm"

Fan-favorite guest Jay (@shespeakswatch) is back in the hot seat to share her latest watchmaking adventure: a journey to Switzerland's famed Vallée de Joux for a peek inside "the farm," the haute horology arm of the Blancpain manufacture. But this wasn't just any production visit, and there was nary a Fifty Fathoms to be seen, because as Jay explains, this was a rare, exclusive look at how some of the maker's most prestigious creations come to life.

As always, you can reach the crew for questions and comments at [email protected]. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening!

Follow the crew on Instagram: 

• Rob: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@robcaplan_topper⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Russ: ⁠⁠@russcaplan⁠⁠

• Zach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@zachxryj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Jay: @shespeakswatch

Wrist check and other elements discussed on this week's episode:

• Russ: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm Titanium

• Rob: Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive GMT 'Mistflake' SBGE285

• Zach: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph

• Jay: Zenith Chronomaster Sport

- Switzerland's Hotel des Horlogers

- Blancpain Villeret Complete Calendar

- The history of the minute repeater (via Time & Tide)

- Breitling Aerospace Evo with a digital minute repeater

- Blancpain's six key complications

- Jean-Jacque Fiechter's original patent of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

- The "King of Diamonds" Harry Winston

- Choose between 38, 42, or 45mm Fifty Fathoms references

...Oh, and by the way:

• Rob: Hugo (2011) by Steven Spielberg

• Russ: ⁠Stream 'Endless Summer' (Bruce Brown) on Peacock

• Zach: ⁠Launching Cars off Cliffs for July 4th in Alaska

• Jay: Visiting and learning about the Swiss white winemaking region

• Blaine (special guest!): Omega Speedmaster Flight Qualified and "Woody Guthrie: A Life" by Joe Klein