We continue to believe that with enough attention, Blancpain will truly make something out of the L-Evolution timepiece collection. Intended to connect to the world of high-end auto racing, the L-Evolution family of watches continues to receive refinement, and the Blancpain L-Evolution R Chronographe Flyback Grande Date might just be the most suitable of the entire lot so far.

The last time we looked at a Blancplain L-Evolution watch, it was with the L-Evolution Split Second Flyback Chronograph (hands-on here). It was released in 2012, and in 2013, Blancpain dress watches Replica followed-up with this more simple Blancpain L-Evolution R Chronographe Flyback Grande Date. Aside from the visual cues, they each have very different movements. The main difference of course being that the former model has a split-second chronograph and this one does not.

Allow me to add here that the version you’re seeing images of is actually in an 18k white gold case, but it appears like Blancpain will produce it as a steel version and the same 18k white gold instance for another dial option. This is a possibility, but it is difficult to affirm, as their site is unclear as to whether or not an 18k white gold version with this clean white dial is available.As a dress opinion, I like the calming effect of the blank dial that is otherwise very functional. It wears nicely thanks to the cozy case and appears bigger given the thin bezel construction. Distinctive Blancpain Villeret-style Roman numerals and fitting leaf-style palms add to the brand’s trademark appearance. In steel and red gold, the Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Annuel GMT watch even comes on a matching bracelet choice that I really like – along with the black alligator strap choice.Manufactured in house by Blancpain, the Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Annuel GMT watch contains the caliber 6054F automatic movement – whose gold strand is quite well decorated. While the motion architecture is decidedly modern in its own aesthetics, you still find a whole lot of haute horology hand-finishing.

So the Split Second model has the Blancpain Calibre 69F9 automatic, and the model we are talking about today as the Caliber 68F5. Would you believe that the 69F9 has about 90 additional parts and is 6mm wider? Yeah, all that for a split second mechanism and four more hours of power reserve. The 68F5 is also built well and a bit more simple. In addition to being an automatic, it has a 12-hour chronograph and big date complication. There is no running seconds hand, which means you can use the chronograph seconds hands for that purpose, if you wish.

I’ve always gotten a kick out of the “digital” style font of the date. In the past, I commented that it was a nice little connection between old and new technology. I still think it works here. I don’t, however, think the hands require any skeletonization. While the dial is pretty easy to read, there is only lume on the tips of the hands, and I think bolder hands would help improve the dial. See, for example, the hands on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms (which would be ideal here, given their similarity).