Blackout XP1 Tourbillon Owner Review : Futuristic, conceptual and bestial

Today, as agreed, I'd like to review my two Black Out XP1 Volcano watches: the carbon fiber version and the Ti version (grade 5 titanium). I'll come back to the Black Out customer experience later, which, as you'll see, many in the watchmaking industry or any other business structure would do well to emulate, because the customer is, and must remain, king. During my review of the P03 (available here: https://www.dialicious.com/blackout/p03), I emphasized that, after the rather chaotic Letellier era, the brand was taken over by two young childhood friends, Etienne Rousseaux and Timothy Plubeaux. The brand then began to show signs of improvement in the reliability of its carbon fiber tourbillons. The two young entrepreneurs undoubtedly sensed an opportunity there: making a category of watches that wasn't initially affordable more accessible. However, developing this new range was expected to take several months, precisely the time needed to sell off the P03 models (while simultaneously trying to understand the PTS Resources movement in order to rework it in the young brand's workshops in Carouge, a suburb of Geneva) and to allow the project and design to mature. Etienne and Tym were determined to shed their image as "brands with questionable look-alikes" and finally forge a true identity, making no compromises on either perceived quality or customer experience. And they succeeded. The XP1 was introduced, if memory serves, in the summer of 2023 and stood in stark contrast to the P03, which had strong RM connotations. Because while it still featured a very sporty, openworked carbon case (but luminescent carbon, mind you, mixed with Super-LumiNova powder, reinforcing the watch's somewhat avant-garde feel) and later titanium case, the overall design was quite different. A six-part case, this time entirely made of the chosen material (unlike the P03, whose case back ring was black-treated steel). Screws on the sides of the bezel, not on top like on an RM, this sort of large "X" that could match the color of the flange depending on the version, structuring a dial alternating Roman numerals and very short, circled indices to add a touch of neo-retro style… Not to mention the beautifully polished screws, which catch the light perfectly… Indeed, it had little in common with an RM… And therefore, little in common with the P03… Mission accomplished, Black Out now had its flagship! I would add that the finishing is noticeably improved compared to the P03. For example, the tourbillon cage is now fully polished and no longer has the small blued screws that betrayed the movement's Asian origin. And as mentioned above, the screws visible on the dial are very well polished. To quote the Patek Philippe Salon consultant who moved from the workbench to the sales floor and examined them closely, "for 3,000 euros, it's more than adequate." In terms of specifications, the case is still quite large, 52 mm long and 44 mm wide. Some might say it looks rather convoluted, given its alternating shapes (alternating small triangles and screws on each side of the bezel, small trapezoidal motifs on the case sides, and the watch appears to have three lugs, which it doesn't actually have). These shapes are more clearly visible, more pronounced on the titanium, which highlights them even more. The thickness, which is only 0.2mm less than on the P03 (14.8mm), is surprisingly better controlled and distributed, making the watch appear much thinner than its dimensions would suggest. The weight is 110g for the carbon versions and 113g for the grade 5 titanium versions. If memory serves, this is slightly more than some competitors in carbon or grade 5 titanium, but light enough that you barely feel the XP1 on your wrist, despite its rather imposing size. The brand explains that this slight extra weight compared to other watches made of similar materials is due to the large and somewhat heavy movement. However, the watch remains light enough to be forgotten on the wrist, making it an ideal companion with a striking presence, very pleasant to wear on a brightly colored rubber strap during the warmer months. In terms of timekeeping, my P03s are around +15/20 seconds per day (which I accept, since it's not a Swiss movement... And my P03s are, above all, a killer look and a very RM feel when worn; if I want much more precise timekeeping, I have my Haute Horlogerie watches for that... Nevertheless, it will be perfectly possible to request a much finer adjustment when the opportunity arises for a full service, having acquired all three just after the brand's takeover)... But on my XP1s, the accuracy is less than 10 seconds for the Volcano and almost zero for the Titanium, which is my most recent one... This leads me to believe that the Black Out watchmakers probably know this PTS movement inside and out and that the process of making this Asian caliber reliable is now complete. One very positive point I want to emphasize is the exceptional quality of the rubber straps. They come equipped with quick-release pumps, making them incredibly easy to change using just your fingernails (though you should double-check that the pump is properly engaged in the threads). These rubbers are both flexible and surprisingly robust. They're available in a wide range of colors, allowing you to change your style with the seasons. You can opt for darker tones in winter and brighter ones as soon as summer arrives. These rubbers are therefore very pleasant to the touch and to wear. They feature three perforations on each strand, somewhat reminiscent of RM rubbers, though not in the same shape. These high-quality rubbers make you wonder about the price of those from premium brands. So, how can we explain that a rubber strap as high-quality as the one on the XP1 costs only €110 (folding clasp included) compared to over €500 for a Journe Elégante strap and considerably more for an RM strap? Are we at the mercy of established brands' desire to maximize profits at the expense of the end customer? It's a legitimate question! One last very positive point… The fact that the XP1 straps are compatible with the recently launched round XPE variant. This demonstrates a truly honest, fair, and transparent approach from the brand, which isn't forcing its customers to buy twice as many straps if they want to have both the round XPE and the barrel-shaped XP1 in their collection. Other major brands, I think, wouldn't hesitate to do the opposite. As for the power reserve, it's still three days (and the P03, like the XP1, maintains this, even exceeding it slightly, I've checked). Winding the crown, while admittedly slow to reach its stop, is pleasant because it's quite smooth with a rather agreeable click. So, as you can imagine, I'm very satisfied with my XP1s and Black Out watches in general. I would have appreciated it if the luminescent carbon on my Volcano shone brighter in the dark (that little "cool" touch of an XP1 that always impresses those unfamiliar with it), but the brand isn't responsible for that. This lack of luminosity stems from the fact that the red Luminova powder reacts less chemically when it comes into contact with the carbon. Nevertheless, I can boast of owning one of the first limited editions based on the XP1 launched by the brand, which will make it a small collector's item if the brand continues on its current trajectory. My non-HH watches never lasted very long in my collection, whereas these Black Out watches have managed to stay and have earned their place, adding a slightly punk edge to my collection. Wearing a Black Out means wearing a watch with a rather striking style on the wrist, with real presence. I must admit that if I didn't know the brand and I saw someone wearing one on a terrace… I would tend to stare and wonder, with a strong urge to approach the wearer: “What is that?! It speaks the same general language as a Royal Oak in that it's a very sporty tonneau, openworked and with a tourbillon in innovative materials, with colored rubber, it has a lot of presence, but it's aesthetically different from a Royal Oak and all those other sporty tonneau watches that exist (Cvstos, Franck Muller or Bianchet)… So what is it?!” I must also admit that Black Out's proposal gives me a lot to think about… Because in my opinion, it leads to two classic scenarios: either you have the means to buy and maintain (and the maintenance issue is not to be underestimated with RM, as it adds up quickly, see my review of the P03 where I discuss this) a genuine RM, in which case, there's no debate, you should go for it. Or these Black Out watches, XP1 or P03, are perfectly adequate for this type of timepiece, and there's no point in spending tens of thousands of euros on a Hublot Spirit of Big Bang, a CVSTO, a Franck Muller, or a Bianchet; you save your money for fine haute horlogerie. As an aside, I know that Black Out has nevertheless managed to sell P03s and XP1s to genuine RM customers, who wear them on vacation or when traveling abroad, to have something from the same radical and futuristic universe while preserving the real thing. Let's now take a brief look at the Black Out experience. First, it's worth noting that Etienne and Tym are in their thirties. And they wanted to infuse their youthful energy into their vision of the customer experience in watchmaking. At Black Out, they communicate extensively on social media and are very responsive, often replying within the hour, on WhatsApp or on the brand's official pages across various platforms. On his personal Instagram page (@etiennefromblackout), Etienne posts short videos where he demystifies watchmaking and educates customers not only about Black Out but also about the entire history of the industry, its high points as well as its more challenging moments, and even common watchmaking annoyances, such as the customer experience in stores and how Black Out avoids them. At Black Out, they are also VERY transparent, and this constant commitment to honesty in their business dealings is worth highlighting. It's an open secret that major players in the industry source their products from Asia. At Black Out, they embrace it and hide nothing. They even turn it into a strength, allowing them to fully embrace the brand's famous slogan, "The inaccessible becomes possible," namely making affordable a category of watches with a radical look, known for being anything but. They don't hide it, demonstrating that it is indeed possible to create a new model for a watchmaking company based on an original, now proven formula: accessible Asian components combined with Swiss expertise to ensure overall reliability. And they don't hesitate to showcase their watchmaking process on the brand's YouTube channel, filming the workshops in Carouge and giving them a voice to convince viewers of the merits of their approach. There are always skeptics who need to be educated, as Asia remains, in the public mind, often associated with "cheap." Black Out also fosters customer loyalty by offering different status levels that unlock benefits based on the total size of your shopping cart. It's possible to reach the maximum status quite quickly, if I remember correctly, with a total spend of €10,000 (this needs confirmation). For what it's worth, I have 5 items and I have this status. This status, called "Black status," grants, for example, a 13% lifetime discount that can be combined with other promotional offers (e.g., during Black Friday) and an invitation to a private WhatsApp channel where members get a sneak peek at new products, participate in surveys whose results will inform the brand's future direction and new model launches, and are invited to events such as basketball games (Etienne is a big basketball fan), cocktail parties at various official stores, and screenings of experimental films in private cinemas, as was done with The Wormhole project, a joint venture between Black Out and the design studio The Black Corner. Ultimately, Black Out is a model that could become the dominant force in the future, as the brand aims to reach Europe and perhaps, in the near future, the world. I even think there's a significant issue at stake: Europeans have never loved watches as much as they do now. Proof of this is that the topic of "watches" now frequently comes up in conversations between men, whereas when I started collecting in the 2010s, you could be seen as someone who made models out of matchsticks, a poor sap good for nothing but being invited to dinner on Wednesday nights. However, while Europeans are increasingly fond of watches, many brands no longer want them and are cutting themselves off from this market with sharp price increases, favoring the Emirati, Asian, and American markets (and these brands would do well to be wary, because what goes up must come down, and the speculative frenzy of the Covid years seems well and truly behind us). The stakes are therefore high for Black Out. Because this presents an opportunity to reconcile European customers with a watchmaking industry that doesn't compromise on quality control, that demonstrates genuine customer focus, real availability, and a commitment to transparency, offering an innovative, somewhat unique product with an overall look that evokes the extreme. Black Out can and must become a leading brand, allowing Europeans whose purchasing power has stagnated and who can no longer keep up with the big names in the industry to continue enjoying their timepieces. The good news is that, while I'm not privy to the brand's financial statements, things seem to be progressing well, based on feedback from the field and the clear shift in image observed within the various watchmaking groups I work with. And becoming a benchmark brand offering futuristic and radical, well-designed, reliable yet affordable timepieces—that's all I wish for Etienne and Tym!