Blancpain adds new novelties to famous collections
This 2016, with the launch of fascinating additions to its iconic Villeret, Fifty Fathoms and Women collection, the Jura-born Swiss watch brand, Blancpain, opens a new chapter in its colourful history and carries on its distinguished legacy as a horological pioneer and a custodian of Swiss watchmaking tradition since 1735
Tracing its roots in Villeret, the highly distinguished company has passed on the standards of excellence with mechanical timepieces from the visionary founder Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, to the two members of staff who bought over the company after the death of Frédéric-Emile Blancpain, the Founder’s great grandson, in 1932, to the owners who managed Blancpain during the Quartz crisis in the 1980s by creating purely traditional "grande complication" timepieces, and to the present day owner Swatch Group. Through this vibrant company lineage, the current handlers sustain Blancpain’s commitment to the production of wristwatches in the purest traditional style as well as inject an innovative approach, thus crafting timepieces with a complementary balance of established practice infused with contemporary ingenuity. This year, Blancpain continues to make a mark in the industry, and adds a host of ground-breaking novelties to its already iconic collections: Villeret, Fifty Fathoms and Women.
Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT Steel
The new Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT, now fitted for the first time with a stainless steel case, enriches the Blancpain collections with the first annual calendar GMT model available in this metal. Playing with contrasts, the clear sapphire case back reveals the yellow gold winding rotor adorned with a guilloché motif.The hands as well as the hour-markers match the material of the watch case. The dial layout has been designed to facilitate the order of annual calendar readings. The day, date and month are thus smoothly read off one after the other.
The self-winding 6054F calibre requires only one date adjustment per year, between February and March. For the rest of the year, the watch automatically moves from the 30th or the 31st to the first day of the following month. A small 24-hour counter appearing at 8 o’clock on the dial serves as the reference time while the GMT display local time is provided by the central hours hand to which the date is linked. Meanwhile, fast GMT and date corrections, along with time-setting, are all handled via the crown.
Métiers d’Art “The Great Wave”
Inspired by the motion of the sea, this latest Métiers d’Art creation, under the Villeret collection, highlights the Mexican silver obsidian, a gemstone used for the first time by Blancpain. Using the favourite Blancpain technique, the Japanese rokushÅ patina, the gemstone serves as a base for "The Great Wave" applique in white gold.
This new Blancpain creation is distinguished not only by its distinctive aesthetic elegance, but also by its technical elements. For this timepiece, Blancpain has modified the famous hand-wound 13R0 caliber that now becomes the 13R3A movement. The power-reserve display appears on the bridge side of the model so as to provide sufficient space to ensure optimal visibility of the engraving. The movement, with its 8-day power reserve, is equipped with three series-coupled mainspring barrels that successively wind and unwind.
Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe
To mark the anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms in 2013 as well as to celebrate the Blancpain Bathyscaphe diving models that first appeared in the late 1950s, the Bathyscaphe reappeared with a new aesthetic recalling the first versions. This year, Blancpain has re-interpreted one of its core timepieces: The three-hand model of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. Now, it appears for the first time in a plasma grey ceramic case and a deep blue dial evoking the depths of the sea. Adding to its allure, the plasma grey ceramic bezel has been equipped with a blue ceramic insert featuring Liquidmetal® hourmarkers, an alloy serving to avoid distortions.
Featuring the self-winding caliber 1315, it is distinguished for its sturdiness and its exceptional chronometric performance. Its three series-coupled mainspring barrels ensure a generous five-day power reserve while guaranteeing a constant supply of energy. This movement is visible through the clear sapphire caseback which allows the owner to admire its modern and technical aspects. Conceived for sports watches, the 1315 caliber is fitted with a robust glucydur balance wheel, with square-head gold micrometric regulating screws guaranteeing precision as well as efficient adjustment.
Ladybird Ultraplate
In 1956, Blancpain gave birth to the daringly avant-garde Ladybird by Blancpain: The world’s smallest round watch at the time. Sixty years on, its style remains in vogue and Blancpain pays homage to the Ladybird that has played such an important role in the history of its Women Collection. Housing the new automatic 6150 calibre which is just 15.7mm in diameter, the modern-day Ladybird remains one of the smallest in the world.
This 2016, to celebrate its 60th anniversary, a 99-piece limited edition with removable charm featuring a ruby heart with a diamond arrow was unveiled during Valentine’s season. Another 60-piece limited edition has been introduced at Baselworld 2016 with a different design distinguished by luminous contrasts revealing a delicate foliage motif.
The strap has been fashioned in Louisiana alligator leather with especially fine scales in order to create a supremely refined effect. Its bezel has been set with 32 diamonds surrounding eight of the same gems sparkling on the dial, swept over by droplet-shaped hands and framed by a white gold case. The transparent caseback allows a view of the winding rotor, delicately decorated with a diamond.
In addition to these two ranges of Ladybird timepieces are two other new models with one featuring a mother-of-pearl dial bearing 4 small ruby hearts, while the second is crafted in red gold. Its opaline dial is surrounded in brilliance thanks to its diamond-set bezel.
Consistently and resolutely in tune with the times, the Ladybird has flitted its way to a unique place in the world of women’s watches that it shows no sign of relinquishing.
