A blog entirely dedicated to Blancpain timepieces
Exactly one year ago Blancpain introduced their novelties during Time to Move, which took place in Zurich as a two stage event for retailers and the press. This post is not only to celebrate the first anniversary of some outstanding watches which became signature timepieces for Blancpain immediately, but also to reflect on how different 2020 is turning out.
A little more than 15 years ago Blancpain introduced an utterly beautiful timepiece in the Villeret line: the Villeret Chronographe Monopoussoir reference 6185-1546-55 with its beautiful Havana dial. Now that we get closer with it, you will see the many shades of this dial, depending strongly on the light conditions (direct/indirect daylight, direct sun /shade, artificial LED light) to provide the best possible idea of this timepiece.
Continue reading “Pure class: the Villeret Chronographe Monopoussoir” →
The oldest post in this blog has covered my first photo session with the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MilSpec reference 5008-1130, which took place in September 2017. Two months later I was lucky enough to add this special timepiece to my collection, and it has been an absolute favorite every since. Let’s take a look at some impressions over 30 months of happy ownership.
Continue reading “30 months with the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MilSpec” →
In 2012 Blancpain translated the heritage of the first professional diving watch into unprecedented mechanical depth with the X-Fathoms, reference 5018-1230-64A. Let’s take a closer look at this masterpiece.
It’s about time to cover one of the bestselling timepieces made by Blancpain in the last years, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe crafted in brushed grey ceramic with a mesmerizing blue dial, reference 5000-0240-O52A.
With the classic Fifty Fathoms being available in two different sizes, I thought it might be interesting to put two examples for references 5008 and 5015 side by side to allow for a fair optical comparison between 40.3 and 45mm. Let’s take a closer look at the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MilSpec and the Fifty Fathoms Nageurs de combat., which not only represent the two sizes but also two wonderful commemorative pieces to the heritage of the Fifty Fathoms.
Continue reading “Size matters: comparing two Fifty Fathoms” →
Today I would like to show two Blancpain timepieces which impressively showcase the aesthetic spectrum in the upper end of the Manufacture‘s Haute Horlogerie segment. Let’s meet the Villeret Tourbillon Heure Sautante Minute Rétrograde and the L‘Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel.
Continue reading “The spectrum of Haute Horlogerie aesthetics” →
Once every four years a perpetual calendar timepiece performs its most complicated task of including the 29th of February. With 2020 being a leap year this odd date is a good time to cover the Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel reference 6656-1127-55B.
Continue reading “The Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel encountering leap day” →
This third part of my overview on the Blancpain Leman series will concentrate on the Limited Editions and the Haute Horlogerie pieces. Creating this overview took a bit longer than I (and maybe you) expected, hopefully you will find the information provided useful nonetheless.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year Blancpain has just introduced a new Limited Edition of the Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel “Year of the Rat”. I take this as an opportunity to show you the non limited Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionelle ref 0888-3631-55B, which was introduced for the first time in 2012.
This marvel is now with me for 20 years, so its about time to devote a full blog post to it: my 2100 Moon Phase Calendar Half Hunter aka Quantieme Phases de Lune Demi-Savonette, reference 3563-3618.
Continue reading “Flashback: the 2100 Quantieme Phases de Lune Half Hunter” →
In 2019 Blancpain has introduced three limited editions during Time to Move, with the Fifty Fathoms Nageurs de combat ref 5015E-1130-B52A maybe being a bit overshadowed by the Air Command and Fifty Fathoms Barakuda. But this very special Fifty Fathoms 5015 actually stands out as one of the most important watches Blancpain has introduced in the last years.
Continue reading “Back to the roots: the Fifty Fathoms Nageurs de combat” →
This Blancpain novelty left me speechless the moment I encountered it for the very first time in early May just prior to Time to Move. Now I had the chance to spend two days with the prototype Air Command and my first excitement about this exceptional timepiece has actually been deepened.
Today we take a look at a brand new release from Blancpain, exclusively for their Boutiques: the Villeret Ultraplate reference 6605 crafted in platinum and featuring a stunning blue dial.
Continue reading “The excellence of simplicity: a new Villeret Ultraplate in platinum” →
Although being in the catalogue for seven years now, the Blancpain Villeret Mouvement Inversé has not been discussed very often and I must admit I did not have it on my radar until recently. That omission needs immediate correction, so let’s take a closer look at reference 6616-1527-55B.
Continue reading “A glorious twist: the Villeret Mouvement Inversé” →