A blog entirely dedicated to Blancpain timepieces
With the new millennium Blancpain decided to give their sporty yet elegant timepieces a new name: from now on they were called Leman series. And this change came along with a remarkable makeover of the collection, offering a broad variety of 40mm timepieces.
Let me try to provide a comprehensive overview on what has been undoubtedly one of the most important watch families made by Blancpain, the Leman series. The overview is split in three parts, we start with the first collection introduced in the mid 1990s under the name 2100 and characterized by a variety of 38mm timepieces.
With the launch of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in 2013 alongside the 60th anniversary of the legendary dive watch, Blancpain‘s main purpose may have been to offer a more tool watch like alternative to the in all aspects luxurious reference 5015. The recent evolution of the Bathyscaphe series however has outgrown it’s dive watch history and made it almost a successor to the discontinued Leman series – let me explain why.
This is another photo journey into the Villeret line with 8 day calibres and Grand Feu enamel dials. Let’s get up close with the limited to 75 pieces Villeret Quantieme Complet 8 Jours Platinum, reference 6639-3437-55B, a timepiece that found it’s way into my modest collection a few days ago.
Continue reading “The pinnacle of Blancpain Moonphase Calendars” →
Last weekend I had the pleasure to spend a few days with Blancpain and the brand ambassador Chef Holger Bodendorf for the 20th Sylt Gourmet Festival.
Continue reading “A fireworks of culinary and horological highlights” →
We often discuss the sports watches made by Blancpain, the Fifty Fathoms and Bathyscaphe models are in the focus of many here in the forum. We also admire some Haute Horlogerie pieces the Manufacture is well known for, and lately we discussed some controversial L’Evolution models and the motorsport links Blancpain utilized in the design of those.
Now let’s take a closer look at the very core of Blancpain, two timepieces with a full calendar and the iconic moonphase indication. No configuration is more typical modern Blancpain, it is synonymous for the brand resurrection in the 1980s and played a significant role in the revival of the mechanical watch.
Continue reading “Quintessential Blancpain: two classic moonphase calendar timepieces” →
Villeret Quantieme Complet 8 Jours 6639a-3631-55B
One of the original designs that personify the Blancpain brand.
This version was launched 2016.
This is the fourth part of my hands-on report from Basel, showing the new Blancpain Villeret timepieces.
There have been three new Villeret watches this year, all in a 40mm case, all available in either stainless steel or rose gold, all of them on either strap or a perfectly crafted Milanaise bracelet, which is entirely manufactured inhouse and assembled by hand requiring a lot of precision in order to support the slight tapering of the bracelet. And obviously all three models feature the patented under-lug correctors.
Let us start with what some of you have instantly called a winner, the new Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel in stainless steel.
Continue reading “Hands-on with the Basel novelties (4): the Villeret timepieces” →
Blancpain introduced three new regular models in the Fifty Fathoms line, the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date, the Bathyscaphe Quantieme Annuel and the Bathyscaphe Quantieme Complet.
Let’s take a look at the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date first. Executed in brushed titanium, it is the first watch in the FF line to feature the instant changing big date we know since 2005 when it was first introduced in the Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date.
The Fifty Fathoms Grande Date has a very distinct look to it, which is also emphasized by the numerals 3 and 9 being left out from the dial. It comes on either a sailcloth strap or a Nato strap, which would be my personal choice. A titanium bracelet is not planned as of yet. The watch is a real beauty, not easy to capture in photos, though.
Here are some impressions:
Continue reading “Hands-on with the Blancpain novelties (3): the sports watches” →