As 2024 draws to a close with surprising haste, there is no better time than the present to look back on the past and remind ourselves of what marvels were unveiled over the course of the year. Blancpain had a stellar year, very much focusing on the meaningful expansion of its Villeret and Fifty Fathoms collections. Complications and novel materials were the highlights of the new additions to these two collections, both of which seem to indicate a deeper initiative into the exploration and continued development of the Villeret and Fifty Fathoms collections.
Without further adieu, here is Blancpain's year in review for 2024.
Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar Enters Its Second 12-Year Cycle
In 2012, Blancpain made horological history by launching the Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar, a unique watch blending the complexities of the Chinese and Gregorian calendars alongside a moon phase display. Now, to begin a new 12-year cycle, Blancpain presents a special limited edition, adorned with a red gold case and a striking green enamel dial. This 2024 release honours the dragon, symbol of the upcoming lunar year, with a dragon engraving on the red gold winding rotor, flanked by a red ruby and Chinese characters for "dragon" and "wood," representing the year's elemental association. Each year, Blancpain releases a commemorative timepiece celebrating the Zodiac animal in alignment with the Jade Emperor's legend of the twelve animals that define the Chinese Zodiac cycle.
For this edition, Blancpain’s artisans have reimagined the Zodiac animals with fresh portraits, enhancing the mystique of the Chinese calendar. The dial meticulously displays Chinese hours, the 12-year Zodiac, the 60-year elemental cycle, the leap month, and the moon phase, with a serpentine hand indicating the Gregorian date. Crafted in Blancpain’s Le Brassus workshop, this grand complication required five years of development to assemble its 464 components across six layers, making it even more complex than a perpetual calendar. The movement, driven by three mainspring barrels, provides a seven-day power reserve. Adding convenience, the case incorporates Blancpain's patented under-lug correctors, which streamline adjustments without side dimples. Designed to prevent damage during automatic changes, this intricate calendar mechanism exemplifies Blancpain’s expertise. Limited to just 50 pieces, this exceptional watch harmonises luxury, technical precision, and Chinese cultural homage.
Blancpain Villeret Quantième Perpétuel With A Dial Inspired By The Green Forests Of Le Brassus
Blancpain’s Le Brassus Manufacture showcases its rich expertise in both technical mastery and refined aesthetics with the release of its Villeret Quantième Perpétuel, marking 2024’s leap year. Enclosed in a red gold case, this timepiece debuts a captivating green dial, inspired by the lush spruce-lined landscape surrounding Le Brassus and embodying the Villeret collection's authenticity. The perpetual calendar complication, a marvel of Swiss watchmaking, automatically adjusts the date to account for monthly variations and leap years, requiring no manual adjustment until 2100 due to a Gregorian exception. This feature, symbolising Blancpain’s commitment to preserving horological art, includes a moon phase display at 6 o’clock - a tribute to the Manufacture’s revival of traditional mechanical watchmaking after the 1970s quartz crisis.
Powered by Blancpain's 5954 self-winding movement, the Villeret Quantième Perpétuel offers a 72-hour power reserve, its intricate finishing visible through the sapphire crystal case back, showcasing a red gold honeycomb oscillating weight and silicon balance spring. Designed for ease, the watch integrates two key innovations: a secure movement to protect the mechanism from accidental adjustments during automatic calendar changes, and under-lug corrector - a Blancpain innovation since 2005 - allowing for seamless date adjustments with just a fingertip, leaving the case flanks smooth and uncluttered. The dial’s layout enhances readability, with balanced placement of date indicators amidst an elegant sunburst green, mirroring the Vallée de Joux forests. Paired with a rich brown alligator strap, the 40 mm red gold double-stepped case, hands, and markers radiate warmth and distinction, celebrating 2024’s leap year with both complexity and timeless style.
Blancpain Introduces New Fifty Fathoms Models
Blancpain has expanded its Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection with new 42 mm models available in red gold and grade 23 titanium, following last year’s 70th Anniversary Act 1, which marked the debut of this size in a limited-edition steel case. The Fifty Fathoms, introduced in 1953 as the first true diver’s watch, established a legacy of durability, water resistance, a secure rotating bezel, anti-magnetism, and legibility - features that have become foundational to the diver's watch industry. Revitalized in 2003 by Blancpain's CEO and diving enthusiast Marc A. Hayek, the Fifty Fathoms evolved with modern enhancements, including the introduction of the 45 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique in 2007, which was powered by the high-performance Calibre 1315. This movement, developed in-house, boasts remarkable precision, a five-day power reserve through three series-coupled barrels, and a stop-seconds function for precise time-setting.
Blancpain’s new 42 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique watches continue this legacy, pairing timeless proportions with high-grade materials and modern design. The red gold model offers an elegant and refined appearance, while the grade 23 titanium version combines durability, scratch resistance, and hypoallergenic properties for a robust yet sporty aesthetic. Both models feature a sapphire-topped bezel for enhanced legibility, while the dial options include blue and black. The Fifty Fathoms is further personalised with a choice of straps in sail-canvas, NATO, or vintage-inspired Tropic rubber, as well as a titanium bracelet for the titanium version. The Calibre 1315 movement inside, featuring an NAC-coated 18K red gold rotor inspired by the original 1953 model, is decorated according to Haute Horlogerie standards, underscoring Blancpain’s commitment to craftsmanship. With these non-limited 42 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique models, Blancpain is meeting demand for a smaller diameter in this iconic line, combining modern performance with a rich heritage in dive watch design.
Blancpain Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de Lune: Eternal Movement Beyond Black
Blancpain introduces the latest addition to its Bathyscaphe line: the Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de Lune, now featuring an innovative black ceramic case and bracelet. This new model blends sportiness with elegance, spotlighting a sunray-brushed blue dial that radiates colour and depth, subtly shifting with light. Originally launched in 1953 with the Fifty Fathoms, the Bathyscaphe, introduced in 1956, was created as a versatile tool for both diving and daily wear, with a more compact format. The latest Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de Lune upholds this legacy, combining a sophisticated blue gradient dial with the resilience of high-tech ceramic, marking the first time the line has offered a fully ceramic bracelet. This advanced ceramic is exceptionally durable, hypoallergenic, and resistant to scratches and corrosion, making it five times harder and 25% lighter than stainless steel. Crafting ceramic requires precision; the bracelet's patented cam-linked system ensures both comfort and durability, with meticulous finishing to achieve seamless alignment.
Inside, the watch is powered by Blancpain’s calibre 6654.P, a self-winding movement with a 72-hour power reserve and sophisticated decorations visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Featuring a silicon balance spring, the movement resists magnetism, ensuring consistent timekeeping - a tribute to advancements since the 1950s when magnetic shielding was essential. The moon-phase complication, revived by Blancpain in the 1980s, is a hallmark of the brand’s craftsmanship, symbolising the return to mechanical watchmaking after the quartz crisis. This new Bathyscaphe model retains its diving heritage with a unidirectional rotating bezel, which integrates a black ceramic insert with Liquidmetal® markings, enhancing durability and contrast against the blue dial. Available in both green and black ceramic, the watch includes strap options like NATO, sailcloth, and Tropic rubber, inspired by classic dive watch designs. With a water resistance of 300 meters, this Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de Lune celebrates Blancpain’s dive watch legacy with a modern edge, balancing performance, craftsmanship, and the elegance of ceramic technology.
Blancpain Releases Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe In Full Gold
Blancpain unveils the Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet and Chronographe Flyback in full 18K red gold, combining opulent design with fine craftsmanship. Each model’s case and bracelet are crafted from red gold, creating a bold, luxurious presence with an intense hue that complements the watch’s elegant detailing. Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms line, introduced in 1953, was groundbreaking as the first true diver’s watch. The Bathyscaphe, a refined and slightly smaller alternative introduced in 1956, catered to everyday wearers while retaining the diving functionality of its predecessor.
In this new release, the red gold bracelet is a feat of meticulous assembly, with hand-satin-brushed links joined by transverse pins, resulting in exceptional flexibility and a comfortable fit on the wrist. The patented design conceals screws on the back of the links, ensuring the bracelet’s edges are smooth and unobtrusive. The dial, in a rich gradient of blue with a sunray finish, offers striking luminosity, bringing depth and vitality to the face as it interacts with light. The combination of the deep blue dial and the luxurious red gold case and bracelet creates an eye-catching contrast, emphasising the personality and sophistication of each timepiece.
New Dials For The Blancpain Ladybird Colours
Blancpain introduces vibrant additions to its Ladybird Colors collection, celebrating femininity and technical sophistication with fresh, summer-inspired designs. Among these is a monochrome model in a radiant coral blue hue, capturing the spirit of a bright summer sky, and a version with multicoloured numerals, which features Blancpain’s iconic feminine moon phase complication for the first time. Both models showcase expert craftsmanship, with the dial's Roman numerals gradually shifting in size to create an elegant visual flow, complemented by a moon phase positioned gracefully at 6 o’clock on a mother-of-pearl background. The 34.9 mm 18K white gold case, adorned with 59 diamonds on the bezel and an additional 70 on the dial, brings a sparkle that catches the eye. With diamonds on the crown and buckle, the total gem weight exceeds 2 carats. Paired with this opulent design are straps that add personality to each piece; the coral blue timepiece has a matching strap, while the multicoloured version includes five interchangeable straps in vibrant hues like pink, blue, green, yellow, and white.
A convenient pin buckle or folding clasp allows for easy, tool-free changes, adapting the watch effortlessly to different moods and styles. At the heart of these models is Blancpain’s Calibre 1163L, offering a 100-hour power reserve and decorated with intricate watchmaking finishes visible through a sapphire crystal case back. This movement also integrates a silicon balance spring, enhancing the timepiece's resistance to magnetism and ensuring long-term precision. The silicon innovation, elastic yet resistant to deformation, highlights Blancpain’s dedication to precision and durability, allowing the watch’s mechanics to be showcased without compromising accuracy.
Blancpain's Villeret Draws Inspiration From The Vallée de Jour Fir Trees With Four New Models
Blancpain presents new additions to its Villeret collection, featuring a sunburst green dial inspired by the verdant forests of the Vallée de Joux. This captivating shade, set against 18K red gold cases, brings a fresh and natural elegance to models ranging from the minimalist Extraplate to the sophisticated Tourbillon Carrousel.
Villeret Extraplate - The Villeret Extraplate exemplifies timeless simplicity, showcasing only essential time functions—hours, minutes, seconds, and date—leaving space to admire its deep green dial. Powered by the ultra-thin Calibre 1151, this 40 mm red gold timepiece measures just 8.7 mm thick yet offers a robust 100-hour power reserve.
Villeret Quantième Phases de Lune - With Blancpain’s signature moon phase complication, this 33.2 mm model exudes charm, featuring a feminine moon face adorned with a tiny “mouche” (beauty spot). Its design is further enriched by almost 1 ct of brilliant-cut diamonds and a soothing green sunburst dial, creating a harmonious balance between day and night beauty.
Villeret Quantième Complet - The Quantième Complet brings together a full calendar and moon-phase display. Housed in a 40 mm red gold case, this timepiece displays the date, day, and month in a layout optimised for readability. The contrasting green dial and red gold markers enhance legibility, while Blancpain's patented under-lug correctors simplify calendar adjustments.
Villeret Tourbillon Carrousel - In this model, Blancpain combines the tourbillon and carrousel regulators, a rare feat that enhances precision by countering gravitational effects. The 44.6 mm red gold case frames a green sunburst dial, with a seven-day power reserve visible through a sapphire crystal case back. The Calibre 2322 powers both the tourbillon at 12 o’clock and the carrousel at 6 o’clock, maintaining accuracy through a differential mechanism that averages the rates of the two regulators.
Blancpain Air Command Goes Camo And Lightweight
Blancpain introduces its new Air Command flyback chronographs, blending vintage-inspired design with advanced modern watchmaking. These limited-edition timepieces, available in 42.5 mm and 36.2 mm sizes, sport an adventurous camouflage-green colour, a tribute to the brand's iconic 1950s aviator chronograph. Crafted from Grade 23 titanium, the cases are corrosion-resistant and feature a satin-brushed, polished finish that nods to the original pilot’s watch aesthetic. With a bidirectional titanium bezel, ceramic insert, and luminescent Super-LumiNova®-coated markers, these pieces radiate vintage charm while delivering a rugged, aviation-inspired look.
Under the hood, the watches house Blancpain’s advanced calibres - F188B in the smaller model and F388B in the larger model - equipped with a flyback function. This capability allows for instantaneous resetting with a single pusher press, ideal for pilots and anyone requiring seamless chronograph operation. Calibre F388B, with a high frequency of 5 Hz, achieves tenth-of-a-second accuracy and features a column-wheel system with a vertical clutch for precise chronograph start and stop functionality. The watches also integrate a tachymeter for measuring speed and a countdown bezel.
Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Line Welcomes A Trio Of New References
Blancpain has expanded its Fifty Fathoms collection with three new Bathyscaphe models featuring high-tech black ceramic cases and a variety of colourful dial options. The lineup now includes a flyback chronograph and two three-hand models with date displays, offering versatility in both style and function. Born in 1956 as a sophisticated, urban alternative to Blancpain's original Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, the Bathyscaphe has evolved into a collection embodying elegance and adventure. The dial options include a vibrant green and deep oceanic blue, each featuring a gradient sunburst effect that harmonises with the robust black ceramic cases. This combination provides exceptional light play and a striking contrast with the ceramic bezels, which are equipped with Liquidmetal® indexes for added durability. Both the three-hand and chronograph models are water-resistant up to 30 bar (300 meters), reinforcing their design for divers while remaining versatile enough for everyday wear. The unidirectional rotating bezel, a safety feature introduced by Blancpain in 1953, allows for precise underwater time tracking and enhances the sporty, functional aesthetics of these watches.
Powering the three-hand Bathyscaphe models is the Calibre 1315 . This in-house automatic movement offers a five-day power reserve, enabled by three series-coupled barrels. The movement is known for high-precision timekeeping and features a stop-seconds function for exact time setting. The NAC-coated 18K gold oscillating weight underscores the high horology finishing of this caliber. The Calibre F385 is found in the Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback, which operates at a high frequency of 5 Hz for tenth-of-a-second precision and a 50-hour power reserve. Its column-wheel system with a vertical clutch ensures smooth chronograph operation, while the flyback feature allows for quick reset and restart.
The Bathyscaphe's innovative ceramic bracelet, developed over three years, showcases Blancpain's commitment to both form and function. It features a patented cam-shaped link assembly that ensures durability, comfort, and a perfect fit. The ceramic material is five times harder than steel yet 25% lighter, making it exceptionally durable, scratch-resistant, and hypoallergenic. With the addition of these models, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe line now offers three distinct functions (flyback chronograph, three-hand plus date, and complete calendar with moon phase) across multiple dial colours, complemented by a choice of sail-canvas, NATO, and ceramic bracelet options. Combining heritage, advanced materials, and innovative mechanics, Blancpain’s new Bathyscaphe models are designed for both urban life and underwater exploration.
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