BLANCPAIN Baselworld 2014 Novelties Exhibition

BLANCPAIN introduces a series of precise and delicate new members to its renowned Villeret, Fifty Fathoms and Women timepiece collections at the BASELWORLD watch exposition this year. And now, these spectacular watches have arrived in Hong Kong and are now available for viewing at the “Blancpain Baselworld 2014 Novelties Exhibition” held at the brand’s 1881 Heritage Boutique in Tsim Sha Tsui. The exhibition showcases Blancpain’s new debuts of 2014 including the Villeret Carrousel Moon Phase, the Villeret 8-Day Perpetual Calendar, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph, the Women collection retrograde seconds watch and many more.

This new Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe model houses a new 13-lignes Manufacture Blancpain movement beating at a rate of 36,000 vibrations/hour. It is equipped with a column-wheel chronograph mechanism and a vertical clutch. It also offers a flyback function enabling the wearer to reset and instantly restart the chronograph simply by pressing the pusher at 4 o’clock. This device proves extremely useful in taking fast measurements of successive times. Moreover, the water-resistant chronograph pushers also enable user underwater to depths of 300 metres without any risk of damaging the watch. The presence of a sapphire case-back on this diver’s watch is made possible by the use of a balance-spring made in silicon - a material endowed with anti-magnetic properties that enable the watch to dispense with the inner Faraday cage. This transparent back reveals the 18-carat gold oscillating weight clad in NAC (a platinum alloy) and featuring a sculpted Blancpain logo.

The new Blancpain 225L movement unites a carrousel, a moon phase and a date for the very first time. Having been consigned to oblivison over a century, the carrousel (karussel) was brought back by Blancpain to the forefront of the watchmaking scene in 2008, with the introduction of the world’s first flying carrousel to perform a one-minute rotation. Like the tourbillon, the carrousel also aims to reduce the effects of gravity on the rate of the movement. The distinction between these two devices lies in their construction. Whereas the tourbillon is linked to the barrel by one gear train, the carrousel has two : the first supplies the energy required to drive the escapement ; while the second controls the rotation speed of the carriage. The moon phase is another complication that had experienced an almost total eclipse until it was reintroduced by Blancpain in the early 1980s. This new fully secured movement, comprising 281 parts including 61 for the carrousel carriage alone, is equipped with silicon balance-spring technology and endowed with a five-day power reserve.

The Villeret collection, named after the birthplace of the Manufacture, captures Blancpain’s underlying principle of giving absolute priority to authenticity and respect for tradition. It now welcomes a new self-winding three-hand watch with date display, featuring a remarkably understated grand feu enamel dial. The use of grand feu enamel reaffirms Blancpain’s deep-felt attachment to historical watchmaking skills. This magnificently stable material that maintains its radiance indefinitely is particularly suited to adorning a watch with such a classic aesthetic. Crafting it involves applying several successive layers of enamel that are fired at extremely high temperatures. The enamel-painted numerals also undergo the stern trial of the furnace. After each operation, the dial is carefully examined and manually touched up, since the procedure is rendered even more complex in this instance by the cambered shape of the dial. Its finishing calls for distinctive expertise that Blancpain is now able to offer.

The new self-winding Calibre 5939A comprising 379 parts measures 7.25 mm thick and 32 mm in diameter. In addition to keeping track of the varying month lengths and leap years involved in the complex Gregorian calendar without any need for adjustment until 2100, this movement powers small seconds and a large moon phase at 6 o’clock. This fully secured and protected mechanism enables adjustments of the day, date, month and moon-phase indications at all times without any risk of damaging the movement. Its 42 mm-diameter case is equipped with Blancpain’s patented under-lug correctors. By remaining invisible when the watch is worn, these four discreet and practical correctors preserve the smooth lines of the case with its double stepped bezel, while serving to adjust the date and moon-phase indications without any need for a dedicated tool. The broad sapphire case-back reveals the meticulous finishing of the movement with its honeycomb-motif oscillating weight. In keeping with the brand’s aesthetic codes, the white dial is in grand feu enamel, a delicate decorative technique requiring several firings in the kiln at extremely high temperatures. To ensure enhanced readability and optimal clarity, the dial displays broad painted hour-markers, well-spaced day and month indications with blued steel hands, as well as a large moon phase.

The new self-winding Calibre 5939A comprising 379 parts measures 7.25 mm thick and 32 mm in diameter. In addition to keeping track of the varying month lengths and leap years involved in the complex Gregorian calendar without any need for adjustment until 2100, this movement powers small seconds and a large moon phase at 6 o’clock. This fully secured and protected mechanism enables adjustments of the day, date, month and moon-phase indications at all times without any risk of damaging the movement. Its 42 mm-diameter case is equipped with Blancpain’s patented under-lug correctors. By remaining invisible when the watch is worn, these four discreet and practical correctors preserve the smooth lines of the case with its double stepped bezel, while serving to adjust the date and moon-phase indications without any need for a dedicated tool. The broad sapphire case-back reveals the meticulous finishing of the movement with its honeycomb-motif oscillating weight. In keeping with the brand’s aesthetic codes, the white dial is in grand feu enamel, a delicate decorative technique requiring several firings in the kiln at extremely high temperatures. To ensure enhanced readability and optimal clarity, the dial displays broad painted hour-markers, well-spaced day and month indications with blued steel hands, as well as a large moon phase.

“With 279 years of watchmaking history, Blancpain has always been keen to inherit the essence of traditional watchmaking to create pieces that are well sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs alike. Earlier this year at BASELWORLD, we have continued our proud heritage by launching a wide variety of new creations. We are excited to share these pieces that represent the pinnacle of prestigious watchmaking at the ‘Blancpain Baselworld 2014 Novelties Exhibition’ hosted at our 1881 Heritage Boutique. Watch lovers and friends of the brand are welcome to visit us at the Exhibition and experience Blancpain’s new milestone in watchmaking." Said Sincere Chiu, Vice President of Blancpain, Hong Kong and Macau.