BASELWORLD 2011 PreviewBlancpain presents its first Half-Time-Zone watch
In 2011, Blancpain is pursuing the reinterpretation of its Villeret collection initiated in 2010. The Manufacture du Brassus is offering an exclusive preview of its first Villeret Demi-Fuseau Horaire, a model that serves to adjust the second time zone in half-hour increments. Travellers to countries with half-hour time-zone differences, such as India, will thus be equally punctual while in those particular destinations!
Blancpain’s first ever dual time-zone model is extremely user-friendly. A few turns of the crown are enough to perform all adjustments on this watch: date, time zone and reference time. A pusher located on the head of the crown serves to select fast correction or half time-zone adjustment mode. It is worth noting that correcting the reference time automatically modifies that of the second time zone.
The smooth and easy handling of this half-time-zone function is the physical expression of the ingenuity displayed by the Manufacture in Le Brassus in developing its Calibre 5254DF. This new 321-part self-winding mechanism is endowed with a 72-hour power reserve. It displays the reference time at 12 o’clock; the half-time-zone and seconds in the centre; the day/night indication for the reference time at 9 o’clock; the date which changes in step with the second time-zone at 6 o’clock; and the Date Change (D) or Time-Zone (F) indication at 4 o’clock. It is a further demonstration of Blancpain’s incredible spirit of innovation and now takes its place in the brand’s movement parade that began in 2006.
The Villeret Demi-Fuseau Horaire features a half-hunter case in red gold fitted with a sapphire crystal case-back revealing the finesse of the movement and of the guilloché-work oscillating weight. The subtly engine-turned opaline dial is enhanced by red gold hour-markers, and the watch is fitted with an alvazel-lined leather strap.