BASELNEWS 2010Blancpain Unveils A New Villeret Collection
With its classical lines, the Villeret Collection has been core to Blancpain since the early 1980s. For 2010, Blancpain has reinterpreted the collection with nine new models ranging from a pocket watch to an 8-day power reserve complicated moon phases complete calendar timepiece.
For three decades, round double stepped cases, roman numeral dials, and understated aesthetics have defined Blancpain’s Villeret watches. These design elements have been thoroughly respected in the 2010 collection, which brings them forward with not only a reinterpreted style but accompanied with the full benefit of Blancpain’s new movement advances.
The flagship of the 2010 Villeret Collection is the complete calendar moon phases model fitted with Blancpain’s 8-day power reserve automatic caliber 6639 movement, with its three mainspring barrels and free-sprung titanium balance. This movement not only offers an extraordinarily long power reserve for a watch of this complication, but also, unlike other moon phases / complete calendars in the industry, allows the owner to set any of the indications at any time without fear of damaging the mechanism. Every other moon phases / complete calendar movement forbids changes during certain hours of the day. Additionally, Blancpain has incorporated its patented under-lug correctors that produce a perfectly clean case side profile, free from adjustment dimples, and which allow the owner to set each indication with finger pushes instead of an adjustment tool. In the date display Blancpain recalls 18th century watchmaking tradition by utilizing a blued serpentine steel hand. Historically, hands used for indications other than time adopted this shape to distinguish them from the primary time hands. Two models will be offered: in platinum and in red gold with a grand feu enamel dial.
The second 8-day power reserve model in the 2010 Villeret line features Blancpain’s 13R0 manual wind movement (with three main spring barrels and titanium free-sprung balance). This new Villeret model, with large seconds and power reserve indications, will be offered in platinum with a grand feu enamel dial and as well in red gold. Emphasizing the traditional values that underlie Villeret is a new manual wind, small seconds pocket watch. Its hand decorated movement and 44.55 mm case is fitted with a grand feu enamel dial.