Classicism, elegance and traditional design are the keywords when it comes to Blancpain’s Villeret collection. Mostly available with gold cases (white or red) and featuring white dials, these watches are the best example of the understated dress watch. However, for some, it might lack a certain audacity in its design. Without going to extremes, Blancpain […]
At first, Blancpain’s Bathyscaphe watches are clearly seen as tool/dive pieces. But in fact, there’s more. The new Fifty Fathoms BathyscapheQuantième Complet Phase de Lune advances the idea of adding civilian-friendly features with both a complete calendar and moon-phase display. Typically found in their luxury Villeret collection, the complications add a classic, dressy vibe to the otherwise tool watch aesthetic. With previous models like the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Annuel, it’s not the first time Blancpain has dressed up a Bathyscaphe diver with complications, but this is the boldest model yet. Let’s take a closer look at this interesting tool/dress hybrid.
Blancpain has a flair for offering women watches that look feminine without stinting on the mechanics. In fact, this particular watch flaunts two complications and reveals its mechanical heart on the reverse side. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Blancpain releases a special edition of its Villeret Quantième Phases de Lune. Equipped with the […]
As a watch itself and also an entire collection, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is one of the most iconic dive watches of the lot – and the modern version is the worthy descendant of what was one of the earliest dive watches ever created. Its reputation is thus immense. Modern-day versions were usually more on the luxurious side, with polished cases and beautiful finishes. Today, the brand unveils a new version that has a more “tool-watch” attitude. Meet the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 5015 now in Titanium.
As the end of the year is fast approaching, we continue with our “best of 2018” buying guides. After the top 10 watches below EUR 2,000, followed by 10 watches between EUR 2,000 and 5,000, and finally, our pick of the best watches of 2018 priced between EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000, we now move to true luxury watches (or even the start of the high-end category for some) with our 10 favourite watches of 2018 in the 10k to 25k Euros range. And yes, big money means big pleasure here.
A bezel is a simple but extremely effective tool letting you perform all sorts of tasks: from timing a dive to calculating the average speed of a motorbike, from gauging your fuel supply or the distance of incoming fire to consulting the time in Japan, a bezel gets the job done and jacks up the functionality of your watch. The trick is deciphering what all the markings on the bezel or on the dial (in that case, we talk scales) represent and how to use them.
Customized, special editions sold only through a single (branch of) boutiques is a common thing, but few do it as regularly as Bucherer. The Swiss watch retail-house has introduced several striking collaborations – no less than 25 in total with 14 different brands. To name just a few, the Tudor Black Bay Bronze, the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic or the H. Moser & Cie Venturer Small Second for instance. All received the “Bucherer Blue” make-over and next in line is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Edition.
“Everyone has a Rolex. If you don’t have a Rolex by the time you reach 50, then you have clearly failed in life.” Some of you – at least our French-speaking readers – might remember this outrageous statement pronounced by Jacques Séguéla as the advertising tycoon tried to defend Nicolas Sarkozy’s bling-bling style on French TV. If owning a Rolex is the sine qua non of success for some, it’s a good time as any to review the entry-level prices of watch candidates from the leading brands.
A classic among classics, the Le Brassus-based manufacture revisits its perpetual calendar complication with moon phases in 2018, in a larger 40mm case size and a choice of two metals: 18k red gold and stainless steel. With subtle design tweaks on the dial and a secured movement, the new Villeret Quantième Perpétuel 6656 models are presented in a more contemporary case size and in a more ‘democratic’ choice of steel… Is Blancpain on the hunt for younger customers?
With its Métiers d’art collection, Blancpain has been exploring new artistic and expressive horizons, nurturing traditional skills with different expressions. Case in point: recently, the craftsmen of the Metiers d’art workshop in Le Brassus presented Shakudo dials. Of Japanese origin, Shakudo is an alloy principally composed of copper and gold, which acquires a dark patina between blue and black, according to variations in its composition and texture. This year, Japan has once again become an inspiration to Blancpain. One of the manufacture’s latest artistic creations features a Binchōtan dial.