This year marks the 275th anniversary of Blancpain, and the watchmaker marked the occasion by unveiling a new Villeret collection at BaselWorld. The Villeret collection is named after the village where founder Jehan-Jacques Blancpain started his business. The new collection reinterprets the watchmaker's most traditional line.
The characteristics that have dominated Blancpain watches for the past three decades are condensed into the new Villeret series. Understated and elegant, the collection features Blancpain's signature double-stepped case and classic dials.
Blancpain's recent heavy investment in the development of new movements has resulted in technical advances that move the Villeret collection into a new decade.
The Villeret Moon Phase is the signature piece for the Villeret collection. This complete calendar watch is fitted with Blancpain's exclusive automatic calibre, with a balance oscillating at 28,800 vibrations an hour, and a two-barrel, 72-hour power reserve mechanism.
In addition to the extended power reserve function for a moon phase watch, the calibre allows wearers to set any of the indications at any time without damaging the mechanism. Usually, moon phase and complete calendar watches can be changed only at certain hours in a day.
Indications are set using Blancpain's patented under-lug correctors and are manipulated with fingertips rather than the usual adjustment tool. The model comes with a red gold half-hunter case and opaline dial.