Villeret, Golden Hour
This year, Blancpain introduced three iconic models, including an automatic three-hand model with date (40 mm),
A complete calendar with moon phase (40 mm) and A moon phase calendar (33.2 mm). With three reinterpreted emblematic models and their variations, dials in new, stunning autumnal shades, subtly reworked aesthetic details, and beautifully hand-finished manufacture movements, the Villeret collection reaffirms its dual heritage: mechanical excellence and the purity of design that make it the most authentic expression of Blancpain’s style.
Origins
In 1983, Blancpain introduced a creation that would become emblematic: the smallest complete calendar moon phase of its time
(Calibre 6395, 21mm diameter). With its double-stepped bezel and
refined, understated aesthetics, this timepiece already embodied the
codes that continue to define Villeret today.
More than a model, it was a powerful symbol — a visionary watch
that helped restore confidence in Swiss mechanical watchmaking at a
time when the industry was shaken.
Against the influx of electronic watches, Blancpain demonstrated
that mechanical timepieces stood out for their complex craftsmanship and combination of art, beauty, tradition, and innovation. The 1983 moon phase embodied this difference and opened the path to the renaissance of authentic watchmaking, born of passion and artisanal mastery.
The Moon Phase, a Blancpain Signature
Through their variety and richness, Blancpain’s moon phases hold a
unique place in watchmaking. This complication, both poetic and
technical, played a key role in the revival of the Maison and, more
broadly, in the renaissance of Swiss watchmaking. It has since become one of Blancpain’s most emblematic signatures.
True to tradition, the moon is always depicted with a face. Far from
being a simple aesthetic choice, this approach draws on centuries of
symbolism, literature, and popular beliefs, in which the celestial body
is humanised and becomes a companion to the passing of time. By reinterpreting this heritage, Blancpain’s master watchmakers instil a romantic dimension into their creations, linking mechanical precision with celestial imagination.
Continuity
From the purity of a three-hand watch to the complexity of a minute
repeater, and that of the tourbillon, the carrousel, the perpetual calendar, the traditional Chinese calendar and the equation of time, the Villeret collection embraces the full scope of the horological complications. Over time, it has grown richer with creations that virtuously celebrate the noblest watchmaking savoir-faire.
Pure and elegant, Villeret captivates with its timeless aesthetics
and profound attachment to the founding values of Swiss watchmaking. For decades, Blancpain has striven to subtly reinterpret this line, preserving its distinctive features while infusing them with modernity. Even today, the icon continues to evolve.
A New Chapter
This autumn, the Villeret collection reinvents itself through a series of
subtle details. From golden brown sunburst dials to opaline dials
enriched with golden accents, from shades of beige or blue-grey to
interchangeable straps adapting to the moment: evolution is expressed in both colour and material.
Alongside these touches come deeper transformations:
• Redesigned hands: with luminescent inserts offering both a contemporary touch and improved readability in the dark.
• 18 ct gold Roman numeral indices, with satin-finished tops and
polished bevels on the sides. The traditional “12” is replaced by the
“JB” symbol. The overall effect is more sculpted and sharply defined.
• At 3 o’clock, a larger, more harmonious date window.
• An open worked oscillating weight: Crafted in red or yellow gold, its beveled edges and finishes reveal the mechanical heart.
• Unprecedented comfort: a system of interchangeable straps and clasps designed for everyday use. Their “saddle-cut” finish, extremely supple and handstitched, combines comfort with artisanal tradition.
For all moon phase calendars:
• An expressive moon phase: enlarged opening, ceramic disc,
applied gold moon domed and satin-finished — a face that is
almost alive.
• Secured movements: allow the wearer to adjust calendar indications at any time, without damaging the movement. While the 33.20 mm case models feature traditional correctors on the caseband, the 40 mm ones are equipped with under-lug correctors, patented in 2005,
which can be operated with a simple press of the finger.
For the 40 mm complete calendar with moon phase:
• A redesigned case: slimmer bezel, larger crown, thinner profile, reworked lugs — elegantly lightening the case without losing presence.
For over forty years, Villeret has reflected the soul of the village
whose name it bears. It embodies the vision of generations of artisans
and watchmakers who have made Blancpain a benchmark in Haute
Horlogerie. Today, powered by the latest in-house calibres, decorated
according to Haute Horlogerie tradition, Villeret expresses more than ever an ideal of purity, elegance, and meaning.
