Basel 2010 marked 275 years of Blancpain, and the brand celebrated with three major announcements.They’ve created a new grand complication, Carrousel Répétition Minutes Le Brassus (below) complete with the world’s first carrousel powered cathedral gong minute repeater movement.Blancpain developed an entirely new cathedral gong minute repeater mechanism, and in an unprecedented step, married it with a one minute flying carrousel.

This movement fixes the cathedral gong rings to the inside of the case which produces an excellent sound. On top of that it solves the historic problem of repeaters being vulnerable if the time is changed while the repeater is sounding.The solution is a system which disconnects the mechanism from the crown when the repeater is activated, thus eliminating the risk of damage.Meanwhile the new Villeret collection reinterprets Blancpain’s most traditional line with nine new models ranging from a pocket watch to an 8-day power reserve complicated moon phases complete calendar timepiece.

The flagship of the 2010 Villeret Collection is the complete calendar moon phases model (below) fitted with Blancpain’s 8-day power reserve automatic caliber 6639 movement.This movement offers a substantial 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.Additionally, Blancpain has incorporated its under-lug correctors that produce a perfectly clean case side profile, free from adjustment dimples, meaning the owner can set each indication with their finger rather than an adjustment tool.

Two models will be offered: in platinum and in red gold with a grand feu enamel dial.On top of that they’ve made a new addition to the L-evolution Collection, which debuted at Basel in 2009. The line has expanded with a new long power reserve complication, the L-evolution Semainier (above).Powered by an in-house automatic winding movement with three mainspring barrels and a titanium free-sprung balance, the L-evolution Semainier offers week of the year, large date, day of the week and power-reserve indications in addition to its 8-day power reserve.It includes a complex multi-layered dial, bold numerals, crisp double stepped bezel, removable lugs and a 43.5mm case diameter.

For the first time in its history, Blancpain has created a special-shaped watch*. The Manufacture in Le Brassus is presenting an authentic jeweller creation set with over 500 diamonds and pink sapphires, and housing the world’s smallest self-winding movement, Calibre 615. This extraordinary timepiece is to be issued in a symbolically limited edition of 14 to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2010.

This exceptional creation is an anthem to Love and to Femininity, starting with the white and pink mother-of-pearl dial forming a heart and framed by a bezel set with over 500 diamonds and pink sapphires. A heart-cut diamond also appears at 12 o’clock, while the pin buckle is set with a pear- shaped pink sapphire.

The exquisite beauty of this exceptional two-hand watch also lies in the slenderness of its movement. Blancpain is proudly reintroducing the famous “Lady Bird” Calibre 615, still regarded as the world’s smallest self-winding movement and which can be admired through the sapphire crystal case-back.

This shaped watch is delivered with two genuine satin straps – one black and the other white. It comes in an extremely elegant presentation box featuring a design reflecting the pure lines of this dainty Valentine’s Day model crafted in a strictly limited edition of 14.

Source: Blancpain

Mexico City, October 2009 – The Tiempo de Relojes specialised watch magazine held its festive prize-giving ceremony during the closing gala dinner of the third Salón Internacional de Alta Relojería, Latin America’s premier luxury watch show. Attended by eminent representatives of the watch industry, the press and numerous VIPs, this glittering event saw the presentation of prizes in eight different categories to watches selected from a total of 24 nominated models. The jury of internationally renowned experts chose Blancpain’s 500 Fathoms GMT as the Sports Watch of the Year.

Powered by the innovative proprietary movement, Blancpain Calibre 5215, and heir to Blancpain’s well-established tradition in the field of exceptional diver’s watches, the prize-winning model features a dynamic design entirely in tune with its high-tech mechanism and top-class performances. It is enriched with stellar technical and aesthetic features such as a unique system of micrometrical balance-regulating screws, three series-coupled barrels, strategically placed inertia-blocks; as well as exquisitely distinctive hand-crafted movement finishes including a delicately engraved oscillating weight shaped like a boat propeller.

At Baselworld 2009 Blancpain debuted a new line of timepieces called the L-evolution that represented a departure for the brand thus far chiefly at home in the arena of elegant watches. “Evolution,” in fact, very aptly describes its only other sports watch line aside from the 50 Fathoms—and the astute observer will have noticed that at Basel this year, Blancpain only introduced new timepieces from these two sporty lines. New is also the cooperative marketing activity with the Lamborghini Super Trofeo racing series, and this is no coincidence. During the final race at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet over the past weekend, Hayek explained the brand’s shift in focus as mirroring the consumer’s contemporary view of luxury: the best in quality packaged in a sporty, casual way. In other words, Roberto Cavalli jeans instead of Armani suits and ties.

Hayek himself is perhaps the best example: born into a prominent family—he is the grandson of Swatch Group co-founder Nicolas G. Hayek—his interests certainly coincide with those of his projected target group where dynamic, high-tech emotions are a part of his daily world.

This is not the watch industry’s first marketing strategy born of a brand leader’s own passions, and Hayek’s love of mobile machinery has him understanding the similarities between the two forms of mechanics. He reiterates, however, that it is too easy to simply put a logo on a dial, and instead prefers to live his own marketing and have his customers take part.

Hayek’s “modern feel for luxury” culminated in a second place series finish for Hayek and pro-am partner Peter Kox and their Lamborghini emblazoned with the number 24 and a larger-than-life stylization of a Blancpain timepiece.

Blancpain’s sponsorship of the high-speed monobrand racing series is slated to run three years, which is a fitting amount of time for the Le Brassus-based watchmaker to convey the revved up feel of its new direction. Hayek also promises more sporty mechanics for the near future, particularly from the L-evolution line, which was created to take the 50 Fathoms concept a step further.

For the third Only Watch charity auction held to raise funds for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Blancpain unveils a one-of-a-kind 500 Fathoms model. The exceptional 500 Fathoms Only Watch N°1/1 was specially conceived and developed for this cause. This world-class sports model featuring an uncompromising design and accomplished performances celebrates its legendary origins in the world’s first modern diver’s watch, the famous Fifty Fathoms by Blancpain.

Loyal to an almost decade-long commitment to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy, Blancpain is reaffirming its support by introducing an exceptional model: the 500 Fathoms Only Watch N°1/1, a unique diver’s watch intended for demanding and refined connoisseurs. Endowed with a new face, new dimensions and new performances, the 500 Fathoms may be considered the “big sister” (in size terms) of the famous Fifty Fathoms.

More imposing than its predecessors, the 48 mm-diameter 500 Fathoms Only Watch N°1/1 is water-resistant to 1000 metres. An automatic decompression valve housed inside the brushed titanium case, guarantees the watch’s security and reliability without any intervention by its owner. Unique in the world, the anthracite grey dial of the 500 Fathoms Only Watch N°1/1 is adorned with a carbon fibre centre. A tinted blue sapphire ring provides a transparent view of the date disc rotating beneath a window at 6 o’clock.

The luminescent coating applied to the hourmarkers, bezel markings and hands, along with the red tip of the central seconds hand, ensure optimal read-off in all circumstances. The easy-grip raised notched unidirectional rotating bezel facilitates handling, while the titanium and scratchproof sapphire crystal bezel is slightly domed to reduce the risk of impacts.

The sapphire crystal case-back enables one to admire the self-winding Calibre 1315, as well as its entirely hand-decorated oscillating weight shaped like a boat propeller. The 500 Fathoms Only Watch N°1/1 is equipped with a rubber-lined black sail canvas strap, while an additional rubber strap and the dedicated instrument required to fix it complete the set, delivered in an ultra-sturdy watertight presentation box able to withstand extreme conditions.