Haute Time’s Favorite Watches From Blancpain

Blancpain has been a very fortunate brand. As one of the pioneers in the field of diving watches and that of automatic watches, they have a tremendously rich history. Even when the quartz crisis almost made an end to the brand, there was Jean-Claude Biver, who together with Jacques Piguet, son of Frédéric Piguet, took the company to new heights. Since 2002 the brand is in the capable hands of Marc A. Hayek, who has carefully build upon the history of the brand, yet with a keen eye to what modern consumers are looking for. While their current collection is vast, these are our Haute Time favorites.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique Grande Date
The Fifty Fathoms is a legend in the world of diving watches and one of the few original designs out there. Blancpain still offers a wide variety of different versions of this watch, which undoubtedly contributes to its continued popularity among watch connoisseurs. It has that vintage style to it, while its movement represents the finest in Swiss watchmaking.

Why we like it: the ‘Grande Date’ is well integrated in the overall design, yet just adds an extra dash of Haute Horlogerie to the watch.

Blancpain Tourbillon Carrousel
One of the things we like about Blancpain is that it is a future-focused brand that is also not afraid to look back and adopt what is worthwhile. Thanks to the brand the carrousel, a different way of constructing a tourbillon, is still alive in today’s world of watchmaking. By taking it into the future the brand preserves a heritage that otherwise might be lost for future generations. It also results in a technically and aesthetically very interesting watch.

Why we like it: a carrousel by itself is rare enough, but combined with a tourbillon in a single timepiece…..

Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT
With its double stepped bezel is the Villeret the most classical member of the Blancpain family. With the Quantième Annuel GMT they offer this model now with not only an annual calendar but also with a second time zone. The different windows and subdial are integrated in such a way in the overall design that it still remains pure and classical.

Why we like it: understated, elegant, rather practical and very high end!

L-Evolution Flying Tourbillon Grande Date
Among the collections of Blancpain, the L-Evolution is special because it is more extrovert in its design, yet combines this with cutting edge technology. While the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date, it highlights the craftsmanship of the past with that stunning flying tourbillon, yet also innovates at the back where the power reserve indicator is placed on the oscillating weight.

Why we like it: a watch that seems to come from the future yet is still very much a traditional Blancpain