jkingston
356
Baselworld 2010: Blancpain novelties
1) Blancpain Carrousel Répétition Minute-Le Brassus.
A huge year for Blancpain at Basel—4 new movements debut (and this is on top of the 7 new movements that were
introduced in the two and a half previous years). At the top of the pyramid for 2010 is no less than a Grand
Complication—a combination of a cathedral gong minute repeater and carrousel.
The details of this watch are outstanding. The cathedral gong minute repeater is a brand new design, done entirely
in house by Blancpain. Keep in mind this is the third minute repeater movement that Blancpain has developed.
Cathedral gong means that the sounding rings are extra long, circling the movement one and half times. To make the
sound particularly loud and pure, Blancpain has attached the rings to the inside of the case—this channels the
sound directly to where it can be heard, which is outside the case. Another innovation in the repeater design is a
crown disconnect when the repeater is actuated. With other repeaters, if the crown is adjusted during sounding,
the mechanism will break. This disconnect system protects the movement from that kind of damage.
The carrousel is Blancpain’s design that debuted 2 years ago. It is the first and only flying one minute
carrousel.
The plates and bridges of the movement are in rose gold and are specially carved and decorated by hand and done by
engravers in Blancpain’s Le Brassus workshops. Other movement particularities in the photo are a newly developed
flying regulator for the repeater and a power reserve indicator.
The watch is in rose gold in a 45mm case, with a special brushed white gold dial with rose gold applied numerals,
opened to give view to key components of the movement.
2) Blancpain Introduces Three New Villeret Moon Phase Watches.
One of the mainstays of the modern Blancpain has been the Villeret Collection. Basel 2010 brings a refreshment of
the entire collection—both in appearance and in the movements—but in every way staying faithful to the traditions
of the line.
The flagship for the new Villeret, of course, is the complete calendar moon phase, which after all is the
complication that launched the original line in the early 80s. Three different variants have been introduced: a
42mm 8 day power reserve, a 40mm 3 day power reserve and a 40mm half hunter 3 day power reserve.
Let’s start with the 42mm version.
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