Letters from le Brassus & the 1185 calibre

The latest edition of the Blancpain magazine arrived a while back and along with the article on the new Fifty Fathoms I was interested to read the article on the 1185 chronograph movement.

I was amazed to learn that several un named top Swiss manufacturers have evidently copied the design of this movement including it's vertical clutch. Apparently this replication is so exact and extensive that major parts from them are actually interchangeable with the original!.

Immitation is the most sincere form of flattery or so the saying goes, but I am now curious to know who the culprits are. For instance do they include the new "in house" calibre for the Rolex Daytona as hinted at elsewhere?

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keep in mind that the magazine is bought and paid for by Blancpain

By: ei8htohms : March 30th, 2008-08:47

And as with all marketing literature, take it with a grain of salt. _john

Could they be suggesting, for example....

By: Moses. : March 30th, 2008-14:23

that the JLC 75x family of chronograph movements was directly "inspired" by the 1185 (i.e. JLC copied aspects of the movement without BP's approval?)

The other part of the mysterious behind the scenes goings on that I find intriguing is that certain "manufacture" houses also supply their movements to other brands, some of them very prestigious names indeed. I'm refering to the part of the market where ...

it happens all the time

By: ei8htohms : April 3rd, 2008-03:04

Hi Jerryuk, All of the "Big Three" brands (PP, AP, VC) use some movements supplied by other manufacturers. That in itself is not terribly scandalous and quite thoroughly disected and documented on the various watch discussion forums. Whether or not it is ...

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