jkingston
356
Not quite correct
Blancpain has two workshops in the Vallee de Joux. In this photo report, the visit is to the complicated workshop in Le Brassus. Yes, it may be visually impressive, but it is far more than a showplace. The complicated pieces are in fact made in this workshop and the difficult metier d'art of engraving is done in this shop. Note: unlike almost all other brands that offer engraving, Blancpain does its engraving in-house.
The much much larger workshop is 5 minutes away in Le Sentier. Here is where all the other watches are made and where the service facility is found.
Keep in mind that Blancpain is a 100% manufacture. This means that 100% of the movements it uses in its watches are in-house and are produced either in Le Brassus or Le Sentier. Not only is it a 100% manufacture, but it produces in house the full range of complications: chronographs, split seconds, annual calendar, perpetual calendars, tourbillons, carrousels, repeaters, alarm watches, dual time zones plus combinations of these. There are precious few brands who can make a similar claim (and that includes some very famous prestige brands found in Geneva, Vallee de Joux, and elsewhere).
My visit of the Blancpain Manufacture (Le Brassus)
Me and my 11 friends were lucky to visit the Blancpain Manufacture in Le Brassus (Vall de Joux, Switzerland) The 2 hours visit started with chamfering, decorations, cotes de Genve and so on. Cotes de Genve are made pieces by pieces on this machine Then...
I have been there - it's a wonderful place.
But naturally everybody visiting the "workshop" understands that it's just a showroom. Watches are manufactured elsewhere. Best, Kari
Not quite correct
Blancpain has two workshops in the Vallee de Joux. In this photo report, the visit is to the complicated workshop in Le Brassus. Yes, it may be visually impressive, but it is far more than a showplace. The complicated pieces are in fact made in this works...
I visited just today Blancpain Boutique in New Bond Street
And we by accident discussed also about "The Farm". Let's put it as follows: Each of us have the freedom to believe anything. I have visited The Farm and because of my past profession, I have visited hundreds of industrial companies in very many countries...
The Farm (T1,T2)
Blancpain produce ~25'000 watches a year. High end pieces, complications are assembled in "The Farm". 50 persons work in the Farm. In french we called these processes T1, T2. T0 is the part manufacturing (CNC, stamping machines, raw materials). T0 is in L...
There is much more in Sentier
The Le Brassus "farm" is where complicated pieces and the engraving metier d'art are done. Interestingly, the "farm" building is actual an old mill, which has housed watchmaking since 1860 and was the workshop of Louis-Elysee Piguet who found Piguet which...
interesting information
I find these types of topics very interesting because I doubt I will ever get a chance to see it for myself. Plus, knowing some of the details makes me feel closer to the brand. I do have a question. Regarding the comment about the Patek movement really b...
Frédéric Piguet becomes "Manufacture Blancpain"
Frédéric Piguet becomes "Manufacture Blancpain" Blancpain history
Jeff *must* have said this in joking... (some Piguet-ish backgound)
Piguet was a very common name in the french speaking part of Switzerland, and still is today. Furthermore, the old Piguet, any of the famous names, had nothing to do with the Blancpain watchmakers who resided in Villeret , close to La-Chaud-de-Fonts, some...