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Thank you very much, dear Ken 🙏🏼 Now, restoration needs clear erhics...
... if a collector decides to go that route. The Atelier manager mentioned the UNESCO charter of restoration for cultural heritage, e.g. fine arts, which influenced the Blancpain Vintage Atelier‘s own ethics charter.
The beliefs how to treat a vintage watch are multifold, and as long as the Atelier gives any collector the choice to decide themselves, I think it is perfectly suited to take good care of the timepiece.
Think about dealing with disintegrating luminous material, which is a very usual aging aspect with Radium and Tritium. Applying an invisible lacquer to stop the disintegration process is actually restoration, it preserves the condition of the dial and hands doe the years to come. If you decide to go that way you can be sure it’s done with utmost care by a knowledgeable and caring watchmaker. If you prefer to let the luminous material untouched and unprotected, they will 100% stick to that wish.
Anything that alters the character or legitimacy of the timepiece the Atelier would refuse anyway.
Cheers
Henrik
How to properly deal with heritage timepieces: a visit to the Blancpain Vintage Atelier
On my wishlist for further exploration, a visit to the Vintage Atelier at Blancpain in Le Brassus was very high up... and now I had the chance to meet with the team that takes care of all Blancpain timepieces prior to 1981. And of course I’d like to take ...
This is terrific. I already said this but...
...on TimeZone, but this report is awesome and inspiring. It gave me a wonderful insight into Blancpain and how they handle their vintage pieces. I gained a lot of respect for the brand by reading your report. Thank you for sharing this. All best, respo
Really fantastic report on how Blancpain takes care of its heritage, Henrik!
Really well done and thanks for sharing
Very very impressiv Henrik!
Thanks for the effort you put into this great report! 🙏🏻 One question comes up, the 1. example with the removal of the radium on the dial. This dial is still work in progress, correct? What will be done afterwards? Put on Superluminova? I actually don‘t k...
Thanks for raising this question, dear MCG...
... this dial does not belong to a customer timepiece but it is an original patinated dial to showcase what the options for customers are. Due to the Vintage Atelier ethics charter, whatever way is chosen by the customer is documented properly and also de...
This is a superb, informative article my friend, thank you. Sympathetic restorations are so difficult to achieve well and the fact that Blancpain do not run this with a P&L can only help to
ensure it is done correctly. Amazing attention to detail ! Best wishes Will.
One of the best posts I can recall, ever.
Always loved Blancpain dearly. This only strengthens the love. All the best, Alex
Awesome! Great info, my friend!
Shamefully, I didn't know about this place. Wonderful. I wonder whether or how they "restore" those vintage pieces.... Some people firmly believe that restoring is "sin" ) Awesome!! Ken
Thank you very much, dear Ken 🙏🏼 Now, restoration needs clear erhics...
... if a collector decides to go that route. The Atelier manager mentioned the UNESCO charter of restoration for cultural heritage, e.g. fine arts, which influenced the Blancpain Vintage Atelier‘s own ethics charter. The beliefs how to treat a vintage wat...
Totally makes sense. Thanks!
That is the wish of the owner vs. atelier's policy. And if atelier accepts, it is not against the policy which the atelier believes would not "damage" the heritage. That is reassuring. Thank you, Henrik! Ken
Thanks a lot, Henrik
This post brings and shows the true spirit and mystery of Blancpain which I believe many of us feel and love. It is partly in contrary to the current collection, routing of the brand, marketing, market and product positioning despite there are still some ...
I am amazed that you were allowed to take photo of the amazing shop.
I as was surprised to hear the restoration shop has some original blancpain parts . I alway heard there was nothing left of the old inventory but glad there are parts left to restore our old watches. Brian
Thanks, Brian! Now, the inventory...
... looked pretty impressive and quite broad, and I only saw a part of it. The Blancpain Vintage Atelier made a real effort to get themselves in a position to be a great source to vintage Blancpain, Harwood and Rolls collectors, and the effort continues. ...
Dear Tomas, thanks a lot for your comments 😉
I personally love the vintage Blancpain pieces but the scope of what Blancpain has created since the mid 1980s appeals to me even more. The mesmerizing character of the vintage pieces is outstanding, due to the natural limitation only comparatively few in...
I cannot tell for sure, dear Nico...
... since we did not discuss dials, bezels and crowns specifically, but I will investigate and get back to you. What I know is that original hands are in their inventory. Cheers Henrik
I very quickly got the response from the Atelier manager...
... and he allowed me to share the information that they hold dials, bezels and crowns in stock, not for each and every version, but some for even the extremely rare pieces. Whenever there is no stock and there is no way of getting hold of it, the Atelier...
Many thanks Henrik
This is an excellent article and report! Really love your passion and your articles on Blancpain!
Sorry for being late to the party
but I must add my congratulations on your informative report, and to BP for their restorations ethic. I particularly appreciate the documentation that is provided the owner of a restored piece. Cheers!
Great report...
and very useful to know. Many thanks for sharing it with us and of course respect to Blancpain for their great efforts to stand behind their history Cheers
It is worth....
To pull this up so newer member can benefit from your kind research and info Cheers