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Blancpain
Recognized as the world's oldest watch brand still in continuous operation, and the creator of the first modern dive watch, the Fifty Fathoms.
- Founded
- 1735
- Founder
- Jehan-Jacques Blancpain
- Country
- Switzerland
- Headquarters
- Le Brassus, Switzerland
- Status
- Subsidiary of the Swatch Group
- Signature materials
- 18k red gold, titanium, ceramic, sapphire
- Signature movements
- In-house calibre 1315, 13R0, 11A0 families with silicon balance springs
- Notable designers
- Jean-Jacques Fiechter
- Collections
- 4
Every collection
Collections & specifications
Fifty Fathoms
1953
Widely credited as the first modern diving watch, developed with French combat divers and named for the depth at which hull plates buckle.
- Category
- Dive watch
- Designers
- Jean-Jacques Fiechter
- Case materials
- Titanium, stainless steel, 18k red gold, ceramic
- Sizes
- 42mm, 45mm
- Dial
- Black or blue dial with luminous trapeze markers
- Crystal
- Domed sapphire crystal
- Strap / bracelet
- NATO strap, rubber strap, or metal bracelet
- Movements
- Calibre 1315
- Movement type
- Automatic
- Power reserve
- 120 hours (5 days)
- Water resistance
- 300m (30 ATM)
- Complications
- Date · Unidirectional dive bezel
- Key references
- 5015-1130-52, 5015B-1130-B52A
- Price band
- $14,000–$20,000
Villeret
1980s
Blancpain's traditional line named for its Vallée de Joux village of origin, home to the brand's finest complications like tourbillons and calendars.
- Category
- Classic dress watch
- Designers
- In-house design studio
- Case materials
- 18k red gold, platinum, steel
- Sizes
- 38mm, 40mm, 42mm
- Dial
- Grand feu enamel or guilloché dials
- Crystal
- Domed sapphire crystal
- Strap / bracelet
- Alligator leather strap
- Movements
- Calibre 13R0, Calibre 66R2
- Movement type
- Automatic and manual-wind mechanical
- Power reserve
- 72 hours
- Water resistance
- 30m (3 ATM)
- Complications
- Complete calendar · Moonphase · Tourbillon
- Key references
- 6654-3642-55B
- Price band
- $16,000–$120,000+
Air Command
1953
A rare mid-century chronograph originally developed alongside the Fifty Fathoms for the US Air Force, revived as a limited modern collection.
- Category
- Chronograph
- Designers
- In-house design studio
- Case materials
- Stainless steel
- Sizes
- 42.5mm
- Dial
- Matte black dial with luminous Arabic numerals
- Crystal
- Domed sapphire crystal
- Strap / bracelet
- Fabric or leather strap
- Movements
- Calibre F385
- Movement type
- Automatic chronograph
- Power reserve
- 40 hours
- Water resistance
- 50m (5 ATM)
- Complications
- Chronograph · Date
- Key references
- AC01-1130-63B
- Price band
- $18,000–$22,000
Ladybird
1956
One of the smallest mechanical watches ever produced, an elegant, jewel-set line themed around the ladybird motif.
- Category
- Ladies' watch
- Designers
- In-house design studio
- Case materials
- 18k red and white gold, set with diamonds
- Sizes
- 19.5mm, 20.5mm
- Dial
- Mother-of-pearl dial, often diamond-paved
- Crystal
- Domed sapphire crystal
- Strap / bracelet
- Satin strap or diamond-set bracelet
- Movements
- Calibre 1150
- Movement type
- Automatic
- Power reserve
- 40 hours
- Water resistance
- 30m (3 ATM)
- Key references
- 3660A-4954-58B
- Price band
- $16,000–$60,000+