Blancpain - Only Watch Geneva Friday, November 6, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Blancpain
    Reference No: 00888-3637-55B
    Case No: 18ct red gold, Sapphire crystal back
    Model Name: Traditional Chinese Calendar
    Calibre: 3638, 168-hour power reserve, 36 jewels, 469 components. VILLERET, ONLY WATCH 2015, Traditional Chinese Calendar [double-hour indication, signs of the zodiac, date, month of the Chines calendar, indication of the five elements, the celestial stems and the leap months], gregorian calendar, moon phases,under-lug correctors, secured movement, black grand feu enamel dial, champlevé enamel rotor, self-winding
    Bracelet/Strap: Alligator leather straps - origin: Mississippiensis
    Dimensions: 45 mm. Diameter/ 15 mm. Thickness

  • Catalogue Essay

    Standing alongside the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy (AMM) for almost 15 years, Blancpain is renewing its support for the Only Watch charity auction by presenting an exceptional and unique version of its Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar.

    An exclusive horological complication developed by Blancpain, the Traditional Chinese Calendar pays tribute to this culture in this symbolic model based on fundamental principles established for centuries and rooted in Chinese tradition. On its dial, the hours, minutes and the Gregorian calendar rub shoulders with the main indications of the Chinese calendar: traditional double-hour indication, day, month with indication of leap months, signs of the zodiac, as well as the five elements and the 10 celestial stems. The moon phases are also presented and play a particularly important role in this model, given the link between the lunar cycle and traditional Chinese months.

    This one-off creation in red gold is fitted with a black grand feu enamel dial featuring a chapter ring with applied gold hour-markers, as well as indications that are painted in gold before firing. The sapphire crystal provides a view of the oscillating weight specially crafted for this occasion in a black champlevé enamel finish and bearing the ONLY WATCH inscription.

  • Artist Biography

    Blancpain

    Swiss • 1735

    As the watchmaking brand with the earliest founding date, Blancpain remains close to tradition, concentrating on classical mechanical watches. Established in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the Le Brassus manufacturer today continues to innovate with the development of high-quality calibres and is proud of their heritage, having never made quartz watches. One of the firm's greatest successes was the Fifty Fathom wristwatch introduced in 1953 — the vintage models of which are now highly coveted by collectors. The earliest dive watch available to the market, Fifty Fathom came out a year prior to Rolex's Submariner.  Another key model is the Air Command from the 1960s, considered one of the most mythical collector's watches due to their extreme rarity. Today, the firm specializes in creative innovated complicated timepieces. 

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Lot offered with No Reserve

Ref. 00888-3637-55B
Blancpain Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel, ONLY WATCH 2015. This one-off creation in red gold is fitted with a black grand feu enamel dial. The sapphire crystal provides a view of the oscillating weight crafted for this occasion in a black champlevé enamel finish and bearing the ONLY WATCH inscription.

45 mm. Diameter/ 15 mm. Thickness

Estimate
CHF80,000 - 100,000 

Sold for CHF80,000

Contact Specialist
Virginie Liatard-Roessli
+41 22 317 81 82

Only Watch

Geneva Auction 7 November 2015 3pm