Wednesday, November 29, 2017

BLANCPAIN – VILLERET Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel Edition

BLANCPAINVILLERET Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel Platinum 45 mm Unique Piece

Blancpain is delighted to present its new one-of-a-kind
interpretation of the
Chinese Calendar watch

Blancpain is introducing a new one-piece limited edition of its world-exclusive wristwatch equipped with a traditional Chinese calendar. On this occasion, this exceptional new timepiece is adorned with a green grand feu enamel dial crafted using the champlevé technique.

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The "Traditional Chinese Calendar" watch by Blancpain is based on fundamental principles established for millennia and profoundly rooted in Chinese tradition. On its fascinating dial, the hours, minutes and the Gregorian calendar rub shoulders with the main indications of the Chinese calendar: traditional double-hour indexes, day, month with indication of leap months and zodiac signs. The moon phases, a key element in Blancpain complete calendars, are also presented and play a particularly important role in this model, given the link between the lunar cycle and traditional Chinese months.

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Contrary to the Gregorian solar calendar which uses the solar day as the base unit, the traditional Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning a solar calendar with the lunar cycle (29.53059 days) as its base unit. Since a year comprising 12 lunar months (354.36707 days) is approximately 11 days too short compared with the tropical or solar year (365.24219 days), a leap month is sometimes added to preserve the match with the cycle of the seasons. Given that each month of the Chinese calendar, including the leap months, begins on the day of the new moon, its length is either 29 or 30 days. This means that when a year comprises a leap month, this 13-month year will be longer than the tropical year. On the contrary, when there is no leap month, the year of 12 lunar months is shorter than the tropical year. This distinctive feature is the reason behind the variable date of the Chinese New Year.

A unique green dial

After models with white, black and red enamel dials, Blancpain is delighted to present a dial graced with jade green grand feu champlevé enamel on a white gold base. The enamel grand feu plate of this special model features a pure emerald-like green color, which pays tribute to the elegance and nobility of Oriental aesthetics. The introduction of this unique piece demonstrates Blancpain’s savoir-faire in uniting technical sophistication and aesthetic refinement, as well as the brand’s consistent pursuit of craftsmanship.

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The 45 mm-diameter platinum case is fitted with a crown adorned with a rose-cut diamond and comprises five integrated under-lug correctors serving to adjust the indications. The gold oscillating weight decorated using the champlevé technique is also enameled with the Wu Xing pictogram in the middle representing the five elements. It features the classic signature attributes of the Villeret collection: its double-stepped shape; a grand feu enamel dial with a chapter ring composed of gold appliques along with indications transferred before the firing process; the main hands shaped like slightly hollowed leaves; and the blued steel Gregorian date pointer appearing in the traditional serpentine form.

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The 39-jewel self-winding Calibre 3638 powering this calendar watch and ensuring a seven-day power reserve comprises more than 450 parts, whereas a tourbillon movement is usually composed of only 200 parts. Its complexity stems as much from the number of indications to be displayed as from the irregular nature of their cycles.

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The hours, minutes and the Gregorian calendar are presented in the center. The counter at 12 o’clock indicates the double-hour numerals and symbols (24-hour cycle); while the one at 3 o’clock shows the elements and the celestial stems (10-year cycle).

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

The month of the Chinese calendar (12-month cycle), its date (30-day cycle) and the leap month indicator appear at 9 o’clock, while a 12 o’clock aperture reveals the zodiac sign of the year in progress (12-year cycle); and the moon phases are displayed at 6 o’clock.

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Technical data

Model: VILLERET Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel Edition

References:  00888-3431-55B - Platinum - Unique Piece

Complications
Traditional Chinese Calendar   
Moon phases   
Specificities
  • Gregorian calendar
  • Oscillating weight set with a Madagascar ruby
  • Secured movement
  • Under-lug correctors
Case
Platinum, crown set with a Madagascar ruby
Case thickness:     15.00 mm
Case diameter:     45.00 mm
Water resistance:     3.00 bar
Between horns:     23.00 mm
Sapphire back
Engraved on the - "Chinese Calendar - Unique Piece"
Dial
Full fired enamel
Green grand feu champlevé enamel
Movement
Calibre 3638
Reference:   3638   
Self-winding
Calibre thickness:     8.30 mm
Calibre diameter:     32.00 mm
Power reserve in hours:     168
Jewels:     36
3 mainspring barrels
Secured movement
Titanium free sprung balance with gold regulation screws
Components:     464
Strap/Bracelet
Alligator lined with alzavel
Black color strap
Platinum folding clasp

Limited edition of Unique Piece

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Press release - 2017
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Blancpain S.A.
Le Rocher 12
1348 Le Brassus
Suisse
International PR: Lucie Notar
Tel.  (+41) 21 796 3619
Fax (+41) 21 796 3637
E-mail: pr@blancpain.com
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