BLANCPAIN – Métiers d’Art Shakudō and Métiers d’Art Porcelaine Gold Boutique Edition for Taiwan 2020
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Formosa clouded leopard: two Métiers d'Art models in a Boutique edition for Taiwan
With its Métiers d'Art collection, the Manufacture Blancpain offers a journey through cultures. Its openness to the world gives rise to unique creations in which watchmaking excellence and artistic expertise come together in praise of Nature. Today, Blancpain sets sail for Taiwan by dedicating two individual models to one of the wonders of the animal kingdom bound up with the island's history: the Formosa clouded leopard.
The Formosa clouded leopard, endemic to the island, is an important symbol in the collective consciousness of the Taiwanese. The Paiwan aboriginal people consider the leopard to be a spiritual icon. If not extinct, the animal is extremely rare. Blancpain had a wish to represent this emblematic feline by drawing on its expertise in the realm of hand decoration.
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Like the Formosa clouded leopard, the artistic techniques practiced by Blancpain are rare in watchmaking. Some, such as miniature enamel painting, are only offered by a handful of watch companies worldwide. Others, such as shakudō, are produced exclusively by the Manufacture. The range of Blancpain's craftsmanship is vast and represents an age-old heritage.Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Also crafted using the enamel painting on porcelain and engraving techniques, along with shakudō, its tawny coat with spots reminiscent of clouds is strikingly realistic. On the engraved model, the craftsmen of the Manufacture have gone so far as to inlay the panther's whiskers hair by hair, made of gold threads almost as fine as a silk ribbon, in accordance with the art of damascening. The dials thus executed come to life beneath the artist's fingers, giving rise to the kind of emotions that stem from blending aesthetics with technical perfection.
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The art of porcelain and miniature enamel painting
Miniature enamel painting is one of the numerous enamelling techniques carried out by the Blancpain Manufacture's artisans in the Le Brassus "Farm". The process of bringing painted enamel to a watch dial is particularly complex and begins with the fabrication of a surface for the painting. Blancpain's enamel dials are elaborated following a series of steps punctuated by long drying and firing phases. Presented in the form of a powder mainly composed of quartz, feldspar and kaolin, porcelain is first diluted in water. The resulting pulp is sieved and filtered to remove all residues and impurities, prior to being cast in dial-shaped molds.
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After demolding, the dials are dried for 24 hours before being fired at 1,000°C for 24 hours. This first step in the kiln hardens the dials and prepares them for enameling. Rigorously applied by hand to each dial, the enamel requires a second 24-hour firing at 1,300°C that serves to vitrify the porcelain and make it shiny, translucent and enduringly stable. Before any paintbrush touches the prepared surface of the dial, the artisans draw sketched studies of the image to be created. Often multiple trials are evaluated. Blancpain's craftsmen are looking for balance, not only with respect to the design itself, but also with regard to the way in which that design relates to other elements on the dial. Once the layout of the design has been decided, the next step is the preparation of the colors.
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Engraved and shakudō damascening dials
Shakudō is a centuries old Japanese art form favored by samurai to embellish small elements of their katana. Blancpain’s artisans use it to create one of- a-kind watch dials. The introduction of this craft in watchmaking emanates from the Manufacture's innovative spirit, which constantly looks for new artistic techniques and unique decorative patterns matching its timepieces.
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Shakudō itself is a technique that transforms the color of a
gold/copper alloy from its natural yellow/orange hue to a subtle nuanced
black/gray. Often, the surface is reworked to bring complexity and
texture to the black/gray color. At its most basic, the alloy, used in
the form of a disk for the watch dial, is submerged in a warm chemical
bath, composed of copper acetate (greyish green) named rokushō, until
the desired color is achieved.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
These appliques are also dipped in different salt baths to obtain the desired color effects, like the spots that adorn the feline's fur. They are applied to the surface of the dial and held in place by very fine pins, which are inserted into holes preliminary drilled into the dial. The back of the pins are thereafter carefully hammered to ensure that they will remain securely nestled in place. Historically, many shakudō objects were decorated with damascening. This ancient art form consists of carving designs into a surface in the form of a trough, and thereafter hammering soft gold into the trough. As tradition dictates, no glue is use. The hammering process suffices to fix the gold filaments in place, which are then polished smooth. Blancpain's creations combining shakudō, engraving and damascening highlight the Manufacture's uniqueness in the watchmaking world. Blancpain is in fact the sole Maison to propose this marriage of artistic crafts.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Collection: Métiers d’Art
Model: Métiers d’Art Porcelaine Enamel Edition
References: 6124-1919-55B - White Gold 33.20
1 rang de diamants · 18ct white gold
Diameter: 33.20 mm
Thickness: 9.15 mm
Water resistance: 3.00 bar
Between horns: 18.00 mm
Sapphire back
Engraved on the - "Unique Piece"
Dial
Porcelain dial with enamel painting
Hand-decorated and engraved gold-damascened Shakudō dial
Movement
Calibre 1154
Reference: 1154
Ultra-slim self-winding
Power-reserve indication on the bridge side
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Calibre thickness: 3.25 mm
Calibre diameter: 27.40 mm
Power reserve in hours: 100
Jewels: 28
Free sprung balance with gold regulation screws
Components: 190
Strap/Bracelet
Alligator lined with alzavel
Blue color strap
Gold folding clasp with logo
EDITION
Boutique exclusive model for Taiwan
Limited Edition - Unique pieces
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Collection: Métiers d’Art
Model: Métiers d’Art Shakudō Engraved Edition
References: 6615-3616-55B - Red Gold 45
Case
1 rang de diamants · 18ct red gold
Thickness: 8.30 mm
Water resistance: 3.00 bar
Between horns: 18.00 mm
Sapphire back
Engraved on the - "Unique Piece"
Dial
Hand-decorated and engraved gold-damascened Shakudō dial
Shakudō, engraving and damascening
Movement
Calibre 15B
Reference: 15B
Ultra-slim hand-wound
Power-reserve indication on the bridge side
Balance frequency: 18,000 a/h or 3 hertz
Calibre thickness: 2.20 mm
Calibre diameter: 36.10 mm
Power reserve in hours: 40
Jewels: 20
Components: 117
Strap/Bracelet
Alligator lined with alzavel
Brown color strap
Gold folding clasp with logo
EDITION
Boutique exclusive model for Taiwan
Limited Edition - Unique pieces
*Each bar corresponds to a 10-metre water column.
Alligator leather straps - origin : Mississippiensis Métiers d’Art
Blancpain reserves the right to modify this model and its technical characteristics
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Press release - 2020
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Blancpain S.A.
Le Rocher 12
1348 Le Brassus
Suisse
International PR: Aude Rosati
Tel. (+41) 21 796 3636
Fax (+41) 21 796 3637
E-mail: pr@blancpain.com
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