Blancpain – Ladybird "Valentine's Day 2022" Gold Edition

Blancpain – Ladybird "Valentine's Day 2022" Gold Automatic Limited Edition

A heart of gold

Celebrating Valentine's Day is a tradition that Blancpain watchmakers have been perpetuating for over 20 years – and with good reason, as the Manufacture in Le Brassus is not keen on anything that is merely fleeting. The Ladybird "Valentine's Day 2022" bears perfect testimony to enduring feelings, uniting time with love... 99 times over!

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A token of eternity, the Ladybird "Valentine’s Day 2022" features the brilliance of noble stones and materials, crafted with the utmost dedication to ensure that this watch finds a worthy and desired place on the wrist of its chosen one. A white mother-of-pearl dial adorned with varnished red numerals and a circle of diamonds expresses the sweetness, ardour and infinity of love. The theme of this timepiece is confirmed by the seconds hand, which sweeps a fiery red heart along in its perpetual rotations.

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The 34.9 mm diameter case crafted in white gold sparkles with 58 scintillating diamonds daintily set on the bezel and lugs. Their purity strikes a powerful contrast with the glow of the rose-cut ruby gracing the watch crown. The colour of love extends to the alligator leather strap, secured to the wrist by a diamond-set pin buckle. 

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The sapphire case back reveals the round curves of the 1153 self-winding movement, entirely developed and produced in Blancpain's workshops based on almost three hundred years of expertise. The mainplate, bridges and other components are meticulously decorated in accordance with the finest traditions of Haute Horlogerie, embellishing the gentle ticking of this true gem. An expression of delicacy, but also and above all of reliability with its generous four-day power reserve and its silicon balance-spring, the 1153 movement is a promise of longevity.

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Issued in a 99-piece edition, the Ladybird "Valentine's Day 2022" watch is as precious as time itself. It is proof of love, including that which Blancpain has shown for women over nearly a century, notably by creating dedicated timepieces for them such as the first self-winding ladies' wristwatch (1930) and the world's smallest round watch (1956).  

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection:  Ladybird

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Model:  Ladybird "Valentine's Day 2022" Gold Edition

 References:  3660B-1954-55A - White Gold

Case
Ultra-slim, diamond-set lugs
A marriage of technical refinement and aesthetic purity,
Blancpain’s ultra-slim watch is set apart by its elegance and the technical accomplishments needed to create it.
18ct White gold
💎58 scintillating diamonds daintily set on the bezel and lugs.
Circled by 💎1 row of diamonds
Lugs and buckle set with 💎diamonds
♦️1 💎row of diamonds, crown set with a rose-cut ruby
Diameter:     34.90 mm 
Thickness:     9.20mm
Water resistance:     3.00 bar
Between horns:     18.00 mm
Sapphire back
Engraved on the - "№ Х/99 Piece"
Dial
Mother-of-pearl dial set with diamonds 💎0.13 carat(s)
Index    Roman numerals.
Movement
Calibre 1153
Reference:   1153
Ultra-slim hand-wound
Balance frequency: 21.600 a/h or 3 hertz
Calibre thickness:  3.25 mm
Calibre diameter:  26.20 mm
Power reserve in hours:  100
Jewels:  28
Titanium free sprung balance with gold regulation screws
Components:   186
Strap
Alligator leather strap
Colors strap
Gold Pin buckle

Total carat weight: 2.13 carat(s) 💎Diamants
Dial: 0.13 carat(s)
Case: 2.00 carat(s)

EDITION
Boutique exclusive model
Limited Edition - Only of 99 pieces

Price *   EUR  25,730  Incl. VAT Incl.

*Price may be subject to variation dependent on strap fastening (pin buckle or folding clasp). For further information, please contact us or your nearest Blancpain point of sale

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Press release - 2022
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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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AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked 50th Anniversary

 

AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked 41 mm 50th Anniversary 2022

AUDEMARS PIGUET RELEASES ITS FIRST
EVER ROYAL OAK SELFWINDING FLYING
TOURBILLON OPENWORKED

Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is delighted to unveil its very first Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked in a 41 mm diameter to celebrate the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary. This stainless steel timepiece is powered by the Manufacture’s first ever selfwinding flying tourbillon openworked mechanism, Calibre 2972, premiered on this elegant monochromatic timepiece. 

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This latest in-house movement builds on Audemars Piguet’s long expertise in both openworking and tourbillon mechanisms, pushing the contemporary aesthetics to new heights.

A SELFWINDING FLYING TOURBILLON
ENDOWED WITH A DISTINCTIVE OPENWORKED ARCHITECTURE

The newly released Calibre 2972, which combines a central rotor with a flying tourbillon, evolves from Calibre 2950, launched in 2019 as part of the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection. The new calibre has been conceived to offer symmetry and a rich play of light. Its highly stylised and multilayered openworked architecture bestows the watch with a unique 3D effect, as the shape of the bridges has been finished horizontally and vertically.

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Calibre 2972 builds on the age-old openworking techniques that have been reshaping what is possible with wristwatch design since the 1930s. The beauty and finesse of the mechanism is revealed by removing as much material from the mainplate and bridges as possible to let light pass through, without impairing its functions. Leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies, the preliminary geometries of the mainplate and bridges have been cut through computer numerical control (CNC) machining, before being perfected by electric discharge machining (EDM). This manufacturing process enables to remove small amounts of material with extreme precision to reach the desired shape.

Each component has then been finished with refined Haute Horlogerie decorations including “traits tirés,” satin, circular and sunray brushing, snailing, as well as polished chamfers. The polished V-angles that can be admired on both sides of the watch reflect the meticulous handiwork that went into their realisation as this level of craftsmanship can only be achieved by hand. The rhodium-toned hues of the different components sit in harmony with the watch’s stainless steel case and bracelet, providing the watch with a contemporary monochromatic aesthetic.

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The unobscured flying tourbillon, located at 6 o’clock, compensates for the effect of gravity and enhances accuracy. The balance wheel is housed in a tiny revolving cage which makes a revolution per minute to prevent the hairspring from remaining static. Only supported on the mainplate, the flying tourbillon is considered today as a symbol of watchmaking art as only a few watchmakers retain the necessary skills for its realisation.

A DEDICATED ANNIVERSARY OSCILLATING WEIGHT

The new timepiece is fitted with the Royal Oak “50-years” oscillating weight, which will be seen on the Royal Oak anniversary models throughout 2022. The watch’s sapphire caseback showcases the dedicated rotor, crafted in rhodium-toned 22-carat pink gold, which seamlessly blends with the openworked movement’s grey hues and recalls the stainless steel case.

A SLENDER DESIGN PLAYING WITH LIGHT

The stainless steel bracelet and case of the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked are endowed with the new design evolution which makes its debut this year on Royal Oak models in 34, 37, 38 and 41 mm.

The case and bracelet encompass larger polished chamfers for a slenderer aesthetic offering stronger plays of light between the satin-brushed and polished surfaces adorning the different components. In addition, the first four links of the integrated bracelet show a more pronounced decrease in thickness for more visual appeal. The bracelet links are also thinner and therefore lighter for added comfort. For its part, the sapphire caseback has been slightly more integrated into the case to better fit the wrist.

The white gold hour-markers and hands, both filled with luminescent coating for optimum visibility in the dark also present slightly revised proportions in harmony with the other Royal Oak models across the collection.

A LEGACY OF TOURBILLON WATCHES

In 1986, Audemars Piguet introduced the world’s first selfwinding tourbillon wristwatch. Calibre 2870 was housed in an ultra-thin case measuring a mere 5.3 mm in thickness, fitted with a winding system on the caseback side. Its tourbillon cage is still one of the smallest in the world today with a 7.2 mm diameter, as well as one of the lightest at just 0.123 g. This pioneering wristwatch forged a new path for the Haute Horlogerie industry, which renewed ties with this prestigious mechanism. Several generations of tourbillon succeeded Calibre 2870, displaying ever-greater robustness and reliability.

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The tourbillon entered the Royal Oak collection in 1997 for the watch’s 25th anniversary. At the time, Model 25831 was equipped with Audemars Piguet’s second generation tourbillon movement, Calibre 2875, and endowed with a stylised octagonal aperture opening onto the tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock. An openworked Royal Oak model (25902) fitted with Calibre 2875SQ was unveiled in 1999 – the very first Royal Oak tourbillon openworked ever crafted.

In 2003, the tourbillon was combined with the chronograph for the first time in the Royal Oak collection, with Model 25977 equipped with Calibre 2889. This stainless steel watch paved the way for a new wave of timepieces featuring the two complications, including the Royal Oak Tradition d’Excellence n°4 (Model 25969) released the following year.

In 2012, for the Royal Oak’s 40th anniversary, Audemars Piguet launched a new 41 mm Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon (Model 26510), powered by Calibre 2924 and available in stainless steel or 18-carat pink gold. An openworked version was also released for the occasion in a 40-piece platinum limited edition (Model 26511, Calibre 2924SQ). This timepiece was complemented in 2016 by a version in yellow gold (26513BA), followed by two limited editions in stainless steel (26518ST) and pink gold (26518OR) in 2017.

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The Manufacture’s first Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked model (26347) saw the light of day in 2016 in a 44 mm platinum timepiece housing Calibre 2936. This complicated mechanism was then offered in titanium and pink gold in 2017.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTOFor its part, the flying tourbillon made its debut on the Royal Oak Concept in 2018, before appearing in the Royal Oak collection in 2020 with a 41 mm timepiece (Model 26530) powered by the Manufacture’s latest generation movement, Calibre 2950. The Manufacture’s legacy of tourbillon watches continues with this selfwinding openworked flying tourbillon movement which reinterprets tradition through a contemporary lens on the occasion of the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary.

“Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.” 

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model: ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked / 41 mm

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Ref. 26735ST.OO.1320ST.01 - Stainless steel 41mm

Movement
Selfwinding Calibre 2972
Total diameter 31.5 mm (13 ¾ lignes)
Total thickness 6.84 mm
Number of jewels 27
Number of parts 271
Minimum power reserve guaranteed 65 h
Frequency of balance wheel3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
Functions
Flying tourbillon, hours and minutes.
Case
Stainless steel case
Case thickness: 10.6 mm
glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback
Water-resistant to 50 m.
Dial
Rhodium-toned openworked movement
White gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating,
slate grey inner bezel.
Bracelet
Stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp.

New Product Overview 2022

Price:   $ 90,400 Steel 💰

 

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Press Release - 2022
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Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
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