BLANCPAIN – Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar Year of the Rabbit

 

BLANCPAIN – VILLERET Traditional Chinese Calendar "Year of the Water Rabbit" Platinum 45 mm Limited Edition - 2022

 The water rabbit stars in the 2023 series of Blancpain’s Traditional Chinese Calendar watch

 From 22 January 2023, the water tiger of Chinese astrology will give way to the water rabbit. To mark this transition, Blancpain is pursuing its custom initiated in 2012 by unveiling a new edition of its Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar model. Crafted from platinum in a 50-piece limited edition, this watch displays the main indications of the Chinese calendar on its dial, while its oscillating weight honours the new year’s zodiac sign.

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The Traditional Chinese Calendar is an exclusive timepiece developed by Blancpain. Its complexity is similar to that of the perpetual calendar and it is produced in the Grand Complications workshop of the Manufacture in Le Brassus, where only a few watchmakers are capable of mastering its construction.

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This exceptional timepiece is based on the principles of Chinese tradition and its lunisolar calendar, which it combines with the Gregorian calendar. The white grand feu enamel dial features a chapter ring composed of gold appliques swept over by hands shaped like hollowed-out sage leaves. The dates of the Gregorian calendar are indicated by a blued steel serpentine hand. 

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They are painted in enamel, as is the main information of the Chinese calendar, i.e. the double hours, the day and month with the mention of the leap months, the signs of the zodiac, as well as the five elements and the ten celestial pillars. Moon phases – a signature complication that Blancpain returned to the forefront of the watchmaking scene in the early 1980s – are also represented. They are not only an integral part of the Brand's complete calendars, but also serve to determine the months of the Chinese calendar.

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Crafted from platinum and measuring 45 mm in diameter, the double-stepped case of the Traditional Chinese Calendar is faithful to the aesthetic of the Villeret collection. The famous Blancpain correctors are concealed beneath its lugs and can be activated by the simple touch of a finger. Equipped with a sapphire caseback, it houses the 3638 self-winding movement whose gold oscillating weight is engraved with the zodiac sign of the year 2023. Depicted as a couple, the Blancpain water rabbit inspires gentleness and trust, two notions that emanate from its refined, perceptive and diplomatic nature.

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Issued in an individually numbered 50-piece limited edition, the Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar testifies to Blancpain's technical prowess while celebrating the incomparable wealth of cultural diversity.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: VILLERET Traditional Chinese Calendar "Year of the Water Rabbit"

 
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 References:  00888K-3431-55B - Platinum 45 - Edition
 
Complications
Traditional Chinese Calendar
[double-hour indication, signs of the zodiac, date and month of the Chinese calendar. Indication of the
five elements, the celestial stems and the leap months]
Specificities

• ∙ Gregorian calendar
• ∙ Moon phases
• ∙ Under-lug correctors
• ∙ Secured movement
• ∙ White grand feu enamel dial
• ∙ Oscillating weight set with a Madagascar ruby
• ∙ Sself-winding

Case

Platinum
Red Gold

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 - № ХX/50 Piece"
Dial
Full fired enamel
White Grand feu enamel
Movement
Calibre 3638
Reference:   3638   

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Frequency - 4Hz

Self-winding
Calibre thickness:  8.30 mm
Calibre diameter:  32.00 mm | 14'''
Power reserve in hours:  168
Jewels:  39
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

Available in Blancpain Boutiques - Only  Limited edition of 50 Piece


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Press release - 2022
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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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LANG & HEYNE – Friedrich II Remontoir The Lavish Attic Edition

LANG & HEYNE – Friedrich II Remontoir The Lavish Attic Edition 2022

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In May 2022, the Friedrich II Remontoir Prototype “00” is sold for HK$819,000. 

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It is the first time in its history; LANG & HEYNE has developed and manufactured an unique timepiece in collaboration with PHILLIPS and long-term partner THE LAVISH ATTIC.

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The year of 2022 celebrates the 9 years of partnership between THE LAVISH ATTIC and LANG & HEYNE.

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Based on the same Calibre VI-I, limited edition of 9 pieces Friedrich II Remontoir The Lavish Attic Edition is proudly launched and opened for pre-order.

1. The first-ever black enamel dial, made in a different way

The face of the Friedrich II Remontoir is created by a two-part enamel dial. A new state-of-the-art technology gives the possibility to cut massive enamel in slices. 

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Thus, the idea was born to fix two of these discs on a metal support, thus obtaining an enamel dial with a lower small second. 

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Since the highly polished discs cannot be burned again, they are printed with high-quality varnish and the indexes are hand-lined with superluminova.

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The lancet hands indicate the time extremely accurate and are easy to read even by night thanks to their superluminova filling.

2.The first-ever Remontoir found in small second

Underneath the dial a newly developed Remontoir movement, the calibre Cal. VI-I. is responsible for the accurate display of the time. It is equipped with a complicated mechanism to improve accuracy, the Remontoir. 

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This so-called “constant force mechanism” compensates for the decreasing force of the tension spring. Its energy tensions a storage spring every five semi-oscillations, which constantly transmits its power to the escapement. 

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This keeps the amplitude of the balance wheel constant throughout the day, minimizing rate fluctuations.

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The Remontoir of Cal. VI-I is located on the escape wheel and is responsible for the jump of the small second hand every second and fulfills its function at least for 24 hours.

3.The first-ever movement made of titanium

Underneath the dial a newly developed Remontoir movement, the caliber LANG & HEYNE Cal. VI-I, is responsible for the accurate display of the time. Through the sapphire glass case back it is obvious, that the main parts of the movement were manufactured of an entire new material – titanium. Commonly used for manufacturing cases, it has found its way into an unusual use.

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The use of titanium has presented entirely new challenges to the master watchmakers of LANG & HEYNE. In order to meet the very high demands on the quality of the technology but also on the aesthetics, it was necessary to adapt and modify traditional skills and processes.

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Medium-hard titanium of purity grade 2 is used to manufacture the movement plate, gear bridge, lever bridge and balance cock. To create a matte sheen, the graining is achieved by blasting with ceramic beads which, unlike glass beads, do not shatter when they hit the material. 

 

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For brass frame parts, the polished chamfers are then pressed on with the smoothing steel. This is not possible with titanium. It has unfavorable friction behavior, which would cause the spinning tool to leave cracks. So here the chamfers have to be polished very laboriously with wood and polishing paste.

 

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The poor behavior under friction also forces a different design for the bearings of all parts that were previously supported in the brass of the plate. Thus, separate bronze bearings are used for the barrel and winding stem. 

 

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All other assembly steps can be performed in the same way as with conventional plates, line grindings are easily feasible and hand engravings are also possible. Thus, the balance cock also retains its beautiful classic design. Technically, titanium offers greater strength and corrosion resistance, making it an interesting asset to the movement.

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For aesthetic reasons, the otherwise blue annealed screws were replaced with purple ones to match the warm gray of the titanium.

 

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TECHINCAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model:  Friedrich II Remontoir The Lavish Attic Edition

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🔴 Price : incl. (All excl. VAT) 💰

•     Stainless Steel: EUR 59,600
•     Rose Gold: EUR 63,900
•     White Gold: EUR 66,700
•     Platinum: EUR 74,500

Movement

    Calibre Cal. VI-I
    Diameter: 14 ¼ lines (33 mm)
    Height: 4.9 mm
    Frequency: 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour
    Running time: 24/42 h (Remontoir / follow-on)
    Finesses: second hand stop mechanism, dead-beat small second, 24 rubies, 1 brilliant
    Movement: main plate, trigonal bridge, balance cock and lever bridge are made of titanium
    Screws: polished and flame purple manually

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Function
    Hour and minute indication,
    Eccentric second,
    Second hand stop mechanism
Case
    Stainless steel
    Diameter/Height: 39.2 mm / 10.7 mm
    Water-resistant: up to 3 bar
Dial
    Two-part black enamel dial,
    Manufactured by using a completely new technology
    Arabic numerals, index 9 and second indexes are in red, rhombi filled with SuperLuminova word “ENAMEL” in the small second
    Hands: lancet hands filled with SuperLuminova
Strap
   Alligator leather strap with a pin buckle or folding clasp

🔰Limited Edition ✅ Only 9 Pieces

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Press release - 2022
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PHOTOS:  Lang & Heyne GmbH, 

For questions or images, please contact:
Ms. Dominique Jahn
E-Mail: d.jahn@langheyne.de
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Uhrenmanufaktur Lang & Heyne GmbH
Weißenberger Straße 10
01324 Dresden
GERMANY
Phone: 0049-351-8023440
Fax: 0049-351-8023441
E-Mail: manufaktur@lang-und-heyne.de
E-Mail: info@lang-und-heyne.de
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