Thursday, June 1, 2023

Blancpain – Ladybird Colors and Colors Phase de Lune

Blancpain – WOMEN Ladybird Colors and Colors Phase de Lune Gold Automatic 2023

Style variations on the Ladybird Colors

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This spring spells vibrant touches for Blancpain, as the Manufacture plays with colour combinations to enhance two refined small seconds and moon-phase complications. 

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These indications newly introduced to the Ladybird Colors collection are smoothly integrated into the design of this jewellery line.

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As the sunny season draws near, we all naturally pull out our wardrobe’s finest hues to glow in the sunshine and Blancpain's Ladybird Colors is no exception. Proudly displaying two new small seconds and moon phase complications, it slips into its best finery. 

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The textured mother-of-pearl dial set with 70 diamonds features colourful midnight blue, peacock green, forest green, lilac or turquoise Roman numerals and these variations are picked up on the straps of these red or white gold models.

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The visual balance characterising the new Ladybird Colors models is subtly ruffled by an asymmetrical touch found on all the dial elements. 

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The offset Roman numerals are underscored by an inner ring adorned with delicately tapering gemsetting that continues on the small seconds and moon-phase indicators. Yet another means of asserting the individual nature of these colourful timepieces.

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With its 34.9 mm diameter, the case of the new Ladybird Colors models features pleasing proportions highlighting its 59 diamonds totalling more than 2 carats. 

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Manufacture Blancpain has outdone itself in creating ultra-elegant colourful timepieces in which jewellery brings out the magic of mechanical watchmaking. Ladybird Colors models feature high-end gemsetting in which each parameter is meticulously hand-adjusted to ensure phenomenal radiance. 

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They tick gently to the beat of Calibre 1163 for the small seconds version and Calibre 1163L for the moon-phase iteration. Endowed with a four-day power reserve and a silicon balance spring, they are designed to keep track of daily life with a blend of accuracy, comfort and style. 

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Their painstakingly decorated main components are as technically functional as they are aesthetically pleasing, while their gold oscillating weight matching the case colour features circular openworked patterns harmoniously reflecting the dial design. 

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Whether viewed from the front or back, these new Blancpain timepieces are the epitome of luxury watchmaking.

About the Ladybird collection

The Ladybird collection reflects the pioneering role Blancpain has played in the history of feminine watches. 

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From the first automatic ladies' wristwatch in 1930 to the smallest mechanical movement several decades ago and on to the sophisticated modern-day design, the Ladybird collection embodies Blancpain's passion for the extraordinary.

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The history of Blancpain ladies’ watches is inextricably bound up with the determination of Betty Fiechter, who became the first woman to head a watch Maison at the beginning of the 1930s. Her intelligence and visionary spirit paved the way for the Brand's jewellery watches and forged its international renown.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

CollectionLadybird

 Model:  Ladybird Colors Gold

 References:   Colors

 Ref. 3661-1954 / 3661-2954 / 3661A-2954 / 3661B-1954 / 3661B-2954 - 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 / 18ct red 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/0 Piece"
Dial
Mother-of-pearl dial set with diamonds 💎0.138 carat(s)
Index    Roman numerals.
Movement
Calibre 1163
Reference:   1163
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:  30
Titanium free sprung balance with gold regulation screws
Components:   195
Strap
Alligator leather strap
Colors strap
Gold Pin buckle
 
Total carat weight: 2.222 carat(s) 💎 Diamants
Dial: 0.138 carat(s)
Case: 1.994 carat(s)
Crown: 0.080 carat(s)  
Boucle ∙ Clasp : 0.011 carat(s)  

  🔴 Price  30,000 CHF 💰

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection: Ladybird

 Model:  Ladybird Colors Phase de Lune Gold

 References:  Colors Phase de Lune

Ref. 3662-1954 / 3662-2954 / 3662A-1954 / 3662A-2954 / 3662B-2954 - 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 / 18ct red 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:     10.43 mm
Water resistance:     3.00 bar
Between horns:     18.00 mm
Sapphire back
Engraved on the - "№ Х/0 Piece"
Dial
Mother-of-pearl dial set with diamonds 💎0.138 carat(s)
Index    Roman numerals.
Movement
Calibre 1163L
Reference:   1163L
Ultra-slim hand-wound
Balance frequency: 21.600 a/h or 3 hertz
Calibre thickness:  4.58 mm
Calibre diameter:  26.20 mm
Power reserve in hours:  100
Jewels:  30
Titanium free sprung balance with gold regulation screws
Components:   243
Strap
Alligator leather strap
Colors strap
Gold Pin buckle

Total carat weight: 2.222 carat(s) 💎 Diamants

Dial: 0.138 carat(s)
Case: 1.994 carat(s)
Crown: 0.080 carat(s)  
Boucle ∙ Clasp : 0.011 carat(s)  

 🔴 Price  32,000 CHF 💰

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Press release - 2023
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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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Wednesday, May 31, 2023

VACHERON CONSTANTIN – TRADITIONELLE Tourbillon Retrograde Date Openface

 

VACHERON CONSTANTINTRADITIONELLE  Tourbillon Retrograde Date Openface 41mm Pink Gold  2023

Tradition meets modernity

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  • A model born from a combination of contemporary design and the wealth of Vacheron Constantin's watchmaking heritage.
  • Strict respect for tradition, exemplary finishing and an openface dial embody constantly renewed creative expertise.
  • Calibre 2162 R31: an in-house self-winding movement combining a tourbillon with a retrograde date display on an openworked dial.

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The expression of an avant-garde aesthetic, the demand for mechanical sophistication and the desire to share creative expertise are at the heart of this Traditionnelle tourbillon retrograde date openface watch. 

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The opening onto the architecture of the 2162 R31 movement – with its slate grey shade achieved by an NAC surface treatment – perfectly visible on both sides of the watch, highlights its mechanical power. 

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The retrograde date display, complemented by a tourbillon, gains depth in a functional and contemporary style.

Openface design and retrograde date

A retrograde date display is one in which the indicator does not complete a full turn of the dial, instead travelling along its entire measurement segment and then returning to its starting point to begin a new journey. This is generally an arc of a circle swept over by a dedicated hand. Most retrograde displays apply to cyclical time indications such as hours, minutes, seconds, days or dates. 

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This mechanism requires great precision and rigorous discipline, particularly with regards to shock- and wear-resistance. At Vacheron Constantin, special retrograde displays first became popular in the 1920s, a period when the Maison distinguished itself by a style inspired by the aesthetic principles of Art Deco, conducive to letting the imagination roam free and expressing wildly extravagant touches.

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Skeletonized retrograde date platinum, Ref. 47247-2002

Heir to the References 47245 and 47247 from the early Noughties, the Traditionnelle tourbillon date retrograde openface combines its retrograde display with a partially openworked dial, another signature of the Maison since the early 20th century. Openface dials highlight the technical nature and the meticulous and consistent attention to detail through an avant-garde aesthetic approach. 

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Housed in an 18K pink gold case measuring 41 mm in diameter and only 11.07 mm thick, this new timepiece is fitted with a grey alligator strap secured by a pink gold folding clasp.

Alternating finishes combining traditional High Watchmaking and technical boldness

Stepped round case and lugs, a fluted caseback, a slim bezel, a railway minute-track, bi-facetted Dauphine hands and gold baton-type hour-markers: the characteristic attributes of the Traditionnelle collection, inherited from the Age of Enlightenment, are rooted in the Geneva's grand High Watchmaking traditions. 

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At Vacheron Constantin, however, respect for the past does not exclude creativity but in fact stimulates it. Resulting from three years of work and dialogue between artisans and master-watchmakers, this timepiece features alternating hand-finishes that endow it with remarkable depth. 

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The openworked sapphire dial, which also has a guilloché segment, reveals in-house Calibre 2162 R31, whose retrograde mechanism plate is highlighted by a slate grey surface treatment, achieved by a succession of thin galvanic layers. 

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It is further enhanced by vertical hand-brushing on the upper part, its surface having been smoothed with a dedicated abrasive serving to create subtle light effects, as well as a hand-guilloché lower part. The retrograde date display, complemented by a tourbillon, thus gains added depth in an ultra-contemporary yet very watchmaking style.

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Stylised in the shape of a hollowed-out Maltese Cross, the tourbillon features a set of refined and complex finishes: the inside of its carriage is hand-bevelled, its cone-shaped transversal bar is hand-polished to give it a mirror-like gleam close to perfection.

Calibre 2162 R31 pushing the boundaries of contemporary fine watchmaking

Proudly bearing the Hallmark of Geneva, the Traditionnelle tourbillon retrograde date openface watch is driven by a 242-component in-house movement. Calibre 2162 R31 revisits the concept of High Watchmaking by adapting it to modern times with its NAC slate grey finish, 72-hour power reserve and decorated gold peripheral weight.

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"This calibre exudes a palpable tension between High Watchmaking traditions and the permanent need to innovate”, notes Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Heritage at Vacheron Constantin. “It will thus make a lasting mark on its time.”

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Beating at a rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour and measuring just 6.25 mm thick, Calibre 2162 R31 combines a retrograde date with a tourbillon. This unexpected match is embodied in a technical geometry of rare beauty with a retrograde mechanism visible to the naked eye through the openworked dial. 

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The majestic tourbillon is set in a contemporary mainplate with a very high-quality watchmaking finish reflecting the grand Geneva tradition.

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Sum-up

The expression of an avant-garde aesthetic, the demand for mechanical sophistication and the desire to share creative expertise are at the heart of this Traditionnelle tourbillon retrograde date openface watch. The opening onto the architecture of the 2162 R31 movement – with its slate grey shade achieved by an NAC surface treatment – perfectly visible on both sides of the watch, highlights its mechanical power. 

 Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO 

The latter is notably highlighted by hand-crafted finishes such as vertical hand-brushing on the upper part of the retrograde mechanism plate and guilloché work on the lower part. The retrograde date display, complemented by a tourbillon, takes on added depth in a functional and contemporary style.

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Interview with Christian Selmoni

Are openface dials a Vacheron Constantin speciality?
The company has a long history of this type of display, known as "openface". The very first Vacheron Constantin timepiece with a partially openworked dial dates from 1918. It was a pocket watch with an astronomical calendar which, was totally innovative at the time in terms of design. 

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Pocket watch - 1918

It was not until almost a century later that the Manufacture once again turned its attention to this dial concept with Reference 47247 unveiled in 2002 on the eve of the millennium, for the 247th anniversary of the Maison. This 247-piece limited-edition available in a 37 mm platinum case, features a retrograde date, a trailing days subdial at 6 o'clock and an openworked dial enabling the retrograde date mechanism to be admired.  It marks this same openface spirit that has become a Vacheron Constantin signature.

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How was the integration of these openface dials then perpetuated?
In 2019, the Traditionnelle Twin Beat perpetual calendar was part of this dynamic, playing on the tensions between contemporary style and the power of tradition. It clearly marked a milestone. Two years later in 2021, a new interpretation was born: the Traditionnelle openface complete calendar. 

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This stylish reference, presented in a 41 mm case in white or pink gold with an openworked sapphire dial, opened up new creative possibilities by combining watchmaking tradition/heritage with contemporary design.

Might one say that the new Traditionnelle tourbillon retrograde date openface watch is a worthy heir of the above-mentioned models?

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Definitely so. This new reference continues to write the history of watches with openworked dials at Vacheron Constantin. And it does so in grand style with a tourbillon, a retrograde date and absolutely remarkable component finishes. The idea here is to push the limits of technical complexity and horological beauty by making them visible, all in a classic rose gold case. 

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The opportunity to admire the contemporary design of Calibre 2162 R31 is truly spectacular. This new interpretation embodiyng a blend of contemporary design and watchmaking heritage, is clearly a strong signature of the Maison.

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 “Pushing the limits of technical complexity and horological beauty by making them visible” Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Heritage at Vacheron Constantin.

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TECHNICAL DATA

Collection: TRADITIONELLE

Model:  TRADITIONELLE Tourbillon Retrograde Date Openface

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Reference    6010T/000R-B638   

Movement
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin

Calibre 2162 R31
Mechanical, self-winding
31 mm (13½''') diameter, 6.25 mm thick
Approximately 72 hours of power reserve
2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
242 components
30 jewels

Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Indications                 

  • Hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon carriage
  • Tourbillon
  • Retrograde date                                          

Case                                 
18K 5N pink gold
Diameter 41 mm, 11.07 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)
Dial                                   
Openface, assembled in four parts:
- 18K gold slate grey openface plate with an hand-guilloché upper-part, surrounded by an opaline flange with railway minute-track
- 18K gold applied hour-markers
- Sapphire glass
- 18K gold tourbillon second’s ring
18K 5N pink gold hour & minutes hands
18K gold blackened date hand with white crescent
Strap                                
Grey Mississippiensis alligator leather strap with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle finish, large square scales
Buckle                             
18K 5N pink gold folding clasp
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped

🔴Price: approx. EUR 200,000 |  $ 217,000 | approx. £ 174,000💰💰

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#VacheronConstantin
#OneOfNotMany
#TRADITIONELLE
#TRADITIONELLETourbillonRetrogradeDateOpenface
#TourbillonRetrogradeDateOpenface

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Press Release - 2023
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Vacheron Constantin
Press Department
10, Chemin du Tourbillon
P.O. Box 95
CH-1228
Plan-les-Ouates/Geneva
Tel. +41 22 930 20 05
Fax +41 22 930 20 06
press@vacheron-constantin.com
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