For Blancpain enthusiasts, the pre-Baselworld release of this three hand self-winding beauty came as a welcome forerunner to the year’s much anticipated collection. This watch officially called the Villeret hails from the Villeret series and uses an enamel dial – a true rarity in modern watchmaking.
The technique used in the 2014 Villeret watch is known as Grand Feu – an almost lost art in horology. The Grand Feu technique uses layer upon layer of enamel, each fired at temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius. Each successive layer is applied and touched up by hand ensuring that only the highest quality is maintained. As if this wasn’t difficult enough, Blancpain makes the dial in a cambered shape.
Blancpain crafts this stunning timepiece from polished 18kt red gold. Blancpain chooses to equip this watch with a double tiered bezel as a mark of its refinement. The crown on this piece is made textured to facilitate the effortless winding of the timepiece. Like the dial window, the case back is made from sapphire crystal, which not only allows the wearer to admire the movement but also is proven to defend against scratches. This model is offered in a formal 42mm case diameter. Upon close inspection, the Villeret 2014’s movement is decorated with Cotes de Genève and a discreet honeycombed pattern on the bridges.
The movement is the self-winding Calibre 1335, which is fitted with a phenomenal 8 day power reserve. The watch’s sheer simple elegance is not marred by any subdials exhibiting the power reserve. The only other complication featured on this model is the date at the 3 o’clock position. The delicate leaf shaped hands are yet another feature of this timepiece’s sophistication. Completing this watch is a chocolate toned brown alligator leather strap fastened using an ardillon buckle.
TAGS: 8 Day Power Reserve, Automatic Watches, Blancpain, Date, Exhibition Case Back, Leather, Mechanical Watches, Men's Watches, Power Reserve, Red Gold, Sapphire Crystal, Selfwinding Watches, Swiss Made, Villeret