====== Blancpain ======
{{wst>menue|Blancpain}}

{{wst>image_r|Blancpain,_Jehan-Jacques|[[Blancpain, Jehan-Jacques|Jehan-Jacques Blancpain]] (born [[1693]])}}
**Blancpain** is a Swiss watch manufacturer, currently part of the [[Swatch Group]]'s Prestige and Luxury division.

===== Founded in 1735 =====
[[Blancpain, Jehan-Jacques|Jehan-Jacques Blancpain]] (b. March 11, [[1693]]) founded this company [[1735]] in [[Villeret]]. Until [[1932]], when [[Blancpain, Frederic Emile|Frederic Emile Blancpain]] died at the age of 69 years, Blancpain has been family owned. In the 1920s and 1930s, Blancpain manufactured the first watches with [[automatic winding]] in series production. These models had the sonorous name "[[Harwood]]" ([[1926]]), based on the patents of the English engineer [[John Harwood]], and "[[Rolls]]" ([[1930]]), based on a contract with the [[Leon Hatot S.A.]], Paris.

===== Rayville S.A. =====
After the death of F. Emile Blancpain, the company continued for nearly 40 years as Rayville SA. This name was established in June [[1933]] and is a phonetic anagram of the home of the company, Villeret. But the manufactured watches and movements still kept the name of the founder's family. In addition, Rayville also sold watches under the Frisard brand name through the 1950s.

In [[1953]] the famous dive watch "[[Fifty Fathoms]]" was brought to market, which was [[waterproof]] to a depth of 20 atm (200 m). At the [[Basel Fair]] in [[1957]], Rayville introduced the "[[Blancpain Ladybird|Ladybird]]", then the smallest diameter watch in the world. In [[1959]], the brand also claimed the [[thinnest]] watch in the world, the [[Blancpain Golden Profile|Golden Profile]] and the only watch with 53 jewels, the [[Blancpain Cyclotron|Cyclotron]].

Rayville joined [[SSIH]] in [[1961]]. At this time, Blancpain was known as a maker of fine ladies and jewellery watches. In [[1970]] and [[1971]], the firm even won the [[City of Geneva Prize]] for "Bijouterie", jewellery without a watch. The company also continued to innovate on novel ladies watches using the tiny Ladybird movement. But Blancpain continued to supply dive watches as well, including the [[Blancpain Bathyscaph|Bathyscaph]], [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms|Fifth Fathoms]] and [[Blancpain Fifty Fathoms|Fifty Fathoms 1000]].

In [[1968]] the [[SSIH]] reorganized Rayville and Blancpain under [[Omega]]. Blancpain's last appearance at the [[Basel Fair]] was [[1975]], after which the brand was shut down. By [[1974]], Rayville purchased the [[Saint-Imier]] firm of [[Moeris]], and this would outlive the original Blancpain brand as a maker of historic replica pocket watches throughout the 1970s. The Rayville/Moeris factory in [[Villeret]] was handed to [[Omega]] in [[1978]] and ownership of Moeris passed to [[Tissot]] as Rayville ceased operations.

===== Rebirth of the Brand Under Jean-Claude Biver, 1981-1992 =====
{{wst>image_cl|Blancpain|Mondphasenuhr|Blancpain Moonphase watch, presented at the restart of the brand in [[1983]]}}

{{wst>image_cr|Blancpain|Gebaeude|The small farmhouse in [[Le Brassus]], headquarters of Blancpain S.A. in [[1983]]}}

[[Biver, Jean-Claude|Jean-Claude Biver]] and [[Piguet, Jacques|Jacques Piguet]] acquired the brand name in [[1981]] from the [[SSIH]] for 21,500 Swiss francs ((Biver interview ([[http://www.persoenlich.com/pdf/interviews/interviews325.pdf|www.persoenlich.com, March 2006]], as of 30.1.2008) )) and launched from about [[1983]] under the name of Blancpain luxury watches with proprietary mechanical movements by [[Frederic Piguet]]. The watches had a gold case, bright white dials, [[moon-phase indication]]s and hand-sewn ostrich leather straps. They were manufactured in a small farmhouse in [[Le Brassus]] ​​using traditional craftsmanship.

Biver recounts((Biver interview ([[http://www.persoenlich.com/pdf/interviews/interviews325.pdf|www.persoenlich.com, March 2006]], as of 30.1.2008) )): //"That was pretty brave at that time in [[1982]]. In Switzerland 37.000 people had been dismissed. In the [[Vallée de Joux]] houses were sold; the Canton of Vaud went bad. The people had already asked, if we really believed what we were talking, or if we were totally crazy."//

Around the same time with [[Lang, Gerd-Rüdiger|Gerd-Rüdiger Lang]], who, despite the past due dominating [[quartz]] technology, with his company [[Chronoswiss]] also still continued to focus on mechanical movements, they were able to decisively contribute to the subsequent rebirth of the mechanical [[wristwatch]].

The following self-confident slogan, under which the brand came into the market, then came like a drumbeat 

  * //"Since [[1735]] there are no Blancpain [[quartz]] watches. And there will never be."//

==== Sophisticated complications and elegant sports watches ====
{{wst>image_cr|Blancpain|1735}}

In the subsequent years, numerous models with [[complication]]s were brought to market, including [[chronograph]]s and [[Rattrapante|rattrapante chronographs]].

Meanwhile, as highlight of this revival of classical mechanical specialties, the ambitious project takes shape to combine all the known [[complication]]s in a single watch. The result is the [[Blancpain 1735]], which is presented on international press conferences at the end of [[1990]]. The "1735", named after the year of the fondation of the [[manufacture]], has an ultra-thin movement, a [perpetual calendar]] with [[moon-phase indication]], a [[Rattrapante|rattrapante chronograph]], a [[tourbillon]] and a [[minute repeater]]. It is one of the most complex and with its [[platinum]] case also one of the most expensive [[wristwatch]]es on earth.

At the [[Baselworld]] [[1991]] Blancpain presents six wristwatches in a gift box as a collection for watch lovers. All six masterpieces have the same round [[platinum]] case.

[[1992]] in Basel a new [[rattrapante]] chronograph with [[perpetual calendar]], [[moon-phase indication]] and a height of only 6.95 mm celebrates its premiere; in parallel Blancpain presents an [[automatic]] [[chronograph]] with [[perpetual calendar]] and [[moon phase]], and also a wonderful collection of ladies' watches.

===== In the Swatch Group, 1992-Present =====
On July 8, [[1992]], Biver announced that he has sold the brand (and [[Frédéric Piguet]]) back to the [[SMH]] Group. The purchase price of CHF 60 million represented five years revenue and a gain of over 2,500 times the purchase price. Biver initially left the company, but returned just three weeks later to run [[Omega]] in addition to Blancpain. He remained at the SMH, which has now become the [[Swatch Group]], as executive director and board member until the end of [[2003]]. In the meantime Blancpain is lead by [[Hayek, Marc A.|Marc A. Hayek]], the grandson of Swatch founder [[Hayek, Nicolas G.|Nicolas G. Hayek]]. Biver has begun a new success story with his participation at [[Hublot]] (for details see there). In [[2010]], Blancpain's movement manufacturer, [[Frédéric Piguet]], was renamed [[Manufacture Blancpain]] and began producing movements for other high-end Swatch Group companies, including [[Jaquet Droz]].

But Blancpain also does not allow the field of high-class sports watches with [[self-winding]] movement to lie idle. In [[1994]] the newly developed series "2100" with 100-hours [[automatic]] movement is launched, which is oriented toward modern sportiness. "2000" symbolizes the sight into the coming millennium; 100 hours or four days her self-winding movement, consisting of 185 components including 29 [[jewels]], lasts without any power supply. Besides you can descend into in the depths of the sea up to 10 atm (100 m) without ​​problems. Finally, the number 100 also vouches for quality Not less than 100 days takes the extensive testing, to which each "2100" is subjected.

{{wst>image_cl|Blancpain|Leman Flyback 2185}}

[[1996]] the company launches the [[automatic]] [[flyback]] [[chronograph]] [[Blancpain Leman Flyback 2185|Leman Flyback 2185]], which sets new standards by its unusual design and becomes a classic in the field of sports timekeeping, not least because of the exclusive [[manufacture]] movement that drives the watch.

[[1998]] follow the newly designed re-editions of the historical models of the 'Trilogy of Time' the "Air Command" as a [[pilot's watch]], the "Fifty Fathoms" as a [[dive watch]] and the "GMT 24" as a travel watch. These three watches can already be recognized from a distance by the powerful appearance of their [[bezel]]s.

==== New commitment to sophisticated watch movements ====
//"Today we make the history of tomorrow"// had been a favorite motto of [[Blancpain, Jehan-Jacques|Jehan-Jacques Blancpain]]. Even today, the company sees itself as guardian and innovator of high watchmaking tradition. Under this sign, Blancpain presents in October [[2006]], after four years of research and development, the new [[manufacture]] calibre [[Blancpain 13R0|13R0]]. This [[manual winding]] movement is in the exclusive use of the own, in-house models. The next year, the [[automatic]] calibre [[Blancpain 1315|1315]] follows, also with 3 [[barrel]]s and the resulting enormous [[power reserve]].

{{wst>image_cl|Blancpain|225 Ausschnitt|Blancpain 225 section}}

With the Carrousel "Volant Une Minute" (calibre [[Blancpain 225]]), the company presents in [[2008]] the first carousel in the history of the wristwatch and also a spectacular alternative to the [[tourbillon]]. (Other firsts the first flying carousel, the first carousel with a [[balance wheel]] in the cage center and the first carousel with a power reserve of 100 hours.)

To highlight and expand the commitment to technology and watch [[complication]]s, [[2008]] the well-known watch artist [[Vincent Calabrese]] is engaged as full-time employee.

Blancpain produced "between 20,000 and 25,000" timepieces in 2013 according to company President, Marc Hayek.

===== Literature =====
  *[[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; Author [[Gerd-Lothar Reschke]]; ISBN 3-938607-61-0

===== Adresses =====
Blancpain SA\\ Chemin de l'Etang 6\\ Case postale 42\\ CH-1094 PAUDEX

Le Rocher 12\\ CH-1348 Le Brassus

Tel. 021 / 796 36 36\\ Fax 021 / 796 36 37

===== Weblinks =====
  * [[http://www.blancpain.com/e/|Blancpain SA]]
  * [[http://www.wthejournal.com/en/news/view/marc-hayek-cautious-but-confident|Marc Hayek, cautious but confident]]
  * [[https://www.europastar.com/the-watch-files/portraits/1004090917-jean-claude-biver-past-present-future.html|Jean-Claude Biver: Past, Present, Future]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland Swatch_Group Villeret Jura_triangle Le_Brassus Vallée_de_Joux}}