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BASEL 2010. Blancpain Introduces the L-evolution Carrousel Saphir
A technical tour de force, a watch with a sapphire case, plates and bridges.
Blancpain’s Carrousel was introduced in 2008, but this version represents a new movement as all of the movement’s
plates and bridges are fashioned out of sapphire, which required a re-engineering of the movement. The challenge
was not only designing plates and bridges that could be fashioned out of sapphire but in developing methods to
polish all of the inner su**ces so that they could function with the pinions, wheels, and other operative
components of the movement.
The lugs are those of L-evolution series, which are separate components from the rest of the case.
BASEL 2010 A new Blancpain L-evolution model: The Semainier
This new week of the year L-evolution Blancpain features one of the 4 new in house movements introduced at Basel 2010.
The L-evolution Semainier offers an 8 day power reserve, 3 mainspring barrels, titanium free sprung balance with gold regulation screws. In addition to the week of the year indication, there are indications for day of the week and power reserve.
BASEL 2010 Blancpain introduces a new edition of the Super Trofeo Chronograph
For 2010 Blancpain is again partnering with Lamborghini in sponsoring the Super Trofeo racing series, which is the fastest single make racing series in the world. And there is a new chronograph which is linked to this partnership.
BASEL 2010 Blancpain Introduces the L-evolution Phase de Lune 8 Jours Sapphire
The L-evolution Phase de Lune 8 Jours was launched last year. It offers 8 day power reserve and a fully secured
calendar that can be set without risk of movement damage at any time of the day or night.
The new for 2010 version, in white gold, comes with a sapphire dial. In fact, two layers of sapphire are required for the dial.
BASEL 2010 Blancpain Introduces the Fifty Fathoms Moon Phase Chronograph
A brand new complication for the Fifty Fathoms Collection—a complete calendar moon phase flyback chronograph.
This new Fifty Fathoms features one of the 4 new movements that Blancpain debuts this year. The calendar moon
phase mechanism shares the technology of its most recent models offering full protection from movement damage
during setting. The calendar can be set any time of day or night without risk from damage, unlike other calendars
that forbid setting during evening hours when changes are underway and gears engaged. As well the Fifty moon phase
includes Blancpain’s patented correctors hidden under the lugs, which not only conceals the correctors from view
but allows setting with finger tips.
The dial is done in blue PVD. The bezel, like the other Fifty Fathoms models is sapphire. Case is stainless
steel, 45mm diameter.
BASEL 2010 Blancpain Introduces a vintage Fifty Fathoms “Tribute to Fifty”
In a way this is “vintage on vintage”. The Fifty Fathoms collection is itself a vintage collection as the style
comes directly from the 1950s models. But the 2010 Tribute to Fifty Fathoms picks up a later version Fifty Fathoms
that was famous for its anti-radiation marking.
The reason for the original watch’s anti-radiation symbol was a prior military model. The military insisted upon
using radioactive materials for the luminous dial and bezel—fearsome stuff actually—but what the military ordered
in its specs, it received. For civilian models Blancpain at the time wanted to make clear that the military’s
radioactive materials were not being used, hence the dial symbol.
The 2010 Tribute has the regular Fifty Fathoms 1315 movement (3 barrels, free sprung balance, 5 day power reserve)
and is antimagnetic.
BASEL 2010 Blancpain Adds the 13R0 movement to the new Villeret Collection
This is something completely new for the Villeret line: an 8 day power reserve manual wind watch.
42mm in size, this manual wind Villeret comes in a platinum case with a full fired enamel dial.
Blancpain connoisseurs will recognize the movement
It is the 13R0 which until now has only been seen in limited edition Le Brassus watches. In addition to offering 8
days power reserve, it features a free sprung titanium balance, gold regulation screws, 3 mainspring barrels and
extra large jewels.
BASEL 2010 Blancpain Introduces Three New Villeret Moon Phase Watches
One of the mainstays of the modern Blancpain has been the Villeret Collection. Basel 2010 brings a refreshment of
the entire collection—both in appearance and in the movements—but in every way staying faithful to the traditions
of the line.
The flagship for the new Villeret, of course, is the complete calendar moon phase, which after all is the
complication that launched the original line in the early 80s. Three different variants have been introduced: a
42mm 8 day power reserve, a 40mm 3 day power reserve and a 40mm half hunter 3 day power reserve.
Let’s start with the 42mm version.
This one is loaded with everything: a classic full fired enamel dial, platinum case, Blancpain’s correctors hidden
under the lugs (that leave the sides of the watch free of those adjuster dimples and which can be set by finger tip
instead of a tool), 8 day power reserve movement (with 3 mainspring barrels, titanium free sprung balance and gold
regulation screws), a calendar mechanism that can be set, risk free at any time day or night (unlike other
calendar/moon phase movements that forbid setting during certain hours to protect the movement from damage), and
even an entirely new decoration of the winding rotor which now has a guilloche honeycomb finish. Perhaps the
biggest aesthetic change from the past models is the date hand, which now is in blued steel with a serpentine shape
(which historically was used for things like a date hand in order to avoid confusion with the normal time hands).
Next in line is a 40mm version
This version has essentially the same calendar mechanism—adjustments done at any time without movement damage
risk—and also has the correctors under the lugs.
Finally the 40mm half hunter version
The movement is the same as the other 40mm version and it also has under lug correctors. Apart from the half
hunter case, it is distinguished by its guilloche style dial.
BASEL 2010 Blancpain Carrousel Répétition Minute-Le Brassus
A huge year for Blancpain at Basel—4 new movements debut (and this is on top of the 7 new movements that were
introduced in the two and a half previous years). At the top of the pyramid for 2010 is no less than a Grand
Complication—a combination of a cathedral gong minute repeater and carrousel.
The details of this watch are outstanding. The cathedral gong minute repeater is a brand new design, done entirely
in house by Blancpain. Keep in mind this is the third minute repeater movement that Blancpain has developed.
Cathedral gong means that the sounding rings are extra long, circling the movement one and half times. To make the
sound particularly loud and pure, Blancpain has attached the rings to the inside of the case—this channels the
sound directly to where it can be heard, which is outside the case. Another innovation in the repeater design is a
crown disconnect when the repeater is actuated. With other repeaters, if the crown is adjusted during sounding,
the mechanism will break. This disconnect system protects the movement from that kind of damage.
The carrousel is Blancpain’s design that debuted 2 years ago. It is the first and only flying one minute
carrousel.
The plates and bridges of the movement are in rose gold and are specially carved and decorated by hand and done by
engravers in Blancpain’s Le Brassus workshops. Other movement particularities in the photo are a newly developed
flying regulator for the repeater and a power reserve indicator.
The watch is in rose gold in a 45mm case, with a special brushed white gold dial with rose gold applied numerals,
opened to give view to key components of the movement. |
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发表于 2010-3-19 09:33
