HISTORY OF WATCHES

1735

Establishment of the first Blancpain manufacture as a cottage industry
by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain.

EARLY 30S

Launch by Blancpain of Leon Hatotes rectangular "Rolls", an automatic wristwatch using "roller winding", whereby the movement could move back and forth in the case - a revolutionary idea at that time.

1953

Worn by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his team during the shoot of "The World of Silence" (Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1956), Blancpaines Fifty Fathoms was also selected for its technical superiority by several armies (among others: US, French, German and Italian).

1956

Launch of the Ladybird model, the smallest automatic movement in the world.

1983

A world first: the smallest movement indicating moon phase, day, month and date.

1987

Launch of The World’s Thinnest Automatic Chronograph.
Launch of The world’s Smallest Minute repeater Wristwatch.

1988

Launch of The World’s Thinnest Split-Second Chronograph.

1989

Another world premiere: the first and only thinnest self-winding Tourbillon watch with date and one-week power reserve.

1991

Blancpain presents simultaneously all six masterpieces of the watchmaker's art housed in identical cases. And finally, marking watchmaking history, the 1735 including all six masterpieces in a single watchcase the most complicated wristwatch ever made.

1993

To celebrate the 300th birthday of its founder, Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the company in Le Brassus created the 7001 watch.
Launch of The World’s First Wristwratch Repeater with Automata

1994

Launch of the 2100 watch (Leman collection today) whose screw-locked case back and pushpieces ensure water-resistance to 100 meters, a perfect companion for the ceaseless drive and mobility of the women and men of today.

1995

An all-time record year: the watches of the 2100 sports line (Leman collection today) were named "Watches of the Year" for 1995-96.

1996

Blancpain develops the new 100-hours movement for adaptation on all models of the 2100 collection (Leman collection today) (moon phase, extra-slim, perpetual calendar).
Launch of the flyback chronograph.

1997

Blancpain is the first brand to bring out a ladies chronograph with flyback hand.
Creation of the new self-winding Ladybird watch, housing a tiny automatic movement, the smallest and the slimmest in the world.

1998

Launch of the Sea Earth Sky trilogy including the Fifty Fathoms, the GMT and the Air Command.
Launch of The World’s First Automatic Tourbillon with 8 Days Power Reserve.

1999

A World’s First Combination of Tourbillon and Chronograph Complications.

2000

Launch of The World’s First Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon with 8 Days Power Reserve.

2001

The ladies watch prize of Geneva's first Watchmaking Grand Prix was awarded to Blancpain's flyback pastel chronograph (ref. 2385F-192GC-52).

2002

The ladies watch prize of La Revue des Montres was awarded to Blancpain's self-winding flyback chronograph (ref. 2385-1127).
The ultra-slim, Villeret, self-winding (ref. 4053-1540-55) was recognised "Watch of the Year" by the Swiss public.
In Austria, the Luxus prize of the Chrono Awards and the men's watch prize of the press were awarded to Blancpain's ultra-slim, Villeret, self-winding (ref. 4063-3642-55).

2003

Revival of the Moon Phase and the World’s Smallest Calendar Moon Phase Plate.

2004

Launch of The World’s First Equation Marchante Wristwatch.

2005

The World’s First Hidden Calendar Correctors. Launch of the First Perpetual Calendar with correctors under the lugs.
Launch of The World’s Thinnest Perpetual Calendar.

2007

Creation of Blancpain Calibre 13R0. The Dawn of a New Era.

2008

Launch of The World’s First Carrousel Volant Une Minute.