Frequently Asked Questions

HOW CAN I BE SURE MY WATCH IS A GENUINE BLANCPAIN?

We will be happy to examine your watch to determine whether it is genuine or not. Please contact us.

IS A BLANCPAIN WATCH DESIGNED TO BE PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT? 

Every Blancpain is destined to be handed down as a precious heirloom from one generation to another. Providing maintenance is carried out regularly, your watch will always remain an instrument of high precision and beauty.

WHAT IS A MASTERPIECE? 

A masterpiece is a watchmaking complication (e.g. Tourbillon) you need to be able to construct in order to be recognised as a master watchmaker.

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO ENSURE THAT MY WATCH CONTINUES TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE? 

Your Blancpain watch is a mechanical instrument of very high precision and technology. When manipulating it, it is absolutely necessary to respect the instructions given in the manual. Like a car, it will be affected by non-use and must be serviced regularly. It is self-evident that one should avoid shocks to the wrist, as for example whilst playing golf or volleyball.

WHAT ARE THE SERVICE INTERVALS? 

For water-resistant watches, a water-resistance check every year is the best guarantee against "accidental drowning". A complete service is recommended every 4 to 5 years; this period may be extended if the water-resistance checks are regularly carried out.

WHY DOES A WATCH NEED REGULAR SERVICING? 

The maintenance cycle of a mechanical watch is more frequent due to the great number of points that require oiling. The fact that there are more oiling points increases the risk that the oil may dry out in one or more places, causing friction and reducing the water-resistance of your watch.

WHAT DOES A FULL SERVICE INCLUDE? 

A full service includes the following: opening of the case, disassembling the case, disassembling the dial and hands, complete disassembling of the movement, cleaning of the case and bracelet (if metallic), complete cleaning of the movement, polishing of the case and metallic bracelet, replacement of worn movement components, reassembly, lubrication, placing the movement in the case (except for the 1735 whose movement is built in the case), assembling the dial and hands, water–resistance test (if applicable) and final quality control. If needed, spare-parts are changed (crown, glass, push-pieces etc.).

DOES EACH WATCHMAKER CREATE HIS OWN TOOLS? 

Every watchmaker generally has his own personal set of self-made tools that he uses throughout his entire career. For any insolvable problem, he must be capable of creating a new tool that will achieve the desired purpose.

WHERE ARE THE WATCHMAKERS TRAINED? HOW LONG DOES THEIR TRAINING LAST? 

2 training courses for watchmakers are to be noted. The first one lasts 3 years in a specialised school or in a firm that trains microelectronic watchmakers, formerly practitioners. The second one includes a further supplementary year to train service watchmakers. This supplementary year corresponds to a training on complicated mechanical pieces as well as on pendulum systems. It also covers the considerations and strategies necessary to open one's own business. Concerning the more sophisticated watchmaking, several years of experience are required to qualify for the title of master watchmaker.

DOES THE WATCHMAKER’S MAGNIFYING GLASS HARM THE EYES? 

No, as the magnifying glass one wears constantly prevents eye fatigue. The stronger ones, used for very precise work, are only used occasionally.

WHAT ARE THE ERGONOMICS OF A WATCHMAKER’S WORKSTATION? 

In principle the watchmaker works at his bench with his hands level with his shoulders, which permits him to keep a straight back.

WHY DOES THE DATE ON MOST BLANCPAIN WATCHES CHANGE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME? 

3 systems are to be noted. Instantaneous, semi-instantaneous and dragging. The coupling force on the watch barrel is different for each system. The semi-instantaneous and the dragging spread the force over several hours, contrarily to the instantaneous.

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO ENSURE THAT MY WATCH REMAINS WATER-RESISTANT? 

Have it checked once a year.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL GLASS? 

A sapphire crystal glass can only be scratched by diamonds.

WHAT IS A BALANCE-SPRING?

A balance-spring is a small spring fixed to the balance that regulates the timing of the watch.

WHAT IS A TOURBILLON?

The tourbillon device guarantees optimum precision by compensating performance deviations caused by gravity.

WHAT IS THE LUMINESCENT SUBSTANCE USED IN MY WATCH?

Super-LumiNova, a non-radioactive substance.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SELF-WINDING AND A MANUAL-WINDING MOVEMENT?

An automatic watch rewinds itself if the watch is worn whereas a non-automatic watch must be wound manually.

IF I TAKE MY WATCH OFF OVER NIGHT, DO I NEED TO WIND IT? 

No, but a hand-wound watch should be wound daily at regular intervals.

HOW DO I REGISTER A STOLEN BLANCPAIN WATCH?

Please advise your customer to send an email to cs [at] blancpain.com, in order to declare their watch as lost or stolen. Please note that the following information must be included:
first name, surname, address, telephone number and e-mail, watch reference number, serial number, date of theft (or loss), purchase date, police or insurance declaration confirming theft (or loss).
Should the watch be sent to us for service we will then contact the customer immediately.

HOW DO I OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY?

Certificates of authenticity can only be issued by Customer Services at the Head Quarters in Switzerland. Prior to this, the watch will have to undergo a full diagnostic check. Please advise our customers, therefore, to hand their watch into any authorised Blancpain retailer, who will then be able to forward it onto us.

WHY IS MY WATCH RUNNING FAST, OR RUNNING SLOW?

A mechanical watch can run slow or can advance, anything from a few seconds per day to 2 minutes per week. If the amount exceeds 2 minutes over a week, it is advisable for the watch to be checked by a Blancpain authorized watchmaker, as this could be the result of an impact. A sudden advance of a few minutes, over the period of a day, might also indicate an impact or exposure to a strong magnetic field.

WHY HAS MY WATCH STOPPED?

Whilst both a manual and automatic winding watch might stop because of a defect, it is also possible that it has stopped as a result of certain watch characteristics. Before sending your watch in for service, therefore, it is worth asking yourself the following questions:

• Has your manual watch been wound sufficiently?
• Has your automatic watch been worn long enough for it to have built up the necessary power reserve? Our automatic mechanical watches have a power reserve of between 40 to 192 hours, depending on the model.

If none of the above are applicable, we would recommend that the watch is checked by a Blancpain authorized watchmaker.

DO BLANCPAIN WATCHES HAVE UNIDIRECTIONAL OR BIDIRECTIONAL WINDING MECHANISMS?

Most of our automatic systems are unidirectional, except some specific models.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUTOMATIC AND HAND-WINDING MOVEMENTS?

The difference between these two movements is the way in which the watch is wound. Mechanical watches function on the principle of the spring system. To wind the spring of a manual-winding watch the crown has to be turned. For automatic movements, however, the automatic winding system oscillates depending on the movements of your wrist and this action winds the spring.

WHEN TRYING TO START A SELF-WINDING WATCH, SHOULD I WIND IT OR SHAKE IT FIRST TO MAKE IT GO?

In order to give a watch sufficient power for the timing, it must first be wound by approximately 25 turns of the crown. Simply shaking an automatic watch is ill-advised and will not be sufficient to wind it up, nor would it contribute towards establishing a power reserve.

WHAT IS A POWER RESERVE?

The self-winding of a mechanical movement is generated by the motion of the wearer’s wrist. Therefore, since the self-winding mechanism of a watch, the rotor, is directly linked to the wearer’s activity, 10-12 hours of wear are generally sufficient to generate a power reserve and ensure that the watch will run throughout the night. If the watch is not worn regularly (i.e. not on a daily basis), is static due to the wearer’s inactivity, or is not worn for adequate periods of time, the power reserve will drain and it is possible that the watch will not be wound sufficiently for it to function properly. In this instance, it would be necessary for the crown to be wound manually.