Blancpain

This is the new Blancpain Carrousel Répétition Minutes Le Brassus. It is the second part of an ongoing collector series, called Le Brassus. Two years ago, Blancpain presented the Le Brassus one-minute carrousel movement, a world's first (a carrousel, like a tourbillon, negates the effects of gravity to improve watch accuracy). This year, a minute-repeater has been added to the already complicated one-minute carrousel movement. Next year, another complication will be added, followed by an additional complication each year thereafter.

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Introduced at Baselworld 2010, this watch is like the original Blancpain Super Trofeo Flyback Chronograph watch introduced at Baselworld 2009, except for a few changes. The case is polished titanium, instead of DLC treated steel. It biggest change is the addition of a carbon fiber dial and lugs. The in-house flyback chronograph is unchanged, as is the layout of the dial. An Alcantara strap is still included, as is an additional leather strap. Overall, I like the new look, however, I do wonder how durable the lugs will be. If the lugs were made of forged carbon, like what Audemars Piguet uses, I wouldn't worry too much. But considering it is non-forged carbon fiber, there is definitely a chance it may crack in the future, as carbon fiber can crack or bend if there is a lot of pressure on it.

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Baselworld 2010 marks the 275th Anniversary for Blancpain and is the occasion for the debut of a new Villeret Collection. The first timepiece from this new series to be unveiled is a new complete calendar moon-phase model featuring a fully secure calendar mechanism, and under-lug correctors, fitted into a half-hunter red gold case.

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Last week, I had a chance to visit the flagship US Blancpain boutique. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, on Madison Avenue, between 66th and 67th Street. The boutique is fairly small, at about 1000 square feet, but within that space they probably have the widest selection of Blancpain watches in the country.

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At the 32nd edition of the International Boat show, next week, Blancpain will launch its brand new 500 Fathoms diver's watch. And the manufacture from Le Brassus is presenting a world first at the Blancpain booth: a 500 Fathoms Cannes 2009 limited series of 50 dedicated to sea-lovers.

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[ via Blancpain ]

THE CARROUSEL VOLANT BY BLANCPAIN THE FIRST WRISTWATCH DISPLAYED IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY

The Palace Museum in the legendary Forbidden City is an iconic place of art and of international culture. It houses the world's largest and richest collection of national treasures. Blancpain enjoys the immense privilege of having been chosen to represent contemporary watchmaking art in the Palace Museum. The world's oldest watch brand thus becomes the first and only Manufacture to display a modern wristwatch there. In recognition of this honour, Blancpain has developed and crafted a one-of-a-kind version of its Carrousel Volant Une Minute. This timepiece has just been unveiled in an official donation ceremony held at the Palace Museum.

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[ via Blancpain ]

Introduced at Baselworld 2008, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Sport is now available in all black. The new model, Ref. 5015-11C30-52, uses an exclusive Calibre 1315 movement housed in a 45 mm polished steel case with a black exterior. The dial is all black and protected by a cambered sapphire crystal. The hands, hour markers and numerals are made of rhodium-plated and polished steel, coated with a luminescent black material. The caseback is made of sapphire crystal to protect and display the self-winding in-house movement and its nautilus-shaped oscillating weight. The crown screws down to ensure 300 meter water resistance. The strap is a sail canvas strap in black fitted with a black steel buckle. The "Fifty Fathoms Sport" features Blancpain's signature sapphire unidirectional bezel, in black of course.

If you like this watch, you might also like this Speed Command Chronograph.

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