blancpain villeret grande date jour retrograde closeup

VILLERET GRANDE DATE JOUR RETROGRADE

ELEGANCE IN MOVEMENT

Like in classical ballet, traditional watchmaking develops through set figures that can only be brought to life by perfectly choreographed staging.

A simple style and minimalist design are not the preserve of modern or futuristic watches. You only need to look at the design of the Villeret Grande Date Jour Retrograde introduced by Blancpain at Baselworld to agree. The 40mm-wide red-gold case features an opaline dial with an hour rim consisting of Roman numerals. Fine and elegant hands revolve around a decor that has been reduced to the essential elements. The manufacture has nonetheless included two extra time indications to complete a model that has clear links to traditional watchmaking values.

blancpain villeret grande date jour retrograde closeupSo, between 7 and 9 o’clock, an indicator in the arc of a circle displays the days of the week using a retrograde mechanism. A small blued steel hand moves forward every 24 hours then makes a backwards leap at the end of the week to begin its journey again on Mondays. Between 5 and 6 o’clock, two counters display a large date. These features are driven by an automatic movement. The 6950GJ is based on an ultra-flat 1150 calibre and stands out in terms of performance thanks to its two barrels. These two reservoirs of energy provide a generous power reserve of 70 hours. It is worth noting that the day can be set very simply with a press on a corrector housed beneath one of the timepiece’s horns. The date is adjusted using the crown.

The Villeret Grande Date Jour Retrograde is also available in a combination of a white dial and steel case. All the models are worn with a choice of leather or metal straps.

Price: 12,880 EUR (steel) – 22,850 EUR (red gold) blancpain.com

By Dan Diaconu