blancpain villeret ultrathin blue closeup

VILLERET ULTRAPLATE BLUE DIAL

BLUE HOUR MAGIC

This limited series, only available in the Brassus manufacture’s boutiques, exudes exclusivity with its majestically-luminous blue dial.

Blue, epitomizing the sky and the ocean, is an invitation to travel and escape. Its natural elegance has seduced the watchmaking world for ever so long, yet in 2019 an azure cascade was to adorn a myriad of dials. Among these, Villeret Ultraplate stands out through its rare intenseness and its sunray-brushed finish. This variation, produced in just 88 pieces, features all the adornments characteristic of the most classical of Blancpain’s collections. Delicate hollow sage-leaf-style hands point to an hour chapter composed of gold-fashioned Roman numerals. The ensemble is embraced by the signature double-stepped bezel. This streamlined composition offers time data a highly-refined backdrop where no other function or complication dares to tread.

blancpain villeret ultrathin blue closeupThe entirely-polished, 40 mm-diameter, 7.39 mm-thick platinum case hosts the 11A4B caliber assembled with some 131 components. This ultra-slim, 2.8 mm-high, hand-wound movement is also ultra-efficient. Thanks to its two series-coupled barrels, it delivers a 95-hour power reserve to the watch once fully wound, i.e. around 4 days. An indicator details the energy available. Visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback, it reigns over the Côtes de Genève-decorated bridges.

And, to ensure nothing is amiss, blue-wise of course, the Villeret Ultraplate watch is worn on an alligator strap clasped by an ardillon buckle.

Price: CHF27,000

By Dan Diaconu