Baselworld 2014 Preview – The new Villeret with 8 Days of Power Reserve

Written by Bojan Pavlovic on February 10, 2014 in Baselworld - World Watch and Jewellery Show, Baselworld 2014, Blancpain Watches, Villeret - No comments

Although we still did not have opportunity to see and review all novelties from SIHH 2014, there are a few announcements of new models that we will see at Baselworld 2014 which begins on March 27. Blancpain announced that it will launch a gorgeous dress timepiece simply named Villeret.

Blancpain Villeret 2014 Watch

This novelty, as you can guess, is a part of the famous Villeret collection, named after the birthplace of the Manufacture. The new Villeret watch captures the brand’s underlying principle of giving priority to authenticity and respect for tradition, just like all models from this line.

The new Villeret is a daily-wear, three-hander with a date display. It is formal timepiece that is powered with the new in-house made caliber 1335 mechanical movement which is build on the top of the caliber 1315 that Blancpain uses quite often. The latest model that was equipped with this caliber was Fifty Fathoms which I introduced to you a few months ago.

The new self-winding mechanism is capable to store enough power to keep the watch ticking for remarkable 8 days. The impeccable movement is decorated with Côtes de Genève on the movement bridges and features a honeycomb pattern on the oscillating weight which can be seen through the sapphire crystal case back.

Blancpain Villeret 2014 Watch Case Back

This classic looking wristwatch is housed in an 18-karat red gold round double-stepped case with the diameter of 42mm. Underneath the front sapphire glass lies a beautiful dial which is entirely made in Grand Feu enamel. The enameled dial features the traditional leaf-style hands in red gold and Roman numerals as hour markers. While hour and minute hands are partly skeletonized, the seconds hand is encrusted with the initials JB which stand for the company founder Jacques Blancpain. Traditionally, a date window is located at the 3 o’clock position. The initials JB and the brand’s logo are situated at the 12 o’clock position.

Blancpain Villeret 2014 Watch Dial

This type of dial is more appealing and more attractive than lacquered dials (which are also cheaper). Furthermore, enamel dials are individually baked at very high temperatures which set the color permanently.

The new Blancpain is completed by a chocolate-toned alligator leather strap which matches perfectly with the case and the dial.