Blancpain
Le Brassus, Switzerland · Est. 1735
Founded by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain
Blancpain, founded in Villeret in 1735, claims to be the world's oldest watch brand still in operation and has never made a quartz watch. It is best known for its Fifty Fathoms dive watch and the Villeret collection of traditional complications, and has been part of the Swatch Group since 1992.
- Founded
- 1735
- Headquarters
- Le Brassus, Switzerland
- Group
- Swatch Group
- Price Segment
- Ultra
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Fifty Fathoms — Iconic dive watch introduced in 1953, considered one of the first modern diving watches.
- Villeret — Classic dress watch collection with traditional complications and refined finishing, named after Blancpain's birthplace.
- Ladybird — Women's collection featuring the world's smallest round automatic movement, first introduced in 1956.
- Métiers d'Art — Artistic timepieces showcasing traditional crafts including enamel painting, engraving, and shakudō.
Timeline
- 1735 — Founded by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain in Villeret, Switzerland — the oldest registered watch brand
- 1815 — Frédéric-Louis Blancpain modernised production with cylinder escapement
- 1926 — Partnered with John Harwood to market the first automatic wristwatch
- 1953 — Launched the Fifty Fathoms dive watch for the French Navy
- 1956 — Introduced the Ladybird, smallest round automatic women's watch
- 1983 — Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet revived the brand with all-mechanical philosophy
- 1991 — Released the 1735 Grand Complication, one of the most complex wristwatches ever made
- 1992 — Became part of the Swatch Group
- 2025 — Unveiled Grand Double Sonnerie 15GSQ, the world first grande sonnerie offering two selectable melodies.
- 2025 — Launched Blue Abyss ceramic Fifty Fathoms and first standard-collection Fifty Fathoms Tech in titanium.
- 2025 — Refreshed Villeret line with Golden Hour series across 16 references.
- 2026 — Released Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar Year of the Fire Horse in platinum with salmon grand feu enamel dial (50 pcs).
Frequently Asked Questions about Blancpain
- Is Blancpain really the oldest watch brand?
- Blancpain claims to be the oldest registered watch brand in the world, founded in 1735 in Villeret, Switzerland, though some historians dispute the early records.
- Has Blancpain ever made a quartz watch?
- No. Blancpain famously committed to only producing mechanical watches since its revival in 1983, and has never produced a quartz timepiece.
- Who owns Blancpain?
- Blancpain has been a subsidiary of the Swatch Group since 1992. Marc Hayek currently leads the brand.