Watchatlas

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 (1953) — Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms is the archetypal modern dive watch: born for serious underwater use in 1953, now spanning polished steel, technical titanium, and anniversary pieces with the same stark clarity. Key references: 5010 12B30 B64B, 5019A 12B30 94A, 5901 5630 NANA, 5010A 1130 NABA.
  • Villeret (1983) — Blancpain's Villeret is the brand's classical dress-watch family, where complete calendars, moon phases, perpetual calendars, and refined round cases define the house style. Key references: 6654N-1142-55B, 6106N-2987-55A, 6224N-1135-55B, 6656-3653-55B.
  • Ladybird (1956) — Blancpain's Ladybird is the maison's long-running women's watch family, pairing compact mechanical watchmaking with color, moon phases, gem-setting, and jewelry-led elegance. Key references: 0091M-9442-63A, 3662F-2954-55A, 3661A-1954-95B, 3662D-1954-55B.
  • Métiers d'Art (2015) — Blancpain’s Métiers d'Art collection brings together one-of-a-kind or highly exclusive artistic watches made in the manufacture’s Le Brassus workshops, showcasing crafts such as enamel painting, engraving, damascening, shakudō, marquetry, binchōtan, and porcelain dial making. Key references: 6615 3616 55B, 6615 3619 55B, 6615A 3612 55B.

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.

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