Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar Limited Edition

Blancpain unveils Limited Edition Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar in red gold with green enamel dial. 50 pieces only. Price €75,400

Blancpain achieved a world first with the introduction of the Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar wristwatch in 2012, seamlessly blending a complex Chinese calendar with a Gregorian date and moonphase.

In 2024, the Swiss Manufacture unveiled the Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar Ref. 0888-3632C-55B, a new limited edition of this grand complication featuring a red gold case with a green dial.

Created in full-fired grand feu enamel, the hue of the dial elegantly harmonises with the 45.2 mm x 15.1 mm red gold case. 

The Chinese calendar indications are displayed with an array of four dedicated hands, a window for the Zodiac, and a window for the leap month. 

Together these set out the Chinese hours (120 minutes in length); the 60-year cycle of the elements and Yin/Yang; the 12-year cycle of the Zodiac; the Chinese days, month and leap months. 

The Gregorian date is indicated via a traditional serpentine hand. Likewise, the moon phase is classically presented in a window at 6 o’clock.

Five years have been devoted in the development of Calibre 3638, a 4 Hz self-winding movement which comprises 464 individual components arrayed in six layers. Its complexity exceeds that of a perpetual calendar and approaches that of a minute repeater. This intricate construction is carried out in Blancpain’s Le Brassus grand complication workshop. 

The meticulous development of Calibre 3638, a 4 Hz self-winding movement with 464 individual components arranged in six layers, has spanned five years. Its complexity surpasses that of a perpetual calendar, approaching that of a minute repeater, and is meticulously crafted in Blancpain’s Le Brassus grand complication workshop. 

The calendar mechanism is powered by Blancpain’s three mainspring barrel movement, ensuring an impressive 7-day power reserve (168 hours).

The timepiece’s red gold winding rotor features this year’s animal, the dragon. Set against a frosted background the dragon is flanked by a red ruby and a Chinese character engraving of the words “dragon” and “wood”, the element of 2024. 

For easy calendar adjustments, the case incorporates Blancpain’s patented under lug correctors, providing not only a clean aesthetic on the flanks but also allowing fingertip changes.

The watch is matched to a brown alligatore leather strap with a pink gold folding clasp. The lug width is 23 mm. Water resistance is guaranteed up to 3 bar (approximately 30 metres / 100 feet).

Limited to 50 pieces, the Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar, ref. 0888-3632C-55B, is priced at Euro 75,400. blancpain.com

Suggested reading:

- Blancpain, the history of the oldest watch brand