It’s not every day that one gets the privilege to step into rooms like the one where I spent my past Wednesday evening. 

A room full of geniuses and ingenuity. A room full of passion and relentless curiosity. A room that personifies the why in why would someone be a watch lover. 

I had the immense honor of attending Blancpain’s private event in Madrid, Spain, to discover and celebrate the marvels of the Villeret collection. A collection of high watchmaking pieces with technology that’s never been seen before. 

This article is of course about that, but also about the full unforgettable experience. 

I knew that I had to join the other VIP members of Blancpain, about 2 weeks prior to the event. When Ms Alexandra – current Blancpain, Madrid’s boutique director and a very dear friend of mine – sent me the invite, it took me a while to wipe the HUGE smile on my face. But once we got the chance to get on a call, Alexandra’s enthusiasm made me drop everything I had planned for the week, to be there for her and witness the astonishing work she and her team had done. 

Upon arriving at the boutique, I was warmly welcomed by the marvelous staff and the incredible brand manager Ms Lara Bartolomé; with whom I had a nice conversation about what they had planned for us and what Blancpain really represents from both a journalist/enthusiast’s (Me) and a company executive’s perspectives. However, the inflection point of our conversation was when Ms Lara mentioned that the director of the Grandes Complications department at Blacpain’s Le Brassus HQ, was on his way to join us for a masterclass about the Villeret pieces. 

Behind my understated “Ow interesting” was a “Ow my god this is HUGE !” internal reaction. 

And just when I thought the surprise was big enough, Ms Lara says “His name is Mustapha and he’s actually Moroccan”. I’ll let you guys imagine my reaction when I feel a tap on my shoulder and a “Salam Walid !” (That’s Hello Walid in Arabic). The embraces, a shocked Walid and a room of 5 people laughing their hearts out, was a moment that should have been captured for my future kids to see. But more on that later.

I went up to the VIP lounge with Ms Alexandra (my designated adult LOL) to meet the rest of the team, chat freely, and get the chance to see everything before the other guests arrived. Mr Mustapha and I had the chance to talk about his 30+ years career with Blancpain, the Time-Telling magazine and of course ourselves. The cheerful man did not shy away from showing me watch blueprints and other technical documents that I wish weren’t so top secret for me to photograph and re-read. 

We went deep into Grand Complications and, let me flex here for a second, many “WOWs” came out of his mouth when he would listen to me talk about some weird technical thing that he never thought was public knowledge. What can I say, your boy is a nerd…

Anyways, let me spare you my fan-girling and get to the watches: The Villeret collection.

 As the Blancpain website states, Blancpain’s native village of Villeret lends its name to the most classic collection from the Brand. Firmly anchored in tradition, these models exemplify their roots and embody the prime aesthetic choices. The purity of their lines, the clarity of their dials and the slenderness of their double-stepped cases express essentials with timeless elegance.

The Villeret collection incorporates the results of recent research conducted by Blancpain in the field of movement making. Under-lug correctors, secured calendar and moon phase mechanisms, exceptional power reserves: everything possible is done to enhance the timepieces.

The brand subtly and consistently reinterprets this collection with a contemporary face that nonetheless preserves its emblematic aesthetic. Far from representing a break with tradition, the new models reassert the Maison’s enduring attachment to authentic horological values, powerfully demonstrated by grand feu enamel dials and serpentine hands for the calendar display.

The standout pieces.

The Villeret Tourbillon Carrousel

The tourbillon and the carrousel are two of the major devices aimed at reducing gravity-related effects on the running of the movement. For the first time in horological history, Blancpain introduces a wristwatch combining these two regulators.

This specific piece is crafted in 18k red gold. Its 44.6 mm case houses a pristine white grand feu enamel dial and the manual-winding Caliber 2322 movement, composed of 378 components and 70 jewels. This movement has an impressive 168-hour power reserve, and what sets it apart is its unique combination of a flying tourbillon at 12 o’clock and a flying carrousel at 6 o’clock. The first in wristwatch history in which the two work in unison to counteract the effects of gravity on the movement’s accuracy.

Another variation/configuration is this beautiful ref. 2322-3653-55B with a sunburst green dial. One of my favorite signature details from Blancpain. 

Villeret Carrousel Répétition Minutes

Here comes the big girl. And this is what I meant by a “Grandes Complications collection”.

Encased in a 45 mm red gold case with a thickness of 15.35 mm, the watch exudes Haute Horlogerie status. 

The white grand feu enamel dial serves as a canvas for the intricate mechanics beneath, while the sapphire crystal case back offers a captivating view of the automatic Caliber 1736A movement. Comprising 444 components and 54 jewels, this is a minute repeater movement that also happens to house a Carrousel. 

This grand complication is the premiere in the history of watchmaking, combining a one-minute flying Carrousel and a minute repeater with cathedral chimes.

“The Villeret collection symbolises Blancpain’s history and longevity. It enjoys an incredibly solid foundation across all of watchmaking’s celebrated complications, as well as many Blancpain exclusives such as our Traditional Chinese Calendar and Carrousel watches.”

Marc A. Hayek, Président & CEO

As I stated before, this article is not only about the watches presented at the event, but also about the personal experience that I lived with the people who were involved in such a special occasion. 

The amazing staff, the very friendly and professional executives, the other collectors, making new friends, getting to know Mr. Mustapha and for the first time in my life not shying away from being the nerd that I am…etc

And speaking of my new genius Moroccan friend, he gifted me his Blancpain X Swatch watch ! The man was double wristing the hell out of it and a pièce unique Flying tourbillon. So when I teased him about it, he took off the Scuba and handed it to me with the biggest smile you could ever imagine.

So now on my to do list, framing the watch and our photograph is my top priority. 

Thank you for your support my dear friends. None of this would matter if I had nobody to write for.