The new Ladybird Colours is a vibrant tribute to the original bejewelled timepiece in Blancpain’s history of women’s watches.
The Blancpain Ladybird watch can be traced all the way back to its launch in 1956, when it was lauded for having the smallest round movement ever conceived at the time. Dainty watches were the trend du jour and this ingenious jewelled timepiece sparked an instant sensation.
In an early instance of woman power, the Ladybird was also introduced under the auspices of Betty Fiechter, a long-term assistant turned CEO of Blancpain in 1932, representing the 7th generation to be running the family business. Betty Fiechter was also one of the first ever women to lead a watchmaking company, and steer it through the vagaries of WWII and on to eventual global success.
The latest Ladybird Colours collection pays tribute to this key timepiece and female pioneer in Blancpain’s history, and comes in seven vibrant variations. Peacock green, midnight blue or satin white alligator straps on the red gold model, and lemon yellow, tangerine orange, lilac or satin white alligator straps with the white gold version.
Measuring just 34.9mm, the white mother-of-pearl dial is adorned with slightly rounded applied gold Arabic numerals, and delicate hands shaped like hollowed-out sage leaves – a signature Blancpain attribute. It is further distinguished by a bezel, lugs and crown set with 59 diamonds totalling over 2 carats, and employing a high-end gemsetting technique known as “recutting”, to create a brilliant mirror effect on the precious stones.
This high jewellery timepiece is powered by the in-house Calibre 1150 movement, which is renowned for its slenderness and its generous four-day power reserve, as well as its silicon balance spring.
The “Valentine’s Day 2022” edition from the Ladybird collection proposes enduring feelings to the power of 99 (spoken in Mandarin, the double 9s ‘speaks’ of eternity). With only 99 pieces in production, this limited edition watch features a white mother-of-pearl dial adorned with varnished red numerals, diamond set bezel and lugs, with a perfect accent of a red heart on the seconds hand.
Images courtesy of Blancpain, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
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