Villeret, Golden Hour

With three reinterpreted emblematic models and their variations, dials in new, stunning autumnal shades, subtly reworked aesthetic details, and beautifully hand-finished manufacture movements, the Villeret collection reaffirms its dual heritage: mechanical excellence and the purity of design that make it the most authentic expression of Blancpain’s style.

Today, three iconic models are offered in 16 new references, available in two sizes (40 mm and 33.20 mm) and crafted in 18 ct red gold or stainless steel.
• An automatic three-hand model with date (40 mm),
• A complete calendar with moon phase (40 mm),
• A moon phase calendar (33.2 mm)

Villeret, Golden Hour - Cortina Watch Malaysia — Credit: Blancpain

Dials introduction of a finely grained opaline dial and a golden brown one.

Indexes and hands refined Roman numerals in 18 ct gold with satin-brushed surfaces and polished bevels; slender hands with luminescent inserts.

Expressive moon phase ceramic disc with a domed, satin-finished 18 ct gold moon featuring a distinctive face, set within an enlarged aperture that enhances depth and presence.

New oscillating weight open worked, crafted in red or yellow gold with polished bevels, revealing the beauty of the mechanical movement and highlighting the excellence of its finishing.

Mechanical excellence automatic manufacture movements – with silicon hairspring – decorated in accordance with the traditions of Haute Horlogerie (Côtes de Genève, beveling), featuring the new satinfinished, open worked oscillating weight with polished angles. Complete calendars are equipped with patented under-lug correctors. All movements now come with
a 5-year warranty.

Case subtly reinterpreted (Ref. 6654N): refined proportions, slimmer bezel, lighter profile, enlarged crown and redesigned lugs for enhanced elegance, comfort and ergonomics.

Straps quick-change system, offered in four new shades (brown, blue-grey, honey, and beige nubuck velvet), with a supple barolo finish that develops a natural patina over time.

“This timepiece was more than a tribute to horological tradition” recalls Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain.
“It opened new perspectives and reignited interest in mechanical watchmaking.”

Three models, 16 references

The 2025 collection presents three models showcasing a significant creative and technical achievement:
• An automatic three-hand model with date (40 mm), offered in two dial colours and materials > 4 references.
• A complete calendar with moon phase (40 mm), offered in two dial colours and materials > 4 references.
• A moon phase calendar (33.20 mm), available in two dial colours and materials, including 4 versions enhanced with a
diamond-set bezel > 8 references.

In total, 16 references are available in stainless steel or 18 ct red gold.

Origins

When did Blancpain’s Villeret collection begin? The answer is not so simple. While the name “Villeret” was only officially given to the Maison’s most classic line in 2003, its spirit, style, and very DNA had been established two decades earlier.

In 1983, Blancpain introduced a creation that would become emblematic: the smallest complete calendar moon phase of its time (Calibre 6395, 21mm diameter). With its double-stepped bezel and refined, understated aesthetics, this timepiece already embodied the codes that continue to define Villeret today.

More than a model, it was a powerful symbol — a visionary watch that helped restore confidence in Swiss mechanical watchmaking at a time when the industry was shaken.

Against the influx of electronic watches, Blancpain demonstrated that mechanical timepieces stood out for their complex craftsmanship and combination of art, beauty, tradition, and innovation. The 1983 moon phase embodied this difference and opened the path to the renaissance of authentic watchmaking, born of passion and artisanal mastery.

The Moon Phase, a Blancpain Signature

Through their variety and richness, Blancpain’s moon phases hold a unique place in watchmaking. This complication, both poetic and technical, played a key role in the revival of the Maison and, more broadly, in the renaissance of Swiss watchmaking. It has since become one of Blancpain’s most emblematic signatures.

True to tradition, the moon is always depicted with a face. Far from being a simple aesthetic choice, this approach draws on centuries of symbolism, literature, and popular beliefs, in which the celestial body is humanised and becomes a companion to the passing of time. By reinterpreting this heritage, Blancpain’s master watchmakers instil a romantic dimension into their creations, linking mechanical precision with celestial imagination.

Continuity

From the purity of a three-hand watch to the complexity of a minute repeater, and that of the tourbillon, the carrousel, the perpetual calendar, the traditional Chinese calendar and the equation of time, the Villeret collection embraces the full scope of the horological complications. Over time, it has grown richer with creations that virtuously celebrate the noblest watchmaking savoir-faire.

Pure and elegant, Villeret captivates with its timeless aesthetics and profound attachment to the founding values of Swiss
watchmaking. For decades, Blancpain has striven to subtly reinterpret this line, preserving its distinctive features while infusing them with modernity.

Even today, the icon continues to evolve.

A New Chapter

This autumn, the Villeret collection reinvents itself through a series of subtle details. From golden brown sunburst dials to opaline dials enriched with golden accents, from shades of beige or blue-grey to interchangeable straps adapting to the moment: evolution is expressed in both colour and material.

Alongside these touches come deeper transformations:
• Redesigned hands: with luminescent inserts offering both a contemporary touch and improved readability in the dark.
• 18 ct gold Roman numeral indices, with satin-finished tops and polished bevels on the sides. The traditional “12” is replaced by the “JB” symbol. The overall effect is more sculpted and sharply defined.
• At 3 o’clock, a larger, more harmonious date window.
• An open worked oscillating weight: Crafted in red or yellow gold, its beveled edges and finishes reveal the mechanical heart.
• Unprecedented comfort: a system of interchangeable straps and clasps designed for everyday use. Their “saddle-cut” finish, extremely supple and handstitched, combines comfort with artisanal tradition.

For all moon phase calendars:
• An expressive moon phase: enlarged opening, ceramic disc, applied gold moon domed and satin-finished — a face that is almost alive.
• Secured movements: allow the wearer to adjust calendar indications at any time, without damaging the movement. While the 33.20 mm case models feature traditional correctors on the caseband, the 40 mm ones are equipped with under-lug correctors, patented in 2005, which can be operated with a simple press of the finger.

For the 40 mm complete calendar with moon phase:
• A redesigned case: slimmer bezel, larger crown, thinner profile, reworked lugs — elegantly lightening the case without losing presence.

For over forty years, Villeret has reflected the soul of the village whose name it bears. It embodies the vision of generations of artisans and watchmakers who have made Blancpain a benchmark in Haute Horlogerie. Today, powered by the latest in-house calibres, decorated according to Haute Horlogerie tradition, Villeret expresses more than ever an ideal of purity, elegance, and meaning.

“The Villeret embodies the very essence of Blancpain” concludes Marc A. Hayek. “Each of its evolutions therefore requires great attention. It is both the expression of our watchmaking tradition and the proof that timeless elegance can always be reinvented with subtlety. One is never overdressed or underdressed with a Villeret”

Discover the Blancpain collections with Cortina Watch online, visit us at our boutiques, or contact a sales representative today to learn more.