Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, Jun 14, 2006

LOT 339

?1735 - Grande Complication? Blancpain, ?1735 ? Grande Complication?, No. 27/30. Made in a limited edition of only 30 examples in the 1990s. Production of this model began in 1991. Extremely fine, rare and important, large, astronomic, minute-repeating, selfwinding, platinum gentleman's wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, round button co-axial split-seconds chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases and moon age and a platinum Blancpain deployant clasp. Accompanied by a special fitted wooden box and instructions.

USD 320,000 - 370,000

EUR 250,000 - 290,000

Sold: USD 579,600

C. Three-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, transparent stepped case back, straight lugs, sapphire crystals. D. White with applied white gold radial Roman numerals, outer minute and chronograph divisions, subsidiary dials for the 30-minute register and the days of the month, of the week, the months and the leap year, sector graduated for the age of the moon, aperture for the moon phases. White gold "feuille" hands. M. Cal. 1735, hand-engraved gold movement plates and bridges, 44 jewels, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator with 3 equidistant polished steel arms under a polished steel bridge, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, self-compensating flat balance-spring, skeletonized and hand-engraved platinum rotor, repeating on gongs by activating slide on the band. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 42 mm. Thickness: 18 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Blancpain After a fresh start in 1983 under Jean-Claude Biver, the firm, which was founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, continues today under the new and equally skilled leadership of CEO Marc Hayek. The tradition for fine watchmaking continues in its premises in Le Brassus and Villeret in the Vallée de Joux, placing the emphasis on craftsmanship and tradition, In 1988 Blancpain presented the "Six Masterpieces of the Watchmaking Art", Classic and understated wristwatches symbolizing the essence of watchmaking and highlighting the movement complications rather than merely fancy case designs. Intended as a tribute to the countless watchmakers and craftsmen, who as farmers turned to watchmaking for additional income during the cold and harsh winters, and in doing so laid the foundations of watch-making and tool-making that remain the basis of the horological culture today. Watchmakers never rest on their laurels and 1991 saw the presentation of one of the most complicated wristwatches ever made until today ? the ?1735?. It took 6 years of research, development and testing before the highly complicated and complex masterpiece could be presented, uniting the complications of the ?Six Masterpieces? in a single watch! ?Calibre 1735? comprises 740 finely finished movement parts. Only 2 specialists assemble these extraordinary micromechanical wonders.