103 Blancpain An exceptional and very important, Villeret Flying Tourbillon 8 days, date and power reserve, manual wristwatch in yellow gold, with open-heart white dial.
Estimate: Fr. 8'000 – 16'000
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- Model Villeret Flying Tourbillon 8 Days
- Year Circa 1990s
- Reference 0023-1418-55
- Case Material 18K yellow gold
- Case Number N° 117
- Bracelet Material Leather strap
- Movement Manual, cal. 23, 19 jewels
- Movement Number N° 543
- Dimension 34mm Diameter
- Signed Case, dial and movement
Following the acquisition of Blancpain in 1981 for the symbolic sum of CHF 21,500, Jean-Claude Biver, together with his partner Jacques Piguet, successfully revitalized the brand by focusing on high-end mechanical watchmaking and traditional craftsmanship. This vision led to the creation of six complicated mechanical wristwatches, each housed in elegant 34mm cases, now collectively referred to as the “Six Masterpieces.” The present watch, part of this landmark series, is a flying tourbillon reference 0023, introduced in 1989 as the final and most technically ambitious model of the collection. Developed in collaboration with independent watchmaker Vincent Calabrese, it is widely regarded as the first flying tourbillon wristwatch ever produced. Remarkably, despite the presence of such a sophisticated complication, the case measures only approximately 8mm in thickness, a testament to Blancpain’s technical mastery and commitment to refined proportions. This exceptional thinness, combined with its classical aesthetics, makes the watch both visually elegant and highly wearable. Both technically sophisticated and aesthetically restrained, this reference 0023 represents not only a milestone in the history of Blancpain, but also a significant chapter in the renaissance of mechanical watchmaking during the late 20th century.
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LUGANO
Villa Principe Leopoldo, Via Montalbano 5
3 June - From 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
GENEVA
Beau-Rivage, Quai du Mont-Blanc 13
9 May - From 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
10 May - From 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM