In 2012, Blancpain combined the complex lunar calendar with the current Gregorian calendar and the phases of the moon to launch the Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar, a world precedent. Now, Blancpain has entered a new era with a new limited edition of this complication (Ref. 00888-3632C-55B) with a red-gold winding oscillating weight engraved with a dragon motif to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon. For the first time, the special limited edition is made of red gold with a green enamel dial.
Every year, Blancpain presents a special limited edition to commemorate the legend of the Jade Emperor summoning twelve animals to the gates of the Heavenly Palace. In the Chinese calendar, the 12 zodiac signs are ordered in the order in which the animals arrive, and each Blancpain Special Edition celebrates the annual zodiac signs.
The 2024 edition features a red-gold oscillating weight engraved with the annual zodiac sign of the year, the dragon. Against a frosted background, a majestic dragon is inlaid with red rubies on one side and engraved with the Chinese character "甲辰" on the other. To kick off a new 12-year cycle, Blancpain artists reinterpret the Chinese zodiac.
The mystical Chinese calendar is presented through four special hands, a zodiac window and a leap month window, combined with the Chinese hours (120 minutes), the five elements of yin and yang, the Jiazi year, the Chinese date, month and leap month. The date of the Gregorian calendar is indicated by a traditional serpentine hand, while the waxing and waning of the moon phase is set at the classic position of 6 o'clock.
The development of the movement, which took five years to develop, is made up of 464 parts in six component groups, and is more complex than a perpetual calendar, close to a minute repeater. This complication is made in Blancpain's Le Brassus workshop. The date mechanism is powered by a Blancpain three-barrel movement with a 7-day power reserve.
The dial is crafted from Grand Feu enamel, and its green hue is complemented by the 45 mm red gold case. To facilitate the setting of the date, the case is equipped with Blancpain's patented under-lug adjustment buttons. Like other Blancpain calendar mechanisms, the Chinese Calendar is designed to be safe, eliminating the risk of damage when setting in automatic changes.
This 2024 Lunar Year of the Dragon is limited to 50 pieces. (Photo/text: Xu Chaoyang, the home of watches)