The History of BLANCPAIN: The Long Journey of a Swiss Horological Pioneer

Founder and Origins of BLANCPAIN

• Founder: Jehan-Jacques Blancpain
• Year Established: 1735
• Initial Location: Villeret, Switzerland
• First Watch: –
• Official Website: www.blancpain.com

What comes to your mind when you hear the words “luxury watch”? More than just a timekeeping device, a luxury watch is an embodiment of craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation passed down through generations.

Among the multitude of prestigious watch brands, BLANCPAIN stands tall as one of the oldest and most respected in the world of horology.

With a history spanning nearly three centuries, Blancpain has etched its mark in gold in the development of the art of watchmaking. Let’s explore together the long journey of Blancpain, from its humble beginnings to becoming the global icon we know today.

The Birth of a Legend: Jehan-Jacques Blancpain and the Beginnings in Villeret (1735)

Who is the figure behind this legendary brand? It is Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, a man with an interesting background. Born in 1693, he came from a family of farmers and even worked as a schoolteacher in the village of Villeret, located in the Swiss Jura region.

However, fate led him down a different path. His interest in the world of mechanics and the art of watchmaking led him to transform the upper floor of his farmhouse into a horological workshop. There, amidst the bustle of livestock downstairs, Jehan-Jacques began a journey that would change the landscape of the watchmaking industry.

In 1735, Jehan-Jacques Blancpain officially registered himself as a watchmaker in the official records of the village of Villeret. This date is recognized as the birth year of the Blancpain brand, making it one of the oldest watch manufacturers in the world still operating today.

However, it’s important to note that some historical records and third-party analyses suggest that watchmaking activities within the Blancpain family may have truly flourished under the leadership of Frédéric-Louis Blancpain in 1815. Nevertheless, regardless of these differing perspectives, the year 1735 remains the foundation of the brand’s strong historical narrative.

Regarding the first watch produced by Blancpain, specific information about its name is very limited. In the early days, Blancpain and the watchmakers in the Villeret region generally did not label their creations with trademarks. This practice was common at the time, where the primary focus was on the quality and craftsmanship of the watch itself rather than building a strong brand identity through individual product names.

The earliest trace of the Blancpain family’s work before 1800 that has been successfully found is a Louis XVI pocket watch with the back signed “Blancpain et fils” (Blancpain and son). This indicates that although there was no specific model name recorded for the first watch, the Blancpain family’s quality and expertise in watchmaking were recognized from the beginning.

Building Tradition: Succeeding Generations and Early Innovation

After Jehan-Jacques Blancpain laid the foundation, the baton of leadership and innovation was passed on by subsequent generations. One important figure in Blancpain’s early development was his grandson, Frédéric-Louis Blancpain. In 1815, after returning from military service during the Napoleonic Wars, he took over the family business and brought significant changes.

Frédéric-Louis modernized the workshop in Villeret and introduced new, more efficient production techniques. One important innovation he introduced was the replacement of the crown wheel mechanism with a cylinder escapement, a significant advancement in the world of horology at that time.

Additionally, he also developed the construction of ultra-thin watches, a characteristic that continues to be associated with Blancpain to this day. Frédéric-Louis’s steps in modernizing production marked an important shift from small-scale craft operations to a more industrial approach, allowing Blancpain to meet increasing market demand.

The transformation continued under the leadership of Frédéric-Emile Blancpain, Frédéric-Louis’s son, who took over the company in 1830. Frédéric-Emile took a significant step by changing the company name to “Fabrique d’horlogerie Emile Blancpain” (Emile Blancpain Watchmaking Factory) and began the construction of a larger watchmaking factory in Villeret.

In 1865, Blancpain built a modern two-story factory on the banks of the Suze River, utilizing water power to generate electricity for their production processes. This move demonstrated Frédéric-Emile’s vision to lead Blancpain into the era of industrialization, significantly increasing production capacity and showcasing a commitment to technological innovation for its time.

The Transition Period and the First Female Leader in the Watch Industry

The year 1932 marked a new chapter in Blancpain’s history. Frédéric-Emile Blancpain, the seventh generation of the family to run the business, passed away and bequeathed the company to his long-time assistant, Betty Fiechter. Betty Fiechter made history as the first female CEO of a leading watch company, a remarkable achievement that demonstrated Blancpain’s progressive view on the role of women in business.

As there were no longer any Blancpain family members running the company, Swiss law at the time required a change of the company name. Thus, in 1933, the company was renamed Rayville SA, which is a phonetic anagram of Villeret. Despite the name change, the identity and core values of the Blancpain brand were maintained. Betty Fiechter continued to lead the company until 1950, when her nephew, Jean-Jacques Fiechter, joined her and later took over leadership.

Iconic Breakthrough: The Birth of the First Modern Dive Watch – Fifty Fathoms

The era of Jean-Jacques Fiechter’s leadership brought Blancpain to a pivotal moment in its history. Fiechter, who joined the company in 1950 and later became CEO, was an avid diver. His experience as a diver inspired him to develop an ideal watch for underwater activities.

In 1953, Blancpain launched the Fifty Fathoms, a watch widely recognized as the world’s first modern dive watch. This timepiece was developed at the request of the French combat diving unit (Nageurs de Combat) who needed a reliable timekeeping device for their underwater missions. The Fifty Fathoms featured several innovative features for its time, including a unidirectional rotating bezel to measure dive time, a double-sealed crown system to prevent water leakage, and water resistance up to 50 fathoms (approximately 91 meters).

The Fifty Fathoms’ reputation for durability and accuracy quickly spread. The watch became standard equipment for the French Navy and was later adopted by various other navies around the world, including the US Navy SEALs. Its popularity soared even further when Jacques Cousteau, a pioneer in underwater exploration, wore the Fifty Fathoms in his award-winning documentary film, “Le Monde du Silence” (The Silent World) in 1956. This cemented the Fifty Fathoms not only as a reliable professional tool but also as a symbol of adventure and exploration.

Facing the Quartz Crisis and Blancpain’s Revival

In the 1970s, the Swiss watch industry faced a significant challenge with the emergence of cheaper and more accurate quartz watches from Asia. Many watchmakers in Villeret were forced to close their businesses due to intense competition and changing consumer preferences. However, Blancpain chose a different path. They remained committed to the tradition of mechanical watchmaking and refused to produce quartz watches, a decision that would later become a hallmark of the brand.

In 1982, Blancpain underwent a change of ownership. The brand was acquired by Jacques Piguet and Jean-Claude Biver. Biver and Piguet had a clear vision to revive Blancpain as a luxury watch brand focused on mechanical excellence and high complications. They famously declared, “Since 1735, there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be.” As a symbol of the resurgence of traditional horology, they launched the “Six Masterpieces” collection, consisting of six mechanical watch models with classic complications, such as a complete calendar with moon phase, an ultra-thin watch, a perpetual calendar, a split-seconds chronograph, a tourbillon, and a minute repeater. This move not only showcased Blancpain’s expertise in crafting intricate mechanical timepieces but also reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to Swiss horological heritage amidst the dominance of quartz technology.

Blancpain in the Modern Era: Continuous Innovation Under the Swatch Group

In 1992, Blancpain was acquired by SMH (Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and Watchmaking Industries), which later became known as the Swatch Group. Under the ownership of the Swatch Group, Blancpain continued to grow and strengthen its position as one of the world’s top-tier luxury watch brands.

Since 2002, Marc A. Hayek has served as the President and CEO of Blancpain. Under his leadership, Blancpain has continued to adhere to the philosophy “Innovation is our tradition.” The brand consistently develops new calibers and complications, often being the first in the world, while still honoring the traditions of mechanical watchmaking.

Blancpain currently offers a range of iconic watch collections. The Villeret collection, named after the brand’s birthplace, represents classic elegance with pure and timeless designs. The Fifty Fathoms remains an icon in the world of dive watches, continuously evolving with modern innovations while retaining its revolutionary original design. The Ladybird collection is known for featuring the smallest round automatic movement in the world at the time of its launch, showcasing Blancpain’s expertise in miniaturization.

The Air Command honors the brand’s heritage in aviation with chronograph designs inspired by classic models. Lastly, the Métiers d’Art collection displays high-level artistic craftsmanship, with watches adorned using techniques such as hand engraving and miniature enamel painting.

To provide a clearer overview of Blancpain’s long journey, here is a table summarizing some key historical milestones:

Year	Event	Relevance
1735	Jehan-Jacques Blancpain registers as a watchmaker in Villeret.	Marks the official founding of the Blancpain brand.
1815	Frédéric-Louis Blancpain modernizes the workshop and develops the cylinder escapement and ultra-thin watches.	Introduces technical and production innovations to the company.
1830	Frédéric-Emile Blancpain renames the company Fabrique d’horlogerie Emile Blancpain and builds a larger factory.	Marks the era of industrialization and growth in production capacity.
1932	Betty Fiechter becomes the first female CEO of a leading watch company after Frédéric-Emile Blancpain’s passing.	Demonstrates the brand’s progressive outlook.
1933	The company is renamed Rayville SA due to no Blancpain family members running the business.	Name change due to legal reasons.
1953	Launch of the Fifty Fathoms, the world’s first modern dive watch.	Iconic breakthrough that revolutionized the dive watch industry.
1982	Blancpain is acquired by Jacques Piguet and Jean-Claude Biver.	Beginning of the brand’s revival as a luxury mechanical watch manufacturer.
1983	Launch of the slogan “Since 1735, there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be.”	Reaffirms commitment to mechanical watchmaking.
1992	Blancpain becomes part of the Swatch Group.	Provides stability and resources for continued growth.
2002	Marc A. Hayek becomes President and CEO of Blancpain.	Era of continuous innovation while respecting tradition.

Conclusion

From a humble workshop on the upper floor of a farmhouse to becoming a globally recognized brand, Blancpain’s journey is a story of unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, continuous innovation, and a profound respect for tradition.

As the oldest watch brand in the world, Blancpain has not only witnessed history but has also actively shaped it. Its significant contributions to the world of horology, particularly in the development of the modern dive watch and its steadfast commitment to mechanical watchmaking, make it a symbol of excellence, precision, and innovation that will continue to inspire luxury watch enthusiasts worldwide.