The Deep Dive

Blancpain: A Legacy Forged in Time

This post is a deep dive into one of the oldest watchmaking names in history.

It covers Blancpain's founding in 1735, its continuous legacy, and its most iconic models. We'll explore the revolutionary Fifty Fathoms, the watch that set the standard for modern dive watches with its unidirectional bezel and luminous markers.

What truly defined Blancpain's modern identity was its defiant stand during the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s and 80s. While many historic brands turned to cheaper quartz movements to survive, Blancpain, under the visionary leadership of Jean-Claude Biver, doubled down on mechanical artistry. Their famous slogan, "Since 1735, there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be," became a rallying cry for traditional horology. This bold commitment cemented their reputation as guardians of high-end, mechanical watchmaking, a principle they proudly uphold to this day.

That said, in some ways Blancpain has made efforts in other areas in recent memory that seem like the brand pushing back on some of the areas most enthusiast once thought impossible from the brand.