Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

New York, Sep 17, 2009

LOT 111

?1735 - Grande Complication? Blancpain, ?1735 ? Grande Complication,? No. 28/30. Made in a limited edition of 30 pieces in the 1990s. Production of this model began in 1991. Extremely fine, rare and important, large, astronomic, minute-repeating, self-winding, platinum wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, round button co-axial splitseconds chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases and moon age and a platinum Blancpain deployant clasp. Accompanied by a special fitted wooden winding box, loupe, setting pin, guarantee and instruction manual.

USD 320,000 - 370,000

EUR 225,000 - 260,000 / CHF 345,000 - 400,000

Sold: USD 324,000

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 1/5th seconds track with 5-minute/seconds Arabic markers, subsidiary dials for the 30-minute register, 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: 17 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

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 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 watchmaking 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.