Available in platinum or 18K red gold comes this new feat of horology from Blancpain to enrich its Villeret collection. The new Tourbillon Volant Heure Sautante Minute Rétrograde —Flying Tourbillon Jumping Hours Retrograde Minutes— ref. 66260-3633-55B is fitted with a generous 42 mm case and with an array of several horological complications that make it a very elegant and special timepiece. Featuring a flying tourbillon at 12 o'clock and retrograde minutes with jumping hours at 6 o'clock, the icing on the cake is its 'grand feu' enamel dial.
Things to Know About the Watch
The 42 mm case in either 18K red gold or platinum features a stepped designed with nice curved lugs and a relatively thin construction at 11 mm in thickness. The white 'grand feu' enamel dial serves as the perfect canvas for the figure eight dial configuration with a flying tourbillon at 12 o'clock and retrograde minutes with jumping hours at 6 o'clock.
Perhaps the only thing we would've changed about this watch is the choice of font for the jumping hours so that it would match the font on the minute track. However, this is really not a deal breaker when it comes to such a special watch.
To accentuate the different elements on the dial, the aperture for the jumping hours, the retrograde minutes subdial and the tourbillon opening are all framed by 18K red gold surrounds. While the flying tourbillon takes the center stage at 12, it is impossible to give less importance to the jumping hours and retrograde minutes at 6 o'clock. To complete its elegant look, the timepiece is delivered on a brown alligator strap with 18K red gold folding clasp. The watch is water resistant to 30 meters but who in its right mind would dare to get this exceptional timepiece wet.
The Movement
Turning the watch over reveals the lavishly decorated in-house manual wound movement calibre 260MR. This movement composed of 263 parts and 39 jewels, provides an outstanding power reserve of 144 hours —6 days. The movement is extremely nicely decorated with hand guilloché and is a real treat for the eyes. Without a doubt, this is one of the nicest decorated movements from Blancpain.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the Blancpain Flying Tourbillon Jumping Hours Retrograde Minutes wears true to its size and with outstanding wrist presence. This is the type of watch that one aspires to own one day as a watch collecting grail. Elegant, refined and a perfect example of 'haute horlogerie' from one of the top brands from the Vallée de Joux. For the price, you are getting a lot of watch.
Sticker Price $148,800 USD for 18K red gold and $180,900 USD for platinum. For more info on Blancpain click here.
