Blancpain Villeret Chronograph wristwatch, c. 1996 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: P A Oxley · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: P A Oxley · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Blancpain Villeret Chronograph wristwatch, c. 1996

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Blancpain (maker)
Date: c. 1996
Historical period: Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Diameter 33 mm
Dealer: P A Oxley (dealer), Wiltshire
Stock no.: Product 29
Credit line: Dealer listing, P A Oxley (product 29)
Catalogue title (original): Blancpain Villeret Chronograph Wristwatch (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by P A Oxley (dealer), Wiltshire (stock number Product 29), this is a wristwatch by Blancpain, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1996. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 33 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — P A Oxley

The elegance and superb quality of this dress watch speaks for itself. One owner from new and complete with its papers and original guarantee. A replacement box will be supplied upon purchase. Featuring a fully Automatic movement with 40 hours power reserve and 37 jewels. Also with Chronograph and date features. The blue leather strap by Hirsch has had very little use and the Blancpain buckle has been retained. Although in full working order a full service will be carried out by our Watchmaker before delivery. It will be guaranteed for 12 months. Taken from the original 1996 booklet - This watch movement ranks among the masterpieces of the watchmakers art by reason of its record setting slimness. Never before in the history of watchmaking has there ever been so thin a chronograph movement. Maker Blancpain

Historical context

Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)

Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.

Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Quartz Revolution

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Jewel bearings — Component
Self-winding (automatic) mechanism — Component
Power reserve indicator — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: P A Oxley (dealer), Wiltshire (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © P A Oxley — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Blancpain Villeret Chronograph wristwatch, c. 1996." P A Oxley (dealer), Wiltshire, Product 29. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/blancpain-villeret-chronograph-wristwatch-c-1996-2bb309.