DP 00888 (CALENDRIER CHINOIS).indd

Blancpain
Villeret collection
Ref. 00888-3431-55B
Ref. 00888-3631-55B
Baselworld 2012
CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL
Blancpain presents a world-exclusive version of the first wristwatch equipped with a
traditional Chinese calendar. The Manufacture in Le Brassus thereby wishes to honour
this age-old culture of which the modern-day representatives show a keen interest in haute
horlogerie, by introducing a useful yet symbolic model that is destined to take its rightful
place among the ranks of the finest horological achievements.
The Traditional Chinese Calendar watch by Blancpain is based on fundamental principles
established for millennia and profoundly rooted in Chinese tradition. On its fascinating dial,
the hours, minutes and the Gregorian calendar rub shoulders with the main indications of the
Chinese calendar: traditional double-hour indication, day, month with indication of leap months,
signs of the zodiac, as well as the five elements and the 10 celestial stems. The combination of
the latter with the 12 animals of the zodiac that represent the terrestrial branches follows the
sixty-year cycle that is central to Chinese culture. The moon phases, a key element in Blancpain
complete calendars, are also presented and play a particularly important role in this model,
given the link between the lunar cycle and traditional Chinese months.
Contrary to the Gregorian solar calendar which uses the solar day as the base unit, the
traditional Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning a solar calendar with the lunar
cycle (29.53059 days) as its base unit. Since a year comprising 12 lunar months (354.36707
days) is approximately 11 days too short compared with the tropical or solar year (365.242374
days), a leap month is sometimes added to preserve the match with the cycle of the seasons.
Given that each month of the Chinese calendar, including the leap months, begins on the day of
the new moon, its length is either 29 or 30 days. This means that when a year comprises a leap
month, this 13-month year will be longer than the tropical year. On the contrary, when there
is no leap month, the year of 12 lunar months is shorter than the tropical year. This distinctive
feature is the reason behind the variable date of the Chinese New Year.
The new self-winding Calibre 3638 powering this watch is endowed with a 7-day power
reserve, despite the presence of 434 parts including 39 jewels. Its complexity stems as much
from the number of indications to be displayed as from the irregular nature of their cycles. The
hours, minutes and the Gregorian calendar are presented in the centre. The counter at 12 o’clock
indicates the double-hour numerals and symbols (24-hour cycle); while the one at 3 o’clock
shows the elements and the celestial stems (10-year cycle). The month of the Chinese calendar
(12-month cycle), its date (30-day cycle) and the leap month indicator appear at 9 o’clock,
while a 12 o’clock aperture reveals the zodiac sign of the year in progress (12-year cycle); and
the moon phases are displayed at 6 o’clock.
PR international – Tel.: +41 (0)21 796 36 36 – Fax: +41 (0)21 796 36 37 – [email protected]
www.blancpain.com – www.blancpain.tv – www.facebook.com/blancpain
Press Lounge: http://press.blancpain.com/
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The 45 mm-diameter platinum case is fitted with a crown adorned with a cabochon-cut ruby
and comprises five integrated under-lug correctors serving to adjust the indications. It features
the classic signature features of the Villeret collection: its double-stepped shape; a grand feu
enamel dial with a chapter ring composed of gold appliques ,and indications transferred before
the firing process; the main hands shaped like slightly hollowed leaves; and the blued steel
Gregorian date pointer appearing in the traditional serpentine form. This 20-piece limitededition watch is equipped with a white gold oscillating weight, set with a Madagascar ruby and
engraved with a dragon to celebrate the year 2012.
The Traditional Chinese Calendar watch is also available in a non-limited red gold version.
PR international – Tel.: +41 (0)21 796 36 36 – Fax: +41 (0)21 796 36 37 – [email protected]
www.blancpain.com – www.blancpain.tv – www.facebook.com/blancpain
Press Lounge: http://press.blancpain.com/
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Collection Villeret
Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel
Réf. 00888-3431-55B
00888-3431-55B
VILLERET, Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel [indication de l’heure-double, des signes du zodiac, du quantième et des mois chinois.
Indications des 5 éléments, des troncs célestes et des mois intercalaires], quantième grégorien, phases de lune, masse oscillante
sertie d’un rubis de Madagascar, correcteurs sous cornes, cadran émail grand feu blanc, mouvement sécurisé, automatique
VILLERET, Traditional Chinese Calendar [double-hour indication, signs of the zodiac, date and month of the Chinese calendar.
Indication of the five elements, the celestial stems and the leap months], gregorian calendar, moon phases, oscillating weight
set with a Madgascar ruby, under-lug correctors, white grand feu enamel dial, secured movement, self-winding
VILLERET, Traditioneller Chinesischer Kalender [Anzeige der Doppelstunde, der Tierkreiszeichen, des Datums und Monats,
der 5 Elemente, der Himmelsstämme und eingeschobenen Monate], Gregorianischer Kalender, Mondphasen,
Schwingmasse besetzt mit einem Madagaskar-Rubin, Korrektoren unter den Anstößen, weißes Zifferblatt
mit Grand-Feu-Email, gesichertes Uhrwerk, Automatikaufzug
VILLERET, Calendario Cinese Tradizionale [indicazione della ora doppia, del segno zodiacale, della data e del mese del calendario
cinese, dei cinque elementi, dei tronchi celesti e mesi intercalari], calendario gregoriano, fasi lunari, massa oscillante con un rubino
del Madagascar incastonato, correttori sotto le anse, quadrante in smalto bianco grand feu, movimento protetto, automatico
VILLERET, Calendario Chino Tradicional [indicación dela hora-doble, del signo del zodiaco, dela fecha y del mes del calendario
chino, indicación de los cinco elementos, los diez troncos celestes y de los meses intercalados], calendario gregoriano,
fases de la luna, masa oscilante engastada con un rubí de Madagascar, correctores bajo asas, esfera esmalte grand feu
blanca, movimiento con sistema de seguridad, automático
CALIBRE / CALIBER / KALIBER / CALIBRO / CALIBRE
3638
Epaisseur
Thickness
Höhe
Spessore
Espesor
Diamètre
Diameter
Durchmesser
Diametro
Diámetro
Réserve de marche en heures
Power-reserve in hours
Gangreserve in Stunden
Riserva di marcia in ore
Reserva de marcha en horas
Rubis
Jewels
Rubine
Rubini
Rubíes
Composants
Components
Komponenten
Componenti
Componentes
Série limitée à
Limited edition of
Limitierte Edition von
Serie limitata a
Serie limitada a
8.30 mm
32.00 mm
168
39
434
20
BOÎTE / CASE / GEHÄUSE / CASSA / CAJA
Platine, masse oscillante et couronne sertis d’un rubis de Madagascar / Platinum, oscillating weight and crown
set with a Madgascar ruby / Platin, Schwingmasse und Krone besetzt mit einem Madagaskar-Rubin / Platino,
massa oscillante e corona con un rubino del Madagascar incastonato / Platino, masa oscilante y corona
engastada con un rubí de Madagascar
Epaisseur
Thickness
Höhe
Spessore
Espesor
15.00 mm
Diamètre
Diameter
Durchmesser
Diametro
Diámetro
Etanchéité
Water-resistance
Wasserdichtheit
Impermeabilità
Hermeticidad
Fond saphir
Sapphire crystal back
Saphirglasboden
Fondo zaffiro
Fondo de zafiro
Entrecornes
Interhorn space
Anstoßbreite
Ponte
Entre-asas
45.00 mm
3 bar*
Yes
23.00 mm
*Each bar corresponds to a 10-metre water column. Alligator leather straps - origin: Mississippiensis
Blancpain reserves the right to modify this model and its technical characteristics.
03.2012
Calibre 3638
Self-winding
7-day power reserve
3 mainspring barrels
Secured movement
434 components
00888-3631-55B
VILLERET, Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel [indication de l’heure-double, des signes du zodiac, du quantième et des mois chinois.
Indications des 5 éléments, des troncs célestes et des mois intercalaires], quantième grégorien, phases de lune, masse oscillante
sertie d’un rubis de Madagascar, correcteurs sous cornes, cadran émail grand feu blanc, mouvement sécurisé, automatique
VILLERET, Traditional Chinese Calendar [double-hour indication, signs of the zodiac, date and month of the Chinese calendar.
Indication of the five elements, the celestial stems and the leap months], gregorian calendar, moon phases, oscillating weight
set with a Madgascar ruby, under-lug correctors, white grand feu enamel dial, secured movement, self-winding
VILLERET, Traditioneller Chinesischer Kalender [Anzeige der Doppelstunde, der Tierkreiszeichen, des Datums und Monats,
der 5 Elemente, der Himmelsstämme und eingeschobenen Monate], Gregorianischer Kalender, Mondphasen,
Schwingmasse besetzt mit einem Madagaskar-Rubin, Korrektoren unter den Anstößen, weißes Zifferblatt
mit Grand-Feu-Email, gesichertes Uhrwerk, Automatikaufzug
VILLERET, Calendario Cinese Tradizionale [indicazione della ora doppia, del segno zodiacale, della data e del mese del
calendario cinese, dei cinque elementi, dei tronchi celesti e mesi intercalari], calendario gregoriano, fasi lunari, correttori
sotto le anse, quadrante in smalto bianco grand feu, movimento protetto, automatico
VILLERET, Calendario Chino Tradicional [indicación dela hora-doble, del signo del zodiaco, dela fecha y del mes del calendario chino,
indicación de los cinco elementos, los diez troncos celestes y de los meses intercalados], calendario gregoriano, fases de la luna,
correctores bajo asas, esfera esmalte grand feu blanca, movimiento con sistema de seguridad, automático
CALIBRE / CALIBER / KALIBER / CALIBRO / CALIBRE
3638
Epaisseur
Thickness
Höhe
Spessore
Espesor
Diamètre
Diameter
Durchmesser
Diametro
Diámetro
Réserve de marche en heures
Power-reserve in hours
Gangreserve in Stunden
Riserva di marcia in ore
Reserva de marcha en horas
Rubis
Jewels
Rubine
Rubini
Rubíes
Composants
Components
Komponenten
Componenti
Componentes
Série limitée à
Limited edition of
Limitierte Edition von
Serie limitata a
Serie limitada a
8.30 mm
32.00 mm
168
39
434
–
BOÎTE / CASE / GEHÄUSE / CASSA / CAJA
Or rouge / Red gold / Rotgold / Oro rosso / Oro rojo
Epaisseur
Thickness
Höhe
Spessore
Espesor
Diamètre
Diameter
Durchmesser
Diametro
Diámetro
Etanchéité
Water-resistance
Wasserdichtheit
Impermeabilità
Hermeticidad
Fond saphir
Sapphire crystal back
Saphirglasboden
Fondo zaffiro
Fondo de zafiro
Entrecornes
Interhorn space
Anstoßbreite
Ponte
Entre-asas
15.00 mm
45.00 mm
3 bar*
Yes
23.00 mm
*Each bar corresponds to a 10-metre water column. Alligator leather straps - origin: Mississippiensis
Blancpain reserves the right to modify this model and its technical characteristics.
03.2012