Thanks to the enormous generosity of Watches of Switzerland Cardiff and in the company of the very eminent manager of that very WOS branch, myself and a friend were met at Heathrow and flown to Geneva to spend two days in the luxurious hospitality of Blancpain. It must be said that nothing was spared by Blancpain and Watches of Switzerland in there efforts to ensure our utmost comfort and luxury during these two days. The whole trip was, to a WIS such as myself, the stuff of dreams . We were afforded an insight and in depth view, at all levels of what is surely one of the very greatest Swiss watchmaking houses. It has been an incredible honour to be welcomed into heart of their operation to witness the work they produce from a chunk of raw metal at the beginning to some of the finest watches, and movements for some of the greatest names in the history of horology, among which, Blancpain themselves certainly figure at the top.
We left Heathrow in the company of the Blancpain director for UK, himself a great watch enthusiast and collector and joined by 3 other watch collectors one of whom showed me the very finest WG, micro Rotor fully skeletonized Patek I have ever seen.
The team of 7 was then joined by Mathieu Rochat of Blancpain's marketing dept, who became our very able guide for the whole trip.
We landed at Geneva airport at about midday and were delivered without delay to the heart of the Vallee de joux the crucible of the fine art of horology.
Upon this drive we pass at the side of the small village roads, so many names that it is not possible to mention them all. They include AP, Breguet , Dubois Depraz, PP and many many more.
We arrive at the Hotel des Horologers a delightful small hotel, dedicated in its ethos and nomenclature to the great history of the Valley. Straight into a wonderful gourmet lunch of the very finest quality. Not surprising, as Blancpain have long been associated with fine cuisine. The lunch was very enjoyable and we were able to sample some of the finer Swiss wines.
After lunch we were taken to one of the two Blancpain manufacture facilities. This first facility is what was previously the home of Frederic Piguet and continues to create and supply some of the greatest movements to countless great names in watchmaking. Due to the very nature of the work carried out at this facility, for so many other names, it was of course understandably, not permitted to take any photographs within this facility.
The tour of what I will always regard in my mind as the FP factory was a huge landmark in my interest in horology. The extent to which this is a very real and complete manufacture, which turns bare chunks of metal into such fine chronometers, with so little outsourcing, is quite outstanding. There is within the facility a whole department dedicated to designing and producing all of the tooling with which to complete their work. There is even a system of archiving tool sets, which have been used for past movements, towards the possibility that at some time these may be made again.
For me, someone who works in manufacture, and is used to a policy of being constantly bound to cost as the master of all that occurs, it is a delight to see first hand a manufacturing process where quality is the absolute master above all else. There is nothing that is ever allowed to compromise quality at Blancpain. This was evident at the beginning of the tour, and was further reinforced by the end. I have to say that I was delighted to see in action, on a fairly grand scale (750 staff) watchmaking at its finest. Not a bunch of CNC machines (there is only one small one in the whole facility, doing a few little jobs) but some highly skilled workers making watches and movements in the traditional way, with hand tools, lathes, files and drills. Producing a magical train of bridges and wheels in the way it has been done throughout history, in the Vallee de Joux.
The first evening we were to be treated to a country cheese fondue. A great tradition in this region. As it is Blancpain's policy to offer nothing if it isn't the very best, we were warned that to enjoy the very best of this, would mean some effort on our part. Later we realised that this effort would involve us donning each a pair of snow shoes and a head light, for a trek a pieds, up a mountain. This, possibly for the Swiss, short trek up a mountain in pitch dark on snow shoes, seemed like 30 miles to me, in honesty, it probably was only a mile or so. Suffice to say, it was great when it was over and the wonderful evening of traditional fondue was probably all the better for the effort.
The next day we were treated to a full visit to Blancpain's world of Haute Horology. This is where the great complications are made by some of the worlds greatest watchmakers . We were able to see first hand the creation of such pieces as the tourbillons and minute repeaters . For this tour we were obliged to don white coats and shoe covers as such work is carried out in a very controlled atmosphere. I cannot begin to describe the incredible dedication and discipline that goes into the creation of such pieces, I am still a few years later suffering from amazement overload.
We were able to see at work some of the worlds finest engravers ( and no exaggeration here, a member of the team of engravers, actually holds such a title )creating bespoke work for some of Blancpains more exacting clients.
Funnily not only their most exacting clients, but in some cases some of their strangest clients. Some of the rotor designs and Automaton work, going into these watches could only be described as Hardcore pornography. Brings a whole new meaning to the term watch porn.
Ok enough words some photos.
Great watchmakers at work
Hand engraving through a Microscope, with hand cutting tools.
This lady won fist prize in a worldwide engraving competition and produced the work in the photo below.
Explanations of the fine workings using a microscope which produces the image of the working movement on screen.
Preparation for a mountain trek
Inspecting the fruits of Blancpain's finest work
Once again a big thank you to Watches of Switzerland Cardiff and Blancpain for being such generous , knowledgeable, and attentive hosts.
Such are the great things that can happen if you shop in the right place
We left Heathrow in the company of the Blancpain director for UK, himself a great watch enthusiast and collector and joined by 3 other watch collectors one of whom showed me the very finest WG, micro Rotor fully skeletonized Patek I have ever seen.
The team of 7 was then joined by Mathieu Rochat of Blancpain's marketing dept, who became our very able guide for the whole trip.
We landed at Geneva airport at about midday and were delivered without delay to the heart of the Vallee de joux the crucible of the fine art of horology.
Upon this drive we pass at the side of the small village roads, so many names that it is not possible to mention them all. They include AP, Breguet , Dubois Depraz, PP and many many more.
We arrive at the Hotel des Horologers a delightful small hotel, dedicated in its ethos and nomenclature to the great history of the Valley. Straight into a wonderful gourmet lunch of the very finest quality. Not surprising, as Blancpain have long been associated with fine cuisine. The lunch was very enjoyable and we were able to sample some of the finer Swiss wines.
After lunch we were taken to one of the two Blancpain manufacture facilities. This first facility is what was previously the home of Frederic Piguet and continues to create and supply some of the greatest movements to countless great names in watchmaking. Due to the very nature of the work carried out at this facility, for so many other names, it was of course understandably, not permitted to take any photographs within this facility.
The tour of what I will always regard in my mind as the FP factory was a huge landmark in my interest in horology. The extent to which this is a very real and complete manufacture, which turns bare chunks of metal into such fine chronometers, with so little outsourcing, is quite outstanding. There is within the facility a whole department dedicated to designing and producing all of the tooling with which to complete their work. There is even a system of archiving tool sets, which have been used for past movements, towards the possibility that at some time these may be made again.
For me, someone who works in manufacture, and is used to a policy of being constantly bound to cost as the master of all that occurs, it is a delight to see first hand a manufacturing process where quality is the absolute master above all else. There is nothing that is ever allowed to compromise quality at Blancpain. This was evident at the beginning of the tour, and was further reinforced by the end. I have to say that I was delighted to see in action, on a fairly grand scale (750 staff) watchmaking at its finest. Not a bunch of CNC machines (there is only one small one in the whole facility, doing a few little jobs) but some highly skilled workers making watches and movements in the traditional way, with hand tools, lathes, files and drills. Producing a magical train of bridges and wheels in the way it has been done throughout history, in the Vallee de Joux.
The first evening we were to be treated to a country cheese fondue. A great tradition in this region. As it is Blancpain's policy to offer nothing if it isn't the very best, we were warned that to enjoy the very best of this, would mean some effort on our part. Later we realised that this effort would involve us donning each a pair of snow shoes and a head light, for a trek a pieds, up a mountain. This, possibly for the Swiss, short trek up a mountain in pitch dark on snow shoes, seemed like 30 miles to me, in honesty, it probably was only a mile or so. Suffice to say, it was great when it was over and the wonderful evening of traditional fondue was probably all the better for the effort.
The next day we were treated to a full visit to Blancpain's world of Haute Horology. This is where the great complications are made by some of the worlds greatest watchmakers . We were able to see first hand the creation of such pieces as the tourbillons and minute repeaters . For this tour we were obliged to don white coats and shoe covers as such work is carried out in a very controlled atmosphere. I cannot begin to describe the incredible dedication and discipline that goes into the creation of such pieces, I am still a few years later suffering from amazement overload.
We were able to see at work some of the worlds finest engravers ( and no exaggeration here, a member of the team of engravers, actually holds such a title )creating bespoke work for some of Blancpains more exacting clients.
Funnily not only their most exacting clients, but in some cases some of their strangest clients. Some of the rotor designs and Automaton work, going into these watches could only be described as Hardcore pornography. Brings a whole new meaning to the term watch porn.
Ok enough words some photos.
Great watchmakers at work
Hand engraving through a Microscope, with hand cutting tools.
This lady won fist prize in a worldwide engraving competition and produced the work in the photo below.
Explanations of the fine workings using a microscope which produces the image of the working movement on screen.
Preparation for a mountain trek
Inspecting the fruits of Blancpain's finest work
Once again a big thank you to Watches of Switzerland Cardiff and Blancpain for being such generous , knowledgeable, and attentive hosts.
Such are the great things that can happen if you shop in the right place
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