The story behind this Blancpain Villeret
The Villeret collection takes its name from the village in the Jura where Jehan-Jacques Blancpain founded the manufacture in 1735. This range marks a return to the roots of traditional mechanical watchmaking. During the 1980s, the brand decided to continue producing mechanical watches in the face of the rise of quartz. Reference 0096-1418-58 is part of this approach, featuring a understated design. Its distinctive feature is the double-grooved bezel, an architectural signature designed to catch the light in a subtle way. This ladies’ model meets the need to combine precision mechanics with a discreet presence on the wrist.
Case, movement and strap of this Villeret
The case, crafted from 18-carat yellow gold, has a diameter of 26 mm. Its straight, stepped lugs extend the line of the double-beaded bezel. The matt opaline white dial offers clear readability, punctuated by applied Roman numerals in yellow gold. The leaf-shaped hands are skeletonised to lighten the visual effect and allow the dial’s background to breathe. A date window displays the date at 3 o’clock. The watch is powered by a Blancpain self-winding mechanical movement offering approximately 40 hours of power reserve. It drives the date change and the central seconds hand. The watch comes with a new brown leather strap featuring a scale pattern, finished with light-coloured topstitching and fastened with a yellow gold pin buckle.
Why this Blancpain watch
This piece offers the opportunity to acquire a solid gold watch with a design steeped in watchmaking history. Yellow gold is once again attracting significant interest for its warm and classic appearance. This design strikes a technical and aesthetic balance between the use of a precious metal and the precision of a Swiss automatic calibre, all within modest proportions.
Contents and condition
The watch is supplied with a ‘The Swiss Collector’ presentation box and its original certificate of authenticity dated 2004. The yellow gold case shows slight micro-scratches, which are normal for a pre-owned watch. The case retains its geometric integrity with no deep dents on the edges. Polishing can be carried out on request to restore the metal to its original condition. Wearing comfort is ensured by a brand-new leather strap.
Warranty and delivery
The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this timepiece. We include a 24-month warranty covering the proper functioning of the movement. We accept returns within 10 days in accordance with our terms and conditions. As Switzerland’s leading second-hand retailer, backed by the largest network of shops, we offer online booking for a fitting and collection in-store, or fully secure international delivery.
* Good condition – Watch has been previously worn. Some signs of wear (micro-scratches, wear marks, etc.). Fully functional and tested by our partner watchmakers.
