Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie Opens a New Frontier in Grand Complications
Two selectable melodies, a flying tourbillon and a retrograde perpetual calendar define Blancpain’s most complex wristwatch to date.
PRESS RELEASE | 577 WORDS | 4 MINUTE READ
Photo Courtesy: Blancpain’s
Blancpain’s Grande Double Sonnerie
Blancpain’s Grande Double Sonnerie combines three of traditional watchmaking’s most demanding complications: a grande sonnerie with two selectable melodies, a flying tourbillon, and a retrograde perpetual calendar. The result is a new grand complication developed over eight years, with 21 patents created during development and 13 incorporated into the final movement.
Two Melodies, Four Notes
The Grande Double Sonnerie moves beyond the conventional two-note approach to chiming watches.
Four notes — E, G, F and B — are produced by four dedicated hammers. A pusher on the case allows the wearer to select between the classic Westminster chime and an original melody composed by musician Eric Singer.
The grande sonnerie sounds the time automatically, including the quarters, while the watch also incorporates petite sonnerie and minute repeater functions.
A patented magnetic regulator controls the tempo silently, while Blancpain’s watchmakers precisely tune the sounding mechanism using laser measurement and microscopic adjustments.
The Flying Tourbillon
Blancpain’s flying tourbillon, first introduced by the maison in 1989, returns in an updated form.
For the Grande Double Sonnerie, the tourbillon operates at 4 Hz and incorporates a silicon balance spring. The construction provides an unobstructed view of the regulating organ while adding another layer of technical complexity to the movement.
A Retrograde Perpetual Calendar
The perpetual calendar has been completely reworked for the Grande Double Sonnerie.
Rather than using a separate calendar plate that could obstruct the open movement architecture, Blancpain integrates the calendar directly into the movement.
The date is displayed along the left perimeter, while the day, month and leap year indications occupy two subdials on the right. Blancpain’s under-lug correctors have also been redesigned and integrated into the movement for tool-free adjustment.
1,053 Components, Developed In-House
At the heart of the watch is Blancpain Calibre 15GSQ.
The manually wound movement contains 1,053 components, within a total of 1,116 components for the complete watch. It provides a 96-hour power reserve, with a separate 12-hour reserve for the grande sonnerie mode.
The movement incorporates 67 jewels and operates at 4 Hz.
Traditional Finishing
The movement’s mainplate and 26 bridges are crafted in 18 ct gold and finished by hand at Blancpain’s workshop in Le Brassus.
Finishing includes anglage, mirror polishing, perlage, diamond milling and straight graining, with 135 interior angles executed by hand.
The attention to finishing extends to components that remain hidden once the watch is assembled.
A 47mm Case for a Grand Complication
Despite its technical complexity, Blancpain has designed the Grande Double Sonnerie as a wearable wristwatch.
The case measures 47mm in diameter, 54.6mm lug-to-lug and 14.5mm thick. It is offered in red or white gold, with a sapphire crystal and case back and is water-resistant to 10 metres.
The watch is paired with an alligator leather strap and a gold folding clasp.
A New Expression of Sounding Time
With its dual melodies, integrated retrograde perpetual calendar and flying tourbillon, the Grande Double Sonnerie places sound at the centre of a highly complex mechanical architecture.
Blancpain combines traditional hand-finishing with modern engineering across a movement developed entirely in-house, positioning the Grande Double Sonnerie as a distinct expression of the maison’s approach to grand complications.
Availability
The Grande Double Sonnerie by Blancpain is available through the official website.
For further information, visit: https://www.blancpain.com/
