Blancpain Villeret Split Second Chronograph 1186 Platinum
Following the sale of the Rayville-Blancpain name to Jacques Piguet and Jean Claude Biver in 1983, Blancpain began a journey from near-bankruptcy to acting as one of the main catalysts that saved Swiss watchmaking. Key to this success was Blancpain’s steadfast dedication to mechanical watches with thin complicated movements, classical designs, and extremely luxurious craftsmanship. As part of their celebration of these three tenets, Blancpain launched the Platinum Masterpiece Collection in the early 1990s. This was a collection of six different Villeret models, each limited to 99 pieces that shared platinum 34mm constructions, white dials, and incredibly impressive mechanical movements that each housed a different complication. Offered here, we have the split-second chronograph variant, the ref. 1186, powered by its eponymous automatic spit-second chronograph movement, the cal. 1186. Launched in 1988, the cal. 1186 was Blancpain’s first foray into the world of rattrapante chronograph movements, and it was even the very first automatic split-second chronograph movement ever, which earned it its revered place within Blancpain’s history and thus deserving of a spot in the Platinum Masterpiece Collection. Incredibly thin, the cal. 1186 allows the ref. 1186 to stand just 6.75mm – an incredible achievement considering its complexity and craftsmanship. Fitted with a bright white dial, the ref. 1186's aesthetic is that of clean elegance thanks to its refined inscriptions and appealing Roman numerals. While coming in at a rather svelte 34mm in diameter, the ref. 1186's platinum case still contains an impressive heft on the wrist with a rich vintage flair thanks to its stepped bezel, pump pushers and straight lugs. This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
