La plus ancienne marque d'horlogerie suisse

September 10, 2025

The oldest Swiss watch brand

Swiss watchmaking has been a symbol of precision, reliability and prestige. Each maison watchmaking has contributed to this heritage, as is the case with Blancpain, officially recognized as the oldest Swiss watch brand still in operation, founded in 1735.

Blancpain: the birth of a legend

The history of Blancpain officially begins in 1735, when Jehan-Jacques Blancpain registers as a watchmaker in the official register of the commune of Villeret, in the Swiss Jura. This gesture is considered as the founding act of the oldest watch brand still in operation today, although it is likely that Jehan-Jacques practiced the art of watchmaking a few years before this date. Installed on the upper floor of his maison family business, it designs and assembles mechanical watches using local artisanal know-how, which combines robustness and precision.

In the 18th century, the Blancpain family business was part of the tradition of watchmaking workshops in the Bernese Jura, where men and women worked together to manufacture components, as a family entity. The pieces produced bore the engraved name "Blancpain and Sons", testifying to the involvement of successive generationsFrom the outset, the family sought to develop its sales beyond Swiss borders, with David-Louis Blancpain reaching the major European economic centers to promote the brand.

The Napoleonic Wars temporarily delayed the progress of the maison, but the Blancpain family maintained production despite the constraints. From 1815, Frédéric-Louis Blancpain, great-grandson of the founder, initiated a major modernization of the workshop : he notably modified the design of the watch escapement, replaced by a more efficient cylinder escapement, and developed extra-flat models, meeting a growing demand for thin and elegant watches.

Blancpain: continuous evolution and sustainability built on tradition and innovation

In the 19th century, under the direction of Frédéric-Emile Blancpain, the maison underwent a phase of modernization. It introduced more efficient manufacturing processes, while maintaining high levels of craftsmanship. In the late 1920s, under the direction of Betty Fiechter - first woman to head a Swiss watch manufacturer - and his partner André Léal, the company diversified its models and adapted to the industrial era.

The 1970s marked a critical period with the quartz crisis which disrupted Swiss watchmaking. While many manufacturers were succumbing to the loss of competitiveness of mechanical watches in the face of cheap electronic models, Blancpain took a radical decision: She refused any incursion into quartz and chose to remain faithful to traditional mechanics. This bold choice, embodied by Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet who took over the brand in 1983, contributed to the renaissance of fine mechanical watchmaking. The slogan "Since 1735, there has never been a quartz watch at Blancpain. And there never will be. becomes a manifesto of his identity.

Today integrated into the Swatch Group, Blancpain continues on this line: preserve its heritage while being part of technical and aesthetic innovation.

Blancpain: iconic models and a perpetual quest for watchmaking innovation

One of the most significant models in the history of Blancpain remains the Fifty Fathoms, launched in 1953. Developed in collaboration with French combat swimmers, it is considered to be the first true modern diver's watch, designed with water resistance, readability and robustness in mind. This model was used by naval forces and remains today an essential reference in the world of diving watches.

Among the iconic watches, the Ladybird, launched in 1956, revolutionized women's watchmaking by incorporating the smallest round mechanical movement ever made at the time. Designed specifically for women, The Ladybird combines technical miniaturization and aesthetic refinement. This watch embodies Blancpain's commitment to women's watchmaking excellence, an area in which the brand is pioneer since the 1930s.

Air Command is another legendary model, originally intended for military pilots in the 1950s. This chronograph watch stands out for its functional and sporty design, its precision and robustness. After a period of rarity, the Air Command was recently reissued, demonstrating the brand's respect for its heritage while reinterpreting it for lovers of contemporary watchmaking.

In addition, the collection Villeret honors the Swiss watchmaking tradition with watches with classic lines, slim cases and refined dials. It underlines Blancpain's commitment to a elegant and timeless design. The factory also stands out in the creation of sophisticated complications : perpetual calendars, carousels, tourbillons or Chinese calendar watches illustrate the technical know-how of the maison.