We were invited to Le Brassus to see the unveiling of the latest, ultra complicated watch from Blancpain. Presenting our hands-on impressions and photographs and video of the new Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie.
New and Reviewed: Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie
The Blancpain Grand Double Sonnerie has a retail price starting at CHF 1,700,000. Price is inclusive of Swiss tax. Customisation is possible within some boundaries. Limited production of only 2 watches a year.
The main features
This novelty is one more for the laurels in Blancpain’s court. Way back in 1991, Blancpain presented the Grande Complication 1735. This timepiece featured a one-minute tourbillon regulator, a perpetual calendar with moon phases and moon age, a co-axial split seconds chronograph and a minute repeater activated by the slide on the band, and was the first volley fired in the war of the complication cocktail. IWC responded with Günter Blümlein releasing the Grand Complication with perpetual calendar, chronograph, minute repeater, and later upping the ante with the Il Diestrero, which added a tourbillon and a split seconds mechanism to the chronograph.
So it is with some interest, perhaps picking up from its past, that Blancpain released this new watch. Now under the watchful eye of Marc Hayek, the novelty has the world premiere of being the first grande sonnerie with two selectable melodies, chosen chosen via a pusher on the case — the classic four-note Westminster chime and an original Blancpain melody composed by musician Eric Singer. Ultra-exclusive among wristwatch grande sonneries, it plays all four quarters on the hour, offering an extended performance.
Coupled to this double sonnerie system is a brand new retrograde perpetual calendar, and a flying tourbillon. This completes the complication count, making this 8 year project encompassing 1,200 technical drawings, 21 patents developed during development (13 integrated into the final construction of the movement), 1,053 components for the movement, out of a total of 1,116 components, all entirely designed, produced, assembled, and decorated in-house.
With this backdrop, we examine the watch.
The case, dial and hands
The case is a classical round case, with soldered lugs. The two first watches are released in red gold, our review sample, or in white gold. The red gold model offers some contrast between the markings of the perpetual calendar rendered in red gold over the visible striking mechanism through the open worked dial.
The case is 47mm, and wears perhaps a bit smaller than the dimension might suggest. It is comfortable on my 7.5″ flat wrist.
The dial is open-worked, with the perpetual calendar elements on sub-dials which are red gold, matching the case. The date is retrograde, and shown by the signature curved Blancpain hand, also in red gold. The other calendar indications are engraved on sub-dials for the month and day of the week. The tourbillon itself is showcased in its own round frame in red gold.
A note about the perpetual calendar. While this is now a di rigeur complication in the Blancpain stables, this design presents some additional complications. The design has to be created from scratch as the calendar needs to be totally integrated into the base movement, and not a module. Perpetual calendar modules are frequently used, as development time is non-existent. But in a watch like the Grande Double Sonnerie, this is inconsistent with what a sonnerie is supposed to be. We would want to see the workings of the striking mechanism. But the calendar plate in a module will block and cover the view of the sonnerie. Thus, a new calendar system needed to be constructed. The Blancpain under-the lug correctors are retained from their other QP watches, and allows for easy adjustments with just a fingertip, not requiring any tools. However, because of the sounding membrane of the Grande Souble Sonnerie, the correctors, with their return springs needed to be redesigned, and are now integrated directly into the movement.
The movement
The movement is a brand new creation by the team at Blancpain. The Caliber 15GSQ is executed in red gold bridges and plates. This warm tone contrasts nicely with the barrel covers, the transmission wheels and the striking works of the watch.
Two barrels power the watch. One driving the tourbillon escapement train, and the other is dedicated to power the grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie and the on-demand minute repeater.
The racks carrying the chimes are more complicated than a regular repeater or Grande Sonnerie. First, the four hammers, capable of 4 tones have to be driven. This is the basis of a Westminister chime repeater, striking the four tones (E, G, F, B) like Big Ben (the bell) at the Palace of Westminister. But in the Blancpain Grand Double Sonnerie, it gets even more complicated. Every rack is doubled, each carrying a different melody. The Westminister melody, and the new Blancpain melody. The Blancpain melody is composed by none other than Eric Singer of KISS. And as this is a melody, there is no flexibility in pitch, and each note must be perfect when played in relation to each other.
The tempo also needed to be perfect. The human ear can detect irregularities as fine as a tenth of a second when listening to a melody. To regulate this tempo, a patented magnetic regulator is used. This is completely silent unlike the buzzing we hear in classical striking watches.
The tourbillon carries the classical Blancpain design as its cage. As it is a flying design, the entire black polished cage and screws are open to view. The traditional Blancpain balance beats at 21,600 bph, but this tourbillon in the Grand Double Sonnerie runs at 28,800, with a balance spiral in silicon. Thus unaffected by the magnetics uses in the sonnerie’s regulators.
Movement finishing is judged to be exceptional. As is expected for a watch which is set at this price level, and aspiration. The haute horlogerie elements are executed at the top top level, and examining the watch during our admittedly shortish hour or so with the red gold model, we are satisfied that this is as good as it gets.
The sound
We judge the sound to be excellent. Each strike is precise. Very clean, very clear tones. The four tones which make out the quarters are particularly beautiful, and the ability to choose between the classical Westminister chime or the Eric Singer composed Blancpain melody is the icing in the cake. These are four notes, produced by four distinct hammers. The notes are E, G, F, B and sounds through the gongs which are directly attached to a membrane integrated into the bezel. The regulator, which buzzes in most classical repeaters is absent. This is thanks to the magnetic regulator, a system which the group has developed and used in Breguet watches, but now applied on this new Grand Double Sonnerie. Also, when there are no quarters, or less than the full 3 quarters, the mechanism skips the pause, and goes directly to the minutes. Listen for yourself.
But the watch does not stop there. Safety mechanisms are in place to prevent damage from incorrect handling. Like double pushing the on-demand slider. Or demanding a strike mid-strike.
Concluding thoughts
This is a very impressive showing by Blancpain. The watch not only surpasses the requisite beauty requirements, but as a striking watch, the sound of the strikes are absolutely stunning. The ability to choose between two melodies is the icing on the cake. And as explained, the addition of the perpetual calendar is a useful complication. The tourbillon may be seen as an additional complication which is unnecessary, but a regulator of some sort is needed for the watch to keep time, so why not embellish it a little with a tourbillon. Afterall, the mesmerising device is always a joy to look at.
The price point is the price point. At these elevated levels, it is no longer about the number. Only two pieces are produced a year, due to the limitation that only two watchmakers are qualified to fully assemble the watch, and thus it can be inferred that it actually take a whole year to construct one. This is, and will remain to be a rare bird.
BLANCPAIN GRANDE DOUBLE SONNERIE specifications
REF. 15GSQ 1513 55B / 15GSQ 3613 55B
MOVEMENT Caliber 15GSQ * Functions Hours, minutes, grande sonnerie with 2 melodies (Westminster and Blancpain), petite sonnerie, minute repeater, 4Hz flying tourbillon with silicon balance spring, perpetual calendar (day, month, leap year, retrograde date), power reserve indicators for both the movement and the chiming mechanism. * Winding Manual winding in both directions * Power Reserve 96 hours * Striking power reserve 12 hours in Grande Sonnerie mode * Dimensions 35,80 x 8,50 mm * Frequency 4 Hz * Jewels 67 * Number of components 1053 for the movement including jewels (out of a total of 1,116 components)
CASE Red or white gold * Crystal and Case Back Sapphire crystal Water Resistance 1 ATM / 10 m * Diameter 47,00 mm * Thickness 14,50 mm * Lug to lug 54.60 mm * Lug width 23.00 mm
DIAL Main material 5N gold
INDEXES Sunray black rhodium, with polished black gold indexes * Day and month subdials 5N gold, circular satin finish * Date display 5N gold, circular satin finish with black numeral * Cabochons 5N gold
HANDS Hours and minutes Leaf-shaped hands in blackened gold * Subdial hands Baton-style in blackened gold * Index Polished blackened gold
STRAP Alligator leather, color of choice * Clasp Folding clasp in gold
LIMITED EDITION Production limited to 2 timepieces a year
