While Blancpain initially fell at the hands of the Quartz Crisis, their infamous revival by industry legend Jean-Claude Biver in 1983 has turned the company from a fragment of their former selves into perhaps one of the most prestigious watchmakers in all of Switzerland. While models like the Villeret and Fifty Fathoms are their hero products, Blancpain's traditionalist roots show through best when they get to flex their horological muscles and create timepieces that harken back to the golden era of fine watchmaking.
Introduced in the 2000s, the Le Brassus Complete Calendar GMT Ref. 4276-3642-55B is a perfect reminder of just how exquisite Blancpain's timepieces are. Styled like the iconic annual calendars from yesteryear, the Le Brassus Complete Calendar GMT features a silver opaline dial with a red crescent-tipped pointer date arrow, a red arrow-tipped GMT hand, an old-time moon phase at 6 o'clock, and the day and month displayed in apertures found at 12 o'clock.
Constructed of 18kt rose gold, this 42mm timepiece offers a rather impressive 50m water resistance, ensuring its Blancpain automatic cal. 67A6 movement is safe from the elements. Beautifully polished throughout, the Le Brassus Complete Calendar GMT's case is as stunning as it is complicated. Thanks to its stepped bezel, the timepiece's complex case provides a visual depth that fits its complicated movement perfectly.
Featuring 100 hours of power reserve alongside its plethora of complications, an impressive shock-resistance system, and a silicon hairspring, it is a testament to Blancpain's ingenuity that the Le Brassus Complete Calendar GMT's case is only 13.2mm thick. A wonderfully designed timepiece, with an incredible movement inside of a stunning case, the Le Brassus Complete Calendar GMT is an excellent reminder of just how fantastic Blancpain has been since their founding all those years ago in 1735.
