Blancpain, founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain in Villeret, Switzerland, is the world’s oldest watch brand, renowned for its commitment to traditional Swiss craftsmanship and innovation. The company played a key role in advancing mechanical watchmaking, refusing to produce quartz watches during the quartz crisis, which nearly led to its demise before being revived in the 1980s by Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet. Blancpain is best known for pioneering the modern dive watch with the Fifty Fathoms in 1953, as well as its elegant Villeret collection, intricate Métiers d’Art series, and complex grand complications.
Now part of the Swatch Group, Blancpain continues to uphold its legacy of producing only mechanical watches, emphasizing heritage, precision, and artistic craftsmanship.