The Grande Double Sonnerie Represents Blancpain's Most Intricate Timepiece To Date

Blancpain introduces its most intricate timepiece, the Grande Double Sonnerie, following eight years of development.

Blancpain

The Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie is regarded as the most intricate timepiece in the brand's history, pioneering a new realm in grand complexities with its unparalleled amalgamation of functions and melody.

Conceived over eight years, the clock incorporates 21 patents and over 1,000 components, all meticulously created and produced in-house at the brand's Vallée de Joux factories. The resultant timepiece represents a horological innovation by incorporating a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater, alongside a flying tourbillon and a retrograde perpetual calendar.

The centerpiece features a grande sonnerie mechanism, which can play two selectable melodies: the renowned Westminster chime and an original tune by Eric Singer of KISS. In contrast to conventional repeaters, the watch autonomously chimes the hours and quarters, providing an enhanced musical experience that elevates the craftsmanship of chiming timepieces. The acoustic membrane embedded in the bezel improves sound quality, while four separate hammers generate notes E, G, F, and B with exceptional clarity. Five safety features are included into the movement to safeguard against improper handling, highlighting the watch's technical competence.

Blancpain

The Grande Double Sonnerie features a retrograde perpetual calendar and Blancpain’s distinctive flying tourbillon, enhanced with a silicon balance spring and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, in addition to its aural innovation. The movement is contained into a 47mm wearable casing, using innovative under-lug correctors that enable changes with little fingertip contact. The piece is further distinguished by artisanal finishing, with 26 bridges and a mainplate made of 18k gold, adorned with ancient techniques including anglage, perlage, and mirror polishing.

Each timepiece is housed in a distinctive hardwood case obtained from the Risoud forest, engineered to function as a natural soundboard that enhances the chime. For further information, visit Blancpain's official website and stores.