-
Model #6680F-3631-55B $23,485.00 (16% off)$27,712.00Box & Paper -
Model #6653-1542-55B $18,785.00 (19% off)$22,918.00Box & Paper -
Model #6640-1127-55B $20,740.00 (16% off)$24,681.00Box & Paper
The Oldest Watchmaking Name in the World
Blancpain was founded in 1735 in the Vallée de Joux, making it the oldest watch brand in continuous existence. The Villeret collection is named after the village in Switzerland's Le Chenit district where the manufacture is based, and it carries the full weight of that history. When Blancpain was revived in 1983 under Jean-Claude Biver, it came back with a clear statement of intent: no quartz movements, ever, and no compromise on finishing. The Villeret became the expression of that promise - round cases, classical proportions, and an in-house movement programme that has produced some of the most technically accomplished complications in the industry.
What distinguishes the Villeret from most classical dress watch collections is the combination of scale and depth. The cases sit at 38-42mm - large enough for modern wrists but not so large as to lose the collection's sense of restraint - and the movements are built with the kind of finishing that rewards genuine examination. The double stepped case profile and the distinctive Villeret lugs give every reference an immediately recognisable silhouette. Grand Feu enamel dials appear across several references, requiring skilled craftspeople working in a medium that hasn’t fundamentally changed since the 18th century. Exhibition casebacks are standard on the complicated references, and what you see through them is finishing of the highest order - Blancpain’s movement department has been doing this since before most other houses existed.
Current Villeret Collection Highlights
The Villeret is the collection Blancpain built for collectors who take classical watchmaking seriously. It doesn’t shout - the design language is deliberately understated, and the references reward the kind of attention most casual observers won’t give them. Its following is specialist and loyal, and the secondary market reflects that: complete examples in original condition hold their value in a way that broadly tracks the quality of the movement inside.
By Complication Level
The entry point into Villeret is the time-only, date, and moonphase range - clean, slim, and well-proportioned for wrists between 6.0 and 7.5 inches. Some of the most satisfying dials in the range are here, including the three-hand references with enamel dials and the moonphase models with blued-steel hands. Key references include:
- BP 6651 (2000s-present) - Classic Villeret three-hand with date, defining the collection's proportions and dial language.
- BP 6654 (2000s-present) - Villeret Complete Calendar with moonphase, day, date, and month in an integrated display.
- BP 6223 (2000s-2010s) - Ultra-slim Villeret automatic in 38mm, showcasing Blancpain’s Calibre 1150 in an exceptionally thin profile.
- BP 6606 (2010s-present) - Villeret Quantieme Complet with Grande Date and moonphase, combining legibility with traditional aesthetics.
- BP 6107 (2010s-present) - Villeret Ultraplate, one of the slimmest self-winding watches produced, at under 6mm case thickness.
Grand Complication Variations
The grand complication references are where the Villeret establishes its position among the most technically serious collections in watchmaking. Perpetual calendars, tourbillons, minute repeaters, and equation of time complications - all developed entirely in-house at Le Chenit. These are rare pieces, built in small numbers, with movement architecture that takes years to master. Available references include:
- BP 6659 (2010s-present) - Villeret Tourbillon Carrousel, the first watch to combine both a tourbillon and a carrousel in a single movement.
- BP 5025 (1990s-2000s) - Classic Villeret perpetual calendar with moonphase, day, date, and month in Blancpain’s iconic round case.
- BP 6654A (2000s-2010s) - Villeret perpetual calendar with Grande Date and split seconds chronograph, combining precision and complication depth.
- BP 6658 (2010s-present) - Villeret Equation du Temps Marchante with real-time equation of time display and perpetual calendar.
- BP 9231 (2000s-2010s) - Villeret 1735 Grande Complication, Blancpain’s most complex watch, combining six complications including tourbillon, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar.
The Villeret is precious metals only - no steel, no ceramic, no titanium. Rose gold is the most common choice and suits the collection well; the warmth of the metal against the silvered or enamel dials produces a combination that’s been the signature of classical dress watchmaking for well over a century. White gold offers the same proportions in a cooler, more contemporary register, and works particularly well with the blued-steel hand configurations. Yellow gold carries the strongest connection to Blancpain’s historical identity and suits the most classically executed references in the range. Platinum is reserved for the most complex grand complication references - the 1735 Grande Complication, the Tourbillon Carrousel, and the top-tier perpetual calendar editions - and represents the most finished execution of any given reference.
Technical Specifications
|
Feature |
Villeret Simple Models |
Villeret Grand Complications |
|
Key References |
6651, 6654, 6223, 6606, 6107 |
6659, 5025, 6654A, 6658, 9231 |
|
Case Diameter |
38mm-40mm |
40mm-42mm |
|
Case Thickness |
7-10mm |
10-14mm |
|
Movement |
Calibre 13R0, 1150, 1151, 1335 |
Calibre 3638, 242, 3760, 6639 |
|
Power Reserve |
40-72 hours |
72-100 hours |
|
Accuracy |
-2/+4 seconds/day |
-2/+4 seconds/day |
|
Water Resistance |
30m (100ft) |
30m (100ft) |
|
Strap |
Alligator leather |
Alligator leather |
|
Materials |
18k gold, platinum |
18k gold, platinum |
|
Weight |
55-80g |
75-110g |
|
Dial Style |
Classical with applied markers, moonphase |
Multi-register, Grand Feu enamel |
|
Case Style |
Round with elongated lugs |
Round with elongated lugs |
|
Complications |
Time, date, moonphase, small seconds |
Perpetual calendar, tourbillon, equation of time, minute repeater |
|
Ideal Wrist |
6.0-7.5 inches |
6.5-8.0 inches |
Investment & Value
The Villeret occupies a position in the pre-owned market that rewards specialist knowledge. It’s a collection built by the oldest watchmaking house in the world, with an in-house movement programme of genuine depth, and production numbers that have always been low. References worth particular attention:
Villeret Models with Strongest Appreciation:
- Villeret 1735 Grande Complication references in gold or platinum with original documentation
- Tourbillon Carrousel references - the first watch to combine both complications in a single movement
- Early 1990s perpetual calendar references in original condition with complete set
- Grand Feu enamel dial references across both simple and complicated models
Pre-owned Villeret references from 2005 to 2015 often represent strong value - a period covering some of the most accomplished in-house calibres Blancpain has produced, at prices that sit well below equivalent new production. We offer:
- Authenticated in-house movements verified against Blancpain records
- Below retail pricing on discontinued complicated references
- Certified pieces in excellent condition with original alligator straps and full documentation
- Comprehensive warranty with movement coverage on all certified pre-owned models
Villeret values hold well for the classical dress watch category, supported by Blancpain’s independent manufacture status, genuinely low production volumes, and a design identity that has remained consistent across four decades of the modern era. The 1735 Grande Complication and the Tourbillon Carrousel have both attracted sustained serious collector interest. Complete examples in original condition - particularly those with Grand Feu enamel dials or matching boxes and papers - consistently perform better at resale than stripped examples, as the collector base for this collection places real weight on provenance.
Master Luxury Advantage
Every pre-owned Villeret listed on our site is fully authenticated before going live. Movement, case, dial, and strap are each verified individually against Blancpain records - with particular attention to complications and calibre condition. With each watch you get:
- Comprehensive warranty on all certified pre-owned models
- Competitive pricing on Blancpain Villeret timepieces across all complications and configurations
- Expert consultation on complication selection, reference history, and metal choices
- Insured worldwide shipping with full tracking
- Complete provenance documentation with service history and authenticity certificates when available
- Detailed condition report with professional photography included with every purchase
FAQs
What makes the Villeret collection unique?
It’s the full expression of what Blancpain set out to do when the manufacture was revived in 1983: classical watchmaking at the highest level, with no shortcuts. The name itself is the answer - Villeret is the village in the Vallée de Joux where Blancpain has been based since the 18th century. The round case with its double stepped profile and distinctive elongated lugs is immediately recognisable, and the movement programme behind it is one of the deepest in independent watchmaking. Blancpain developed the five traditional complications of fine watchmaking - the moonphase, the perpetual calendar, the split-seconds chronograph, the tourbillon, and the minute repeater - before combining all five in the 1735, one of the most complex watches ever built. For collectors who approach watchmaking from the perspective of what’s inside rather than what’s on the outside, the Villeret is among the most serious choices at any price.
What’s the difference between simple and grand complication Villeret models?
The simpler Villeret models - the three-hand, date, and complete calendar references - are where most collectors start. They run 38-40mm, wear slim on the wrist, and suit wrists from 6.0 to 7.5 inches. The dials here are some of the most beautiful in the range: clean, with applied markers, blued-steel hands, and the Grand Feu enamel versions that place Blancpain in a different category from most dress watchmakers. If you want a watch you’ll wear regularly with a classic dress or business setting, these are the right starting point. The grand complication references - perpetual calendar, tourbillon, equation of time, minute repeater - step up to 40-42mm and fit wrists from 6.5 to 8.0 inches. The movement complexity and production rarity make them collector pieces in a more specific sense. If you want the full depth of what Blancpain can produce, the grand complications are where to look - but they demand more care in daily use and benefit from specialist servicing.
Are Blancpain Villeret watches a good investment?
The fundamentals support it. Blancpain is an independent manufacture with production numbers that have never been large, and the Villeret’s collector base tends to be well-informed and long-term oriented. The 1735 Grande Complication - combining five major complications in a single movement - is among the rarest serious watchmaking references on the secondary market, and complete examples in original condition trade at significant premiums. Grand Feu enamel dial references consistently outperform standard dials at resale, because the technique is labour-intensive and the failure rate in production is high. Early 1990s perpetual calendar references with full sets also attract strong interest from collectors who tracked the brand’s revival from the beginning. That said, the Villeret rewards patient buying - the collector base is specialist rather than broad, which means the market can move slowly. Condition and completeness of documentation matter more here than in most other collections.
Can I wear a Villeret daily?
With some care, yes. The Villeret wasn’t designed as a sports watch - the 30m water resistance covers everyday life comfortably but not swimming or prolonged water exposure - and the precious metal cases and alligator straps need more attention than a steel bracelet watch would. The in-house movements are exceptionally well made and, with regular servicing at the appropriate intervals, will run reliably for decades. The simple and complete calendar references are more suited to regular rotation than the grand complications, which benefit from being handled with particular care given the movement complexity. Most Villeret collectors rotate it with other pieces, reaching for it on the occasions where a classical dress watch is the right choice. It’s one of those watches that rewards the wearing - the finishing detail and dial quality become more apparent on the wrist than in a photograph.
What’s included with my Villeret purchase?
Every Villeret purchased through Master Luxury comes with the watch on its original alligator strap with the corresponding precious metal deployant clasp or buckle, inner and outer presentation boxes (where available), detailed warranty documentation, certificate of authenticity, and service papers where available. All original documentation is listed individually in each product listing.
