The Ladybird Colours collection by Blancpain is not inspired by the little red beetle with black spots but rather pays tribute to the brand’s rich heritage in women’s timepieces, which began with the influential figure of Betty Fiechter.
The term “ladybird”, symbolising grace and beauty, complements the collection’s aesthetic and purpose, highlighting Blancpain’s commitment to honouring women’s contributions to horology, especially Fiechter’s legacy. In the early 1930s, she became the first woman to lead a watchmaking company, steering Blancpain through challenging times after taking over from her husband.
Before women’s power, Blancpain had made inroads in horology by launching the first automatic ladies’ wristwatch in 1930. The Ladybird collection embodies the brand’s pioneering spirit and dedication to innovation and excellence.
From the first groundbreaking piece to today’s refined designs, including creating the smallest mechanical movement, the collection showcases Blancpain’s passion for exceptional craftsmanship. It is tailored for women who appreciate both aesthetic beauty and technical sophistication.
This year, the beloved Ladybird Colours collection returns in a vibrant coral blue shade, giving summer vibes. The colour blue represents a clear summer sky with monochrome options. For the first time, multicoloured numerals present the moon phase and come with interchangeable straps, making it easy to match anything in your wardrobe.
The multicoloured numerals embellished with Blancpain’s moon phase showcase Roman numerals that gradually decrease in size from the top to the bottom, creating a visually stunning impact. Each numeral undergoes a meticulous five-phase colouring process to achieve its rich, deep tones.
The asymmetric design gives the design a balanced look where the moon phase sits at the 6 o’clock position, appearing to float above the mother-of-pearl background. Framed by a 34.90 mm 18-carat white gold case adorned with 59 diamonds, the dial sparkles with an additional 70 brilliant-cut diamonds set in two concentric circles.
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The crown and buckle are embellished with gemstones, bringing the total carat weight to over two carats, resulting in a beautifully balanced timepiece. Adding a touch of flair, the leather straps of the new Ladybird Colours timepieces come in a bright blue to match the numerals, while models with multicoloured numerals feature five interchangeable straps in pink, blue, green, yellow and white. These straps are equipped with a pin buckle or folding clasp, allowing quick, tool-free changes to suit any occasion.
The Ladybird Colours models incorporate Blancpain’s moon phase complication, powered by Calibre 1163L with a 100-hour power reserve. This calibre is adorned with traditional fine watchmaking decorations such as bevelling, circular graining and snailing, visible through a sapphire crystal case back. It features a silicon balance spring, which provides magnetism resistance.
Originally reintroduced in 1983 following the quartz crisis, this complication underscored the Maison’s dedication to showcasing the exceptional expertise of mechanical watchmaking, establishing that quartz could never replace the artistry involved in creating a mechanical timepiece.
Other technical additions include silicon, which has transformed watchmaking since the early 21st century. It is elastic yet resistant to deformation light and highly corrosion-resistant. This material is also known to be unaffected by magnetism, thus ensuring accurate timekeeping.
Unlike in the 1950s, when watch movements required metal springs vulnerable to magnetisation — and hence, soft iron inner cages for protection — modern Blancpain watches utilise silicon balance springs. This innovation enhances performance and allows the sapphire crystal case back to reveal the unique construction of their movements.
