Cover Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie in red gold with 5N gold dial
Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie in red gold with 5N gold dial
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Why this Blancpain release breaks new ground for chiming watches
Marc A. Hayek was a man on a mission. Eight years ago, he challenged his team to create a grand sonnerie timepiece that would exceed all grand sonneries that came before it. The result was unveiled recently at its manufacture in Vallée de Joux, which officially became Blancpain’s most complicated watch ever.
The timepiece features a multitude of complications, namely the grande sonnerie, the grand dame of horological complications. From the start, the CEO of Blancpain wanted a grand sonnerie that would surpass those before it. “I wanted a grande sonnerie that the owner could comfortably wear. Not an exercise that would merely reside in a safe. Two melodies with real musicality. And above all, a watch that would make you smile as it sounds the time, that would trigger real emotion.”
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Tatler GMT was one of the titles from Malaysia privileged to be given a first look at the magnificent timepiece in Switzerland.
Above Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie in white gold
Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie in white gold
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The grand sonnerie chimes automatically every hour as well as every quarter hour. As the central focus, the Blancpain Grand Double Sonnerie took it up another notch by sounding not one, but two different melodies—in classic Westminster chime and original composition by Eric Singer, the former drummer of KISS. This is the first time that a wristwatch can chime in two melodies.
A melody requires at least four notes—E, G, F, B—as opposed to the two-tone version. When he got the brief, Singer was a bit confounded by how he was expected to create a melody with just four notes. He worked with keyboardist Derek Sherinian to overcome the technical limitations and composed a unique musical signature, named simply as ‘Blancpain’.
Conveniently enough, a push of a button is all that’s needed for the wearer to switch between the Westminster chime and the Blancpain original.
See also: A one-of-a-kind Parmigiani Fleurier minute repeater with a jade dial
Above The Blancpain melody composed by Eric Singer
The Blancpain melody composed by Eric Singer
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But it was the watchmakers who had the most daunting task of all—apart from being engineers, they also had to think like a music conductor to put it all together. One of the main challenges was ensuring the two different melodies played at the right tempo with absolute precision. For tempo stability, a patented magnetic regulator was fitted to modulate and control the pace of the movement components that activate the hammers. The tempo remained consistent regardless of the torque of the balance spring. Microscopic adjustments were also made to the shape of the teeth in the sonnerie mechanism to achieve a perfectly regular tempo.
Gold was chosen to make the gong as it is found to deliver the most refined acoustics when hit by the steel hammers. The transmission of sound is also enhanced through a gold acoustic membrane within the bezel.
The chosen melody will be on full display at the top of the hour, including the chiming of the four full quarters. The petite sonnerie strikes every 15 minutes. The watch also functions as a minute repeater, chiming whenever the wearer demands it.
“Listening to a sonnerie is like tasting a grand wine,” said Hayek. “It is not merely a question of volume, but the clarity, the resonance, the persistence, the richness. Savouring the sounding of a prestige sonnerie is an emotional experience.“
Above Assembling the gong
Assembling the gong
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To top it off, the Grande Double Sonnerie also features a flying tourbillon and a retrograde perpetual calendar, the latter adjustable via correctors under the lugs. This combination makes it the most complicated Blancpain watch yet. Calibre 15GSQ is fitted with two balance springs, one for regular timekeeping and one for the chiming function.
The exceptional craftsmanship extends to the finishing, with lavish embellishments on the 18k gold mainplate and bridges. No surface or angles are untreated.
The watch comes in 47mm red or white gold with an alligator leather strap. Being such a special timepiece, it is limited to only two pieces a year and can be personalised according to the owner’s wishes for absolute exclusivity.
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
