Discontinued! Collectible! Circa 1999 Blancpain Triple Calendar Villeret 29J Cal 6553 Moon Watch

Make: Blancpain
Type: Automatic
Model:  Triple Calendar Moon Phase High-End Frédéric Piguet Construction Lineage
Year of Production: Circa 1999
Movement: Cal 6553
BPH: 28,800
Number of Jewels: 29
Hand and Dial: 3D Gold Filled Roman Numerals
Width: 37.6mm
Lug to Lug Height: 44.1mm
Thickness: 10.1mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Strap: Original Blancpain Signed Genuine Snakeskin Leather Strap with Fold Buckle
Pouch / Box: Brand-New Genuine Leather Button Pouch

Blancpain is one of the most historically important names in Swiss horology — not because it is the biggest, but because it played a crucial role in both, the early development of Swiss watchmaking and the revival of mechanical watches after the Quartz Crisis.

It claims continuous origins dating back to 1735, making it one of the oldest surviving watch brands in the world.

The story begins in the Swiss village of Villeret, in the Bernese Jura.

A schoolmaster named Jehan-Jacques Blancpain started making watches in his farmhouse workshop circa 1735. At the time, watchmaking was seasonal work, and farmers made watch parts during winter months

This was the birth of what later became Blancpain.

The village of Villeret became deeply tied to the company. Even today, Blancpain’s classical dress line is called Villeret as homage to its birthplace.

By the late 19th century Blancpain was producing complete movements at scale such as the Rayville era (1930s–1950s).

In the 1930s, the Blancpain family line ended, so ownership passed outside the family.

The company became Rayville S.A but continued using the Blancpain name.

This era became critically important because of one watch…The Fifty Fathoms — 1953.

In 1953, Blancpain released Blancpain Fifty Fathoms - This was one of the first modern dive watches ever made.

It introduced features now considered standard such as rotating bezel, high water resistance
anti-magnetic protection and high legibility.

It was adopted by French combat divers, military units and even underwater pioneers.

This places Blancpain among the inventors of the modern dive watch alongside Rolex and Omega.

The 1970s devastated Swiss mechanical watchmaking as cheap and accurate quartz watches from Japan overwhelmed the industry. Many brands disappeared, stopped mechanical production
or switched to quartz.

Blancpain effectively collapsed during this period. However, this is the turning point that made Blancpain legendary.

In 1981, Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet bought the dormant Blancpain name.

Instead of competing with quartz, Biver did the opposite.

He famously declared: “Since 1735 there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be.”

That became one of the most famous marketing lines in watch history. So, Biver repositioned Blancpain as an ultra-classical, fully mechanical and complication focused.

Blancpain introduced the famous “Six Masterpieces” including moon-phase calendars, perpetual calendars and tourbillons.

This directly helped revive global interest in mechanical horology.

In 1992, the Swatch Group acquired Blancpain.

Under Swatch, Blancpain remained high-end while production quality improved thereby the 
movement manufacturing expanded.

Today Blancpain focuses on Dress complications, the Villeret line, complete calendars, moon-phases, perpetual calendars, Sports luxury, Fifty Fathoms, High horology, tourbillons, carrousels and minute repeaters.

Blancpain also produces many in-house movements and is important to the horology word because it bridges old Swiss watchmaking traditions and modern mechanical luxury revival.

Without Blancpain’s 1980s revival, mechanical watches may have remained niche.

The brand helped proved that craftsmanship, tradition and complications still mattered in a quartz-dominated world.

That is why collectors respect these pieces even though they remain relatively undervalued today.
Here we have a circa 1999 Blancpain Triple Calendar 29J Automatic in stunning condition.

Its silver case is in near mint condition with its super sharp curves and lines remaining intact. It was given a good cleaning followed by a good buff and most imperfections were removed without compromising the case shape and curves. The sapphire crystal is in stunning condition.

The crown is located at the 3H position and is easily accessible. The date, day, month and moon-phase works as it should by using a pin to press down the 4 said buttons nicely tucked away at each corner ((2H, 4H, 8H and 10H). The time is set by uncorking the crown and adjust accordingly.

The crown is a replacement and is not original even though it is a hi-quality vintage crown. 

Equipped with the impressive and ever reliable 6553 movement, it has 29 Jewels that operate at 28,800 BPH. 

The case width and height are approx. 37.6mm (w/o crown) and 44.1mm respectively. The lug width is 20mm whilst the strap can accommodate wrists up to 20cm; hence, suitable for men and the modern women.

A Blancpain Signed Genuine Snakeskin Leather Strap with Gold Buckle accompanies the watch.

To the best of our knowledge and expertise during inspection, the watch is 100% original Blancpain components from this particular watch. No parts were replaced with aftermarket or modified parts except for the crown.

The pictures provided shows the watch in near mint condition and well maintained. The watch comes with the original tag and zipper pouch.

Yes, there are many other same models in the market, but almost all are not in the same quality condition and is well maintained as what you see here. Hence, it is a no-brainer that this one-of-a-kind watch will make a beautiful birthday present for that special someone, and its value will appreciate over time.

This particular Collectors timepiece is rather scarce and is valued between S$ 6,401.00 to 7,781.00 (see picture 10) on various auction / online sites. These prices do not include shipping costs and 9% GST.

This Collectible timepiece is being sold at S$ 4,888.00 which is extremely reasonable because we have taken the crown into consideration.

This discontinued Blancpain Triple Calendar Villeret with 6553 movement is quite rare; so, be unique and own a rare Blancpain 6553 that is almost impossible to source in such fine condition or purchase it for that special someone.