{"product_id":"discontinued-collectible-circa-1999-blancpain-triple-calendar-villeret-29j-cal-6553-moon-watch","title":"Discontinued! Collectible! Circa 1999 Blancpain Triple Calendar Villeret 29J Cal 6553 Moon Watch","description":"\u003cp\u003eMake: Blancpain\u003cbr\u003eType: Automatic\u003cbr\u003eModel:  Triple Calendar Moon Phase High-End Frédéric Piguet Construction Lineage\u003cbr\u003eYear of Production: Circa 1999\u003cbr\u003eMovement: Cal 6553\u003cbr\u003eBPH: 28,800\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Jewels: 29\u003cbr\u003eHand and Dial: 3D Gold Filled Roman Numerals\u003cbr\u003eWidth: 37.6mm\u003cbr\u003eLug to Lug Height: 44.1mm\u003cbr\u003eThickness: 10.1mm\u003cbr\u003eLug Width: 20mm\u003cbr\u003eStrap: Original Blancpain Signed Genuine Snakeskin Leather Strap with Fold Buckle\u003cbr\u003ePouch \/ Box: Brand-New Genuine Leather Button Pouch\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlancpain 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt claims continuous origins dating back to 1735, making it one of the oldest surviving watch brands in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story begins in the Swiss village of Villeret, in the Bernese Jura.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was the birth of what later became Blancpain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe village of Villeret became deeply tied to the company. Even today, Blancpain’s classical dress line is called Villeret as homage to its birthplace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the late 19th century Blancpain was producing complete movements at scale such as the Rayville era (1930s–1950s).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1930s, the Blancpain family line ended, so ownership passed outside the family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company became Rayville S.A but continued using the Blancpain name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis era became critically important because of one watch…The Fifty Fathoms — 1953.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1953, Blancpain released Blancpain Fifty Fathoms - This was one of the first modern dive watches ever made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt introduced features now considered standard such as rotating bezel, high water resistance\u003cbr\u003eanti-magnetic protection and high legibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was adopted by French combat divers, military units and even underwater pioneers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis places Blancpain among the inventors of the modern dive watch alongside Rolex and Omega.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1970s devastated Swiss mechanical watchmaking as cheap and accurate quartz watches from Japan overwhelmed the industry. Many brands disappeared, stopped mechanical production\u003cbr\u003eor switched to quartz.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlancpain effectively collapsed during this period. However, this is the turning point that made Blancpain legendary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1981, Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet bought the dormant Blancpain name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInstead of competing with quartz, Biver did the opposite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe famously declared: “Since 1735 there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat became one of the most famous marketing lines in watch history. So, Biver repositioned Blancpain as an ultra-classical, fully mechanical and complication focused.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlancpain introduced the famous “Six Masterpieces” including moon-phase calendars, perpetual calendars and tourbillons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis directly helped revive global interest in mechanical horology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1992, the Swatch Group acquired Blancpain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder Swatch, Blancpain remained high-end while production quality improved thereby the \u003cbr\u003emovement manufacturing expanded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlancpain 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithout Blancpain’s 1980s revival, mechanical watches may have remained niche.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brand helped proved that craftsmanship, tradition and complications still mattered in a quartz-dominated world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is why collectors respect these pieces even though they remain relatively undervalued today.\u003cbr\u003eHere we have a circa 1999 Blancpain Triple Calendar 29J Automatic in stunning condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe crown is a replacement and is not original even though it is a hi-quality vintage crown. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEquipped with the impressive and ever reliable 6553 movement, it has 29 Jewels that operate at 28,800 BPH. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Blancpain Signed Genuine Snakeskin Leather Strap with Gold Buckle accompanies the watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pictures provided shows the watch in near mint condition and well maintained. The watch comes with the original tag and zipper pouch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Collectible timepiece is being sold at S$ 4,888.00 which is extremely reasonable because we have taken the crown into consideration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Altimate Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43362006859865,"sku":null,"price":4888.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0279\/7590\/9465\/files\/IMG20260516160243.jpg?v=1780081379","url":"https:\/\/shop.altimate.sg\/products\/discontinued-collectible-circa-1999-blancpain-triple-calendar-villeret-29j-cal-6553-moon-watch","provider":"Altimate Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}