THE HISTORY OF BLANCPAIN

C LOSE UP
“Engraving with a binocular magnifier calls for unwavering concentration and visual gymnastics.”
The Blancpain senior management had
decided to develop an engraving workshop,
but not by acquiring state-of-the-art technology.
Perhaps, or rather undoubtedly, it
was because engraving done exclusively by
hand is the noblest and the finest expression
of the Blancpain philosophy (both literally
and figuratively, in gesture and in spirit).
There would never be any machine engraving.
In this spirit that leads to the creation of
an object of art, there are no concessions to
digital techniques. These certainly facilitate
the work and increase turnaround time, but
they take away the artist’s stroke of genius.
Anchored in their know-how, taught to
respect perfectly manufactured objects, the
three engravers have not come here to do
that type of work, nor would they want to.
Listen to Anaïs: “Digital is not true engraving.
All that is left to do by hand is polishing
and touch ups. I did that for six months. It
was not at all interesting.” At Blancpain, the
manufacturing managers add, “we know
the difference between works done by hand
and works cranked out by a machine.”
Clients – or perhaps one should say art
lovers – also seem to know the difference.
Requests for personalised designs are accumulating
and the waiting list is growing. In
their workshop, the three engravers are hard
at work: the art lover’s patience will be well
rewarded.
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