THE HISTORY OF BLANCPAIN

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IN TIME day at a time. There is an interesting portion of this gear, I, which serves a vital programming function. The dates “31” and “1” both have the same single digit, of course, the “1”. It is necessary, therefore, during these days that the “1” digit remain in place and not advance. Naturally, the remainder of the mechanism upstream to the 24 hour wheel will be dutifully rotating and producing a one tooth advance nonetheless. How, therefore, can the advance of the single digit date disc be paused at “1” during this “31” through “1” period? The answer is found in the area shown in the diagram where it appears most of two teeth are missing. Starting from the last full tooth before the reduced teeth area and moving clockwise, what is shown is the tooth for the date change from “30” to “31”, the stub tooth for “31”, stub tooth for “1” and finally the full tooth to change from “1” to “2”. The position of the stubs serves as a form of program, insuring that no change in the “1” digit will take place from “31” to “1”. The system for changing the tens disc (Fig. 5). Here another form of program wheel is used. This one is shown as K, consisting of stubs protruding from a disc that turns clockwise with the intermediate wheel, H. Logically these stubs are placed at 10 day intervals except between 30 and 1 where there is a two day interval, since the tens digit “3” remains in place for only two days, “30” and “31”. WHEN ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE CONSIDERED TOGETHER The stubs engage the four tooth gear, L, located below. Attached to the four tooth gear, L, is the tens disc. Thus, when each stub engages one of the four teeth, the tens disc moves one digit to the next of the four (“0”, “1”, “2”, or “3”) positions. The system for rapid date correction via the crown (Fig. 6). IT CAN BE SEEN THAT THE BLANCPAIN LARGE DATE MECHANISM TRULY WARRANTS THE LABEL “COMPLICATION”. Fig. 4 The date change for single digits (cont.). J I K L The rapid date change system consists of a gear train running from gear M, at the crown end, to an engagement at the left with the 31 tooth wheel, H. As the crown is turned, in the date change position of course, this train turns, advancing the 31 tooth train. The system must be configured, however, to advance the dates only when the crown is Fig. 5 The system for changing the tens disc.
Fig. 6 The system for rapid date correction via the crown. M H 68 | 69 turned in the correct direction. When the crown is turned the wrong way – a direction that would retard the dates – the three tooth gear at the right, M, is dropped out of position so that it turns freely and does not engage the gears to its left. Thus, the desired result is obtained; when the crown is turned in the correct direction the three gears move the date forwards; when it is turned in the opposite direction the outside gear, M, is disconnected from the train, allowing the crown to spin freely and the date to remain the same. When all of these systems are considered together it can be seen that the large date mechanism, particularly one that features an instant date change and protection against shock, truly warrants the label “complication”. ■
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THE HISTORY OF BLANCPAIN Traversing
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DEAR FELLOW WATCH CONNOISSEURS: Wel
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CONTENT IN TIME ART DE VIVRE IN TIM
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OF BLANCPAIN BY JEFFREY S. KINGSTON
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JEHAN-JACQUES BLANCPAIN’S ORIGINA
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pocket watches feature the crown at
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THE RAYVILLE WORKSHOP IN VILLERET C
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1953 The original Fifty Fathoms. TH
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BY DIDIER SCHMUTZ PHOTOGRAPHS ANNE-
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Page 21 and 22: est, and have lost all respect for
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Page 27 and 28: ney because Le Brassus is the last
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Page 31 and 32: and asks ‘How much?’; the barte
Page 33 and 34: equired before Blancpain in 2003 co
Page 35 and 36: Blancpain developed a shape which w
Page 37 and 38: BY JEFFREY S. KINGSTON 34 THE BLANC
Page 39 and 40: CHAMPAGNE QUALITY AND CHARACTER IS
Page 41 and 42: oker from Alsace, came to the Champ
Page 43 and 44: Dr. George Derbalian in one of the
Page 45 and 46: L ES AVENTURES: This is a blend fro
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Page 49 and 50: Only the cream of the crop work at
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Page 53 and 54: Art without Concessions In addition
Page 55 and 56: JOURNEY TO JAPAN The Tobu World Wat
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Page 59 and 60: Satigny vineyards and “Domaine de
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Page 63 and 64: Right: Les framboises de Machilly f
Page 65 and 66: An outrageous introduction, perhaps
Page 67 and 68: The Leman Flyback Grand Date. The L
Page 69: At midnight this comfortable relati
Page 73 and 74: THE SECRET ART OF SWISS CHOCOLATE O
Page 75 and 76: Urs Liechti is in charge of a small
Page 77 and 78: SUCCESS STORY The Sprüngli & fils
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Page 81 and 82: FARMERS IN ACTION Let us now turn o
Page 83 and 84: 80 | 81 work is more than positive:
Page 85 and 86: The ”Over The Rainbow“. Right,
Page 88: Fifty Fathoms Tourbillon (ref. 5025
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THE HISTORY OF BLANCPAIN

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