Rago Auctions

Blancpain, has two great distinctions in its history: First, it is the oldest watch brand, having been around since 1735. And second, it has never made a quartz (battery operated) watch and the manufacture says it never will. Jehan-Jacques Blancpain started his company in the second floor of his home in Villeret, Switzerland where he later opened up his first watchmaking atelier. Jehan Jacques made sure that his company was a family business enlisting his sons to become watchmakers and to be on the business side of the company as well. For nearly 200 years the family business thrived. In 1932, when Frederic Emile Blancpain died, the business was sold to Betty Frichter and Andre Leal, moving from one strength to another. In 1953, Blancpain introduced to the world the first full capable dive watch, The Fifty Fathoms (although there is continuous debate about whether Rolex introduced the Submariner first). Blancpain went on to produce the world’s most complicated watch in the early 90s under the leadership of Jean Claude Biver. Blancpain’s long and rich history has led it to become one of the best kept secrets in watchmaking today. Anything from their line of watches is a value proposition.