The Manufacture Blancpain is paying homage to the Ladybird that is part of the history of women’s timepieces. Modern Ladybird watches are equipped with the automatic 6150 caliber measuring just 15.7 mm in diameter. This movement is still one of the smallest in the world. The brand had relaunched this anthem to femininity for Valentine’s Day 2016. On this occasion, a removable charm featuring a ruby heart with a diamond arrow adorned this 99- piece limited edition. A further limited edition was issued for the Baselworld World Watch and Jewellery Show. This elegant and refined watch featuring a white gold case teamed with an alligator leather strap proved a great success and the 60 watches in the series sold out rapidly. To perpetuate the success story of this model, Blancpain is now offering a fresh interpretation of this anniversary watch, this time with a red gold case. This subtle color shift infuses the timepiece with a different aesthetic appeal to that of its predecessors. Swept over by droplet- shaped hands, the shimmering dial is graced with luminous contrasts revealing a delicate multi- layered motif and lit up by the sparkle of eight diamonds, while the bezel is set with 32 of the same gemstones. The sapphire crystal case-back reveals its oscillating weight delicately adorned with a diamond, while the black calfskin strap lends a subtle touch of elegance to this exquisite timepiece.

A blend of boldness and ingenuity

The trade advertising of the time was a challenge to distributors: ′′Be the first importer on your market of the world’s smallest round watch!′′. The Ladybird was born in 1956 when the fashion was for jeweled watches in which the emphasis was on ornamental features and dainty dial sizes. Within this context, Blancpain’s unveiling the world’s smallest round movement, the R550 caliber, was a true masterstroke. Notwithstanding its 11.85 mm diameter, this movement had a more than 40-hour power reserve that was quite extraordinary for the period. For aesthetic reasons, its crown was re-located to the back of the watch.

As for the pivot placed above the escape wheel, it was slightly thinner than an average strand of hair, at just 0.07 mm. Success was instantaneous and it became the timepiece of choice to adorn the wrists of elegant women. As time went by, it adopted a variety of styles intended to meet the most demanding feminine tastes, ranging from entirely gem-set models to more avant- garde versions with interchangeable straps. Year after year, the Ladybird successively appeared in new guises while retaining its ever youthful charm.

Betty Fiechter, a pioneering female leader

Frédéric-Emile Blancpain, a descendant of Jules-Emile, lead the family business from 1889 until 1932. During his years heading Blancpain, he worked alongside a talented young woman, Betty Fiechter, who began her work there at the age of 16 and completed her training with him. Her natural boldness, devotion and intelligence became valuable assets to the business. Frédéric-Emile selected her to manage production and sales. She brought to Blancpain a modern and perceptive outlook that proved its worth to Blancpain and which would lead her to become a major force in its history several years later. When Frédéric-Emile passed away, she acquired the business under the name "Rayville S.A., successeur de Blancpain” and in 1939 became the first woman owner and director of a watch Manufacture. She devoted herself single-mindedly to growing the business and notably brought on board her nephew, Jean- Jacques Fiechter, who demonstrated enormous creativity in modernizing the business. Beginning in 1952, Betty and Jean-Jacques Fiechter developed a range of calibers for jewelry models which opened new avenues and possibilities for jeweled watches and established Blancpain’s international reputation in that domain. Betty Fiechter was a pioneering woman who laid a set of firm foundations for the House of Blancpain.