Following the launch of the Ladybird Colours summer collection, which saw new shades (and a pretty moonphase) joining the line-up of Blancpain’s signature women’s collection, the manufacture has now released a ‘rainbow’ version of the timepiece.
Blancpain has shown a commitment to designing mechanical watches for women since 1930 when the brand created the first automatic wristwatch for women.
Innovation continued throughout the 1930s under the leadership of Betty Fiechter – the first woman to head up a major Swiss watch house. Since its inception several decades ago and continuing up until the current day, the Ladybird collection has epitomised classic elegance and refined design.
Featuring brightly coloured hour markers as well as interchangeable colour-matched straps, this latest on-trend model marks the transition from spring to summer in a way that is both fashionable and functional.
The positioning of the small seconds subdial in the lower half of the dial is visually harmonious, offering a perfect balance to the increased size of the hour markers that are located in the upper half of the dial. The watch face itself is made from the finest quality mother-of-pearl that has a three-dimensional effect when light is shone on the iridescent material.
The hour markers themselves are printed in rainbow hues on the mother-of-pearl surface. Each colour is printed a minimum of five times in order to obtain the desired effect of noticeable depth. The radiance of the timepiece is further elevated by the incorporation of 70 diamonds onto the dial.
Despite this procedure being time-consuming and requiring remarkable expertise to precisely estimate the amount of time that will be needed between layers, Blancpain believes that the effort is justified, with the subtle accents bringing out the liveliness of the pigments.
Five alligator-leather straps are available in a quintet of warm summer colours including white, apple green, raspberry pink, lemon sorbet yellow, and midnight blue. Each is equipped with a quick-change mechanism and there is an option for either a pin buckle or a folding clasp.
The watch measures 34.9mm and is made of white gold. The case is set with 59 diamonds, weighing 2 carats, and is water resistant to 30 metres.
Powering the watch is a self-winding Calibre 1163 movement with a silicon hairspring and an outstanding 100-hour power reserve. The diminutive movement can be viewed through the sapphire-crystal exhibition caseback.
Available now, the Ladybird ‘rainbow’ is priced at £30,400.
