Blancpain

A singular horological complication that had lain forgotten for more than a century, the carrousel was revived by Blancpain with pioneering ingenuity, becoming one of the Manufacture’s defining contributions to contemporary watchmaking. Conceived as an alternative to the tourbillon, the carrousel reduces the effects of gravity on the regulating organ but distinguishes itself in its construction: while a tourbillon relies on a single gear train linking barrel to carriage, the carrousel employs two – one delivering energy to the escapement, the other governing the rotation of the carriage. This dual-train design, more complex and involving a greater number of components, ensures uninterrupted function and greater mechanical resilience.

By miniaturising this mechanism into a wristwatch for the very first time, Blancpain not only revitalised an almost forgotten invention but also settled a long-standing debate within horology. Unlike the earliest carrousels, which required several minutes for a full rotation, Blancpain’s Carrousel Volant Une Minute achieves this in precisely 60 seconds – a technical and visual triumph that underscores the brand’s innovative spirit.

The present watch, a limited edition in platinum with semi-skeletonised dial, showcases the one-minute flying carrousel at 12 o’clock, paired with date and power-reserve indication. Offered with a set of accessories – including guarantee card, instruction manual, collection book, and presentation case with outer packaging – this example epitomises Blancpain’s philosophy of marrying traditional Swiss craftsmanship with bold mechanical rediscovery.