Blancpain’s Ladybird: A Regal Affair in Royal Purple

For almost a century, Blancpain has defined luxury watchmaking for women — now, it takes its legacy a step further with a stunning new creation. Blancpain’s Ladybird Colors Phases de Lune makes a regal statement with its latest addition: a stunning shade of 'royal purple.' This elegant hue joins a vibrant lineup inspired by coastal life, featuring previous shades such as raspberry pink, midnight blue, forest green and lemon sorbet yellow.

The Ladybird Colors Phases de Lune line harmonises the precision of horology with the opulence of haute joaillerie, capturing the spirit of sunny days. One of the standout elements of the ‘royal purple’ Ladybird variant is its exquisite nacre perlée dial, crafted from a rare mother-of-pearl that shimmers with a delicate iridescence. 

Composed of exceptional quality, this mother-of-pearl is found in very limited quantities; it is extracted only from specific cultured shells. Each pearl is just enough to make one, or at most, two dials.

Carved from the shell’s most curved central area, it yields usable nacre perlée diameters rarely exceeding 28 mm. It represents less than 2% of a shell’s usable mother-of-pearl; the remainder is reserved for less selective applications.

Refined details

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With an 18 ct red or white gold case and over 2 carats of diamonds set on the dial, bezel, crown, lugs, and buckle, the collection exudes polished accents.

Cased in 34.9 mm diameter, the dial offers comfort wearability. Equipped with the automatic calibre 1163L with a power reserve of over four days, the variant also features a moon phase and a discreet small seconds at 6 o'clock, a technical signature of the line.

Twelve slanted Roman numerals in royal purple, applied directly to the mother-of-pearl, form a radiant circle around two interlocking rings of 70 diamonds. A Blancpain signature, the openwork sage leaf-shaped hands indicate the hours and minutes. The purple alligator leather strap is inspired by trends spotted at major tanneries; it features light royal purple accents that subtly define the scales.

Fabled History

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The Ladybird collection was born in 1956 and marked a turning point in the history of horology: it incorporated the smallest round mechanical movement of the time (the R-52 movement measuring 11.85 mm) into a minimalist case, with the winding crown placed on the back. 

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.

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.

It has been a bold innovation that defied an era when women’s watches were discreet, concealed within sophisticated jewellery. The Ladybird has evolved over the years, most notably in 1995 with the introduction of the ultra-thin automatic Calibre 615, which continues to power contemporary Ladybird Ultraplate models. This mastery of miniaturisation, design, and performance defines the very essence of the Ladybird Colors collection.