Live now! Blancpain Villeret Chronograph Quantième Perpétuel, Ref. 5585
Blancpain during the Jean-Claude Biver era was arguably at its peak. The brand was pushing boundaries throughout the 1990s, producing pieces that could comfortably stand alongside the traditional haute horlogerie “Holy Trinity.” This was a period defined by mechanical ambition, classical aesthetics, and an obsession with slimness—and the Ref. 5585 is a perfect example.
The 5585 was Blancpain’s first perpetual calendar chronograph, launched in the early ’90s, and it remains a technically impressive accomplishment even today. The watch measures an incredibly slim 11.4 mm in thickness—likely the thinnest QP chronograph on the market at the time—paired with a refined 34 mm case diameter. Inside beats the celebrated Frédéric Piguet Caliber 1185, one of the thinnest integrated automatic chronograph movements ever made, topped with a perpetual calendar module bringing the total to an astonishing 395 components.
The dial is classic Blancpain: a crisp white surface with polished, applied Roman numerals, a design language that defined the maison during this golden era. Despite its vintage-leaning dimensions, the watch wears with surprising presence thanks to its elegant proportions and beautifully balanced complications.
Historically important, technically sophisticated, and remarkably understated, these pieces remain some of the best-value complications on the market today. A perpetual calendar chronograph under 20k? That’s where my money would go.
This particular example is a full set—box, papers, pusher tool included—and is in stunning overall condition. It keeps excellent time, and all chronograph and QP functions operate flawlessly.
Available now! DM for details.
Live now! Blancpain Villeret Chronograph Quantième Perpétuel, Ref. 5585
Blancpain during the Jean-Claude Biver era was arguably at its peak. The brand was pushing boundaries throughout the 1990s, producing pieces that could comfortably stand alongside the traditional haute horlogerie “Holy Trinity.” This was a period defined by mechanical ambition, classical aesthetics, and an obsession with slimness—and the Ref. 5585 is a perfect example.
The 5585 was Blancpain’s first perpetual calendar chronograph, launched in the early ’90s, and it remains a technically impressive accomplishment even today. The watch measures an incredibly slim 11.4 mm in thickness—likely the thinnest QP chronograph on the market at the time—paired with a refined 34 mm case diameter. Inside beats the celebrated Frédéric Piguet Caliber 1185, one of the thinnest integrated automatic chronograph movements ever made, topped with a perpetual calendar module bringing the total to an astonishing 395 components.
The dial is classic Blancpain: a crisp white surface with polished, applied Roman numerals, a design language that defined the maison during this golden era. Despite its vintage-leaning dimensions, the watch wears with surprising presence thanks to its elegant proportions and beautifully balanced complications.
Historically important, technically sophisticated, and remarkably understated, these pieces remain some of the best-value complications on the market today. A perpetual calendar chronograph under 20k? That’s where my money would go.
This particular example is a full set—box, papers, pusher tool included—and is in stunning overall condition. It keeps excellent time, and all chronograph and QP functions operate flawlessly.
Available now! DM for details.
