Marc A. Hayek, the President and CEO of Blancpain, already renowned for revitalizing the Fifty Fathoms, was driven by a desire to push the limits of haute horlogerie. His ambition: a Grande Sonnerie that would not merely chime the hours and quarter-hours, but elevate them into a true musical performance.
The result is extraordinary—-four tones, two selectable melodies at the touch of a button, and a creative partnership with rock legend Eric Singer. The Grande Double Sonnerie stands as a landmark achievement and the most complex, valuable timepiece Blancpain has ever produced. Housed in a 47 mm case crafted in rose or white gold, it unites a Grande Sonnerie with two melodies, a Petite Sonnerie, a minute repeater, a retrograde perpetual calendar, and a flying tourbillon.
The impressive timepiece was created as an eight-year development project with 1,116 individual parts – 1,053 installed in the factory, 21 patents, 13 of them directly in the watch: A technical symphony.
Music on your wrist
The clock chimes on the hour and every quarter hour – either the classic Westminster chimes or the specially composed "Blancpain" melody by Kiss legend Eric Singer. Four notes (E, G, F, B), each struck by its own hammer, are amplified by an acoustic membrane in the bezel. A patented magnetic regulator ensures an absolutely consistent tempo – silently. The precision is so high that a deviation of one-tenth of a second would be immediately noticeable. Singer himself describes the process as a "puzzle of four notes." Together with keyboardist Derek Sherinian, he created a melody that translates the technical limitations of the clockwork into a musical signature. With a single press of a button, the wearer can switch between the classic chimes and the cheerful rock composition – all without the mechanism faltering. But that's not complicated enough .
Tourbillon, perpetual calendar and gold plating
Blancpain's flying tourbillon, an icon of the manufacture since 1989, now features a frequency of 4 Hz and a silicon balance spring that ignores magnetic fields, ensuring constant precision. It is complemented by a retrograde perpetual calendar fully integrated into the movement. No separate plate – everything is openly visible, the movement appearing like a mechanical concert on 18-karat gold. The craftsmanship is breathtaking: 135 internal bevels, perlage, anglage, mirror polishing, line and diamond cutting. Every component is designed, manufactured, finished, and assembled in the Blancpain workshops in Le Brassus.
The Grande Sonnerie reimagined
Blancpain wanted a watch that evokes emotion, that makes the music of time audible, that brings joy. With two mainspring barrels for the movement and striking mechanism, an integrated protective mechanism, and a case made of acoustically perfect Risoud wood, Blancpain creates a new dimension. Each piece can be individually customized – a true one-of-a-kind. Marc Hayek aptly describes it: “The sound of a prestige Sonnerie is like tasting a fine wine. It’s not about volume, but about clarity, resonance, reverberation, and depth. A Grande Sonnerie should bring a smile to your face.” The Calibre 15GSQ boasts a 96-hour power reserve.
Craftsmanship and precision down to the smallest detail: Romain and Yoann, the two watchmakers behind the Grande Double Sonnerie, worked on just one piece for over a year . Every component, every screw, every engraving is handcrafted.
The Grande Double Sonnerie demonstrates the extent to which Blancpain has perfected its Grand Complications. History, craftsmanship, innovation, and the art of sound merge into a true Gesamtkunstwerk – with a hefty price tag of 1.7 million Swiss francs. Only two pieces are produced each year. A concert for the wrist and a striking symbol of Blancpain's passion for combining tradition and innovation.
This article first appeared in WatchTime.net
Images: Courtesy brand
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