Haute News: Blancpain Adds A New Chronographe Pulsomètre To Villeret Collection

The brand new Blancpain Villeret Chronographe Pulsomètre houses a new self-winding movement equipped with a flyback chronograph function, and as it names indicates, displays a pulsometer function that can check a heart rate quickly and easily. Haute Time caught a first glimpse of the new release back in July, but here’s more:

The new model (Ref. 6680F-3631-55B) houses the Calibre F385, a manufacture-made calibre perfectly suited to the size of the case. This new movement, which beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour, a first at Blancpain, comprises 322 parts including a silicon balance spring. It is equipped with a vertical clutch as well as a chronograph mechanism controlled by a column wheel. It also features a flyback function enabling instant chronograph resetting and restarting simply by pressing a pusher at 4 o’clock.

For the very first time, these functions will be complemented by a pulsometer, a device traditionally used by doctors and nurses to take their patients’ pulses by counting the number of beats during a 60-second measurement. The chronograph hand in association with a specially graduated scale makes it possible to display the patient’s heartbeat directly on the dial without any need for calculations. All that is required for the hand to indicate the number of heartbeats per minute on the pulsometer scale is to start the chronograph and then stop it after counting off 30 heartbeats.

Aesthetically, this new model is in keeping with previous Villeret models, with a cambered white Grand Feu enamel dial, and sage leaf-shaped hands. The pulsometer scale surrounds enamel-painted Roman numerals, meaning that it compliments the main function of the watch instead of taking away from it. it doens’t look like an after-though but rather, seems to have led the design of the new Chronograph. The design is elegant and well balanced, with symmetrical chronograph 30-minute and 12-hour counters in the center, as well as a small but very legible date window at 6 o’clock.  The 43.6 mm-diameter red gold case is teamed with a brown alligator leather strap setting the perfect finishing touch to this model.

Photo Credit: Haute Time. For more information, please visit the Blancpain website.