Famed as horology’s oldest watchmakers, Blancpain’s reputation is that of unbridled craftsmanship, quality and luxury. With an eye for impeccable design, their timepieces have sat on the wrists of some of history’s most influential people and thus garnered a reputation as one of the finest watchmakers in Switzerland. Of course, the brand has a litany of iconic models in its arsenal, such as the Fifty-Fathoms, the Villeret and others, but the watch we have here flies under the radar as an understated timepiece that gives off the same luxurious allure as its Blancpain counterparts, and it is this New Classic Ultra Slim ref. 2021-3630-55. Launched in the late 1990s as a limited edition of just 300 pieces, this variant is an 18kt pink gold dress watch that goes back to Blancpain’s roots. Measuring 36mm in diameter and just 6.2mm tall, it is a perfectly proportioned dress watch, much like what Blancpain have become known for since their revival. Powered by the manual-wind cal. .21 movement, this stunner features a black dial with unique applied hour markers at 12, 3, 6 and 9 and hollow sword-shaped hands. With its stepped case, small crown and luxurious construction, the New Classic Ultra Slim is certainly classical in its styling as it celebrates mid-century aesthetics and furthers Blancpain’s reputation as a fine watchmaker with an eye for creating stylish dress watches.

A classical timepiece that celebrates Blancpain's balanced aesthetic, the New Classic Ultra Slim brings us back to the designs of mid-century dress watches and how pure watchmaking was at the time before quartz movements and the like.