Ahead of Valentine’s Day 2024, Blancpain has unveiled their latest limited edition release to celebrate the special occasion!
For almost 20 years now, Blancpain has been creating special limited-edition timepieces to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This year will be no different, with the brand releasing a limited edition Saint Valentin 2024 timepiece. This year’s Saint Valentin timepiece evokes the signature colours of Valentine’s Day, with prominent red and white being on display.
The Saint Valentin watches by Blancpain over the years have had varying styles. Last year’s edition was part of the Fifty Fathom’s collection, with the model having a unidirectional satin-brushed steel bezel with a white ceramic insert, along with a matching white dial. The dial had red accents on the 3,6,9 and 12 o’clock hour markers, along with the “love heart” on the second hand.
The 2022 edition of the Saint Valentin watch, however, was more akin to this year’s rendition. In fact, both these models are from Blancpain’s Ladybird collection, so the styling and aesthetics are very similar. Firstly, the 2022 Ladybird Saint Valentin edition had a white gold case with diamonds encrusted over the bezel and lugs. Another layer of diamonds is then placed in a circular ring against the beautiful mother-of-pearl dial. Finally, to complete the aesthetic look, the hour indices were done in red in Arabic numerals, in varying sizes, with the numerals getting larger towards the top of the dial.
Now, the 2024 edition of the Saint Valentin is, as mentioned earlier, also part of the Ladybird collection. The Ladybird colours are on full display in this timepiece, which incidentally also lines up with the signature Valentine’s Day colours. Similar to the 2022 edition of this limited-edition piece, the timepiece comes with a 34.9mm 18K white gold case. This case has been adorned with 59 hand-set diamonds, placed along the “bezel” and on the four lugs.
The dial mimics a similar design to the 2022 Saint Valentin timepiece in that this new version also has a mother-of-pearl dial with a centre diamond ring. The second hand with the red heart (forming Cupid’s arrow) is retained on the 2024 model as well. However, that’s about where the similarities end between the two models (besides colour similarities). The 2024 Saint Valentin Ladybird has the centre diamond ring on the dial end in a heart shape at the 6 o’clock hour marker.
The hour indices have been done in Roman numerals, which look aesthetically pleasing in this design. The timepiece’s look is finished with a red leather strap. The 2024 Saint Valentin takes cues from the Ladybird collection’s latest design colours and aesthetics, with the mechanical side also staying up-to-date with the collection.
The movement inside the 2024 Saint Valentin is Blancpain’s in-house 1153 automatic winding caliber. This movement is no standard calibre, as it features a total of 210 components to produce an impressive power-reserve of 100 hours (4 days!), while operating at a frequency of 3 Hz.
The case back has a sapphire crystal, allowing the wearer to see this beautifully decorated movement, especially the côtes de genève finishing on the main plates. Another impressive detail is the winding rotor being skeletonised, designed into the shape of a heart!
Final Thoughts
Blancpain continues a 20-year tradition with the release of the latest 2024 Saint Valentin. This model has to be my favourite out of the brand’s Valentine’s Day dedicated releases from over the last few years. While the 2022 model has a very similar design, this 2024 rendition looks much more balanced and symmetrical, as the Roman numerals are done in a very aesthetically pleasing manner.
Like the 2022 model, the hour indices get gradually from 6 o’clock to 12 o’clock, however, the difference is that the Roman numeral looks much more balanced and even, compared to the Arabic which feels out of place and unsymmetrical towards the top end. Matching the aesthetics is the movement. With a 4-day power reserve, Blancpain’s in-house 1153 automatic calibre is no push-over. Turn the timepiece over, and you are treated to the high-end luxury movement finishing that Blancpain is known for.
Reference: Saint Valentin 2024
Specification
- Case: 34.9mm
- Case Material: 18K White gold case with diamonds on the bezel and lugs.
- Dial: Mother-of-pearl dial, with a centre ring & heart shape in diamonds.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 30m (3 Bar)
- Movement: Automatic in-house calibre 1153
- Movement Frequency: 3Hz (21,600 VpH)
- Power reserve: 100 hours (4 days!)
- Bracelet: Red leather strap with buckle encrusted with diamonds
