n this interpretation, the Ladybird Colors moves closer to the language of High Jewelry. The entire watch is treated as a single surface where light flows uninterrupted: a pebble of diamonds with soft, rounded volumes that appears to rest naturally on the wrist.

Each creation features 919 diamonds totalling 4.794 carats spread across the case, bezel, dial, and buckle. The crown is adorned with a rose-cut diamond — an antique cut characterized by a flat base and a dome composed of triangular facets.

At the heart of this composition, snow-setting plays a critical role. This technique, among the most demanding in jewelry making, involves selecting hundreds of diamonds of varying sizes and arranging them with apparent spontaneity. In reality, every stone is positioned with extreme precision to eliminate any visible metal surface.

The desired effect evokes sunlight reflecting on snow: a diffused, vibrant brilliance that is never uniform.

At the center of the timepiece, the mother-of-pearl dial reveals subtle richness. Its reflections evolve with the light, displaying shades of green and pink, a signature of the Ladybird Colors collection. Of exceptional quality, this special mother-of-pearl is distinguished by its finely grained surface that is naturally formed over time.

Nacre perlée is found only in very limited quantities. It is meticulously extracted from specific cultured shells, each of which can produce only one or at most two dials. Sourced from the shell’s most curved central section, nacre perlée only exceptionally yields discs exceeding 28 mm in diameter. It represents less than 2% of all usable mother-of-pearl extracted from a shell, while the remainder is destined for less selective uses. Each dial is unique by the very nature of the material.

The setting of 222 diamonds at the center, following the apparent spontaneity of snow-setting, integrates naturally into this living surface, while delicately painted Roman numerals in coordinated shades, blue for the white-gold version, violet for the red-gold version, bring structure to the composition of the piece without disturbing its balance.

On these two creations featuring gem-setting at the center of the dial, a delicate Blancpain logo transfer has been applied directly onto the sapphire crystal, appearing to float in suspension in order to preserve the integrity of the setting. The openworked sage leaf-shaped hands — a signature Blancpain aesthetic — indicate the hours and minutes.

A signature Blancpain complication, the moon phase is part of a long tradition. Since the 1980s, the Maison has made it part of its stylistic language. In its feminine version, it reveals a delicately drawn face — closed eyes, mascaraed lashes, and a discreet beauty mark — moving across a sky scattered with stars.

The ensemble retains a slim 34.9 mm diameter, emphasizing the balance between sophistication and wearability. Equipped with the automatic calibre 1163L with a 4-day power reserve, it incorporates a moon phase and a discreet small seconds display at 6 o’clock — technical hallmarks of the line.

Visible through a sapphire caseback, the movement is decorated with Geneva stripes, faithful to Blancpain’s uncompromising finishing standards.

Each model comes with two interchangeable alligator leather straps: • Glacier blue and Midnight blue for the white-gold version • White and Royal purple for the red-gold version

This interplay of contrasts extends the piece’s chromatic identity and subtly changes its appearance on the wrist.

Blancpain has a long history in the world of women’s watches. Betty Fiechter, who took the helm of the Maison in 1933 and remained in charge until 1967, became the first woman to own and lead a Swiss watch brand. Under her leadership, Blancpain revolutionised the 1930s by continuing the development of the ‘Rolls’, the first automatic wristwatch for women.

The Ladybird was born in 1956 and marked a turning point: it incorporated the smallest round mechanical movement of the time (the R-52 movement of 11.85 mm) in a minimalist case with the winding crown discreetly positioned on the back. In an era when women’s watches were often conceived primarily as pieces of jewelry, the Ladybird distinguished itself by placing genuine horological innovation at the heart of feminine design. The Ladybird continued its evolution over the decades, notably with the introduction of the ultra-thin automatic calibre 615 in 1995 — a movement that laid the foundation for today’s Ladybird Ultraplate models. This expertise, combining miniaturisation, design, and performance, embodies the DNA of the Ladybird Colors collection.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Ladybird Colors Diamond Bloom, Ref. 3662A 9696 99A and 3662 9496 99A

• Movement: Blancpain Manufacture Calibre 1163L
• Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, moon phase
• Winding: Automatic winding
• Power Reserve: 100 hours ( 4 days)
• Dimensions: 26.20 mm ×4.58 mm
• Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour)
• Jewels: 30
• Components: 243
• Case: 18K red or white gold, snow-setting
• Crystal and Caseback: Sapphire crystal
• Water Resistance: 3 bar (30 meters)
• Diameter: 34.90 mm
• Thickness: 10.43 mm
• Lug to Lug: 18.00 mm
• Dial: Nacre perlée, snow-setting
• Hands: Signature sage leaf-shaped hands
• Indexes: Royal purple or Glacier blue Roman numerals (in two shades)
• Strap: Interchangeable alligator leather with pin buckle
• Limited Edition: No
• Price: CHF 107,000