Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication

About this reference

The Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication was produced between 1991 and approximately 2002 as a limited edition of 30 pieces. Collectors value this reference for its caliber 1735 movement, which integrates a perpetual calendar, moon phase, split-seconds chronograph, tourbillon, and minute repeater. The 42mm case is constructed from platinum and houses 740 individual components within a movement measuring only 11mm in thickness. This reference represents the culmination of Blancpain’s "six masterpieces" project initiated after the quartz crisis to demonstrate the viability of mechanical watchmaking. On the secondary market, these timepieces typically command prices in the mid-to-high six-figure range, often appearing between $400,000 and $800,000 depending on provenance. A notable production detail is that each watch required one year of assembly by a single master watchmaker. In 2014, a well-preserved example sold at auction for approximately $470,000, reflecting its status as one of the most complex wristwatches of its era.