Basel Collectors Reception

It was a gathering of the tribe. As has become a long standing tradition, Saturday evening brings about a transformation of the Blancpain booth at the Basel fair. Only moments before the collectors arrive the upstairs of the booth, normally devoted to receiving journalists and dealers becomes « Bistro Blancpain » in order to welcome collectors from around the world, who always reserve the night for the Blancpain cocktail reception.

And how the tribe has grown! This year more than 48 collectors jammed into the room (standing room only), to see first hand the new Fifty Fathoms collection that has had the halls of Basel buzzing. As always CEO Marc A Hayek was on hand, assisted by Jeff Kingston, to not only present the entire new collection, but report on the the past year at Blancpain. And for the second year in a row, eyes trained on both his wrists—one wearing the new Fifty Fathoms tourbillon, the other a prototype giving a hint of what is to come next year. The collectors have learned well, for last year at Basel, the second wrist bore a prototype of the Le Brassus 8 Jours watch with the 13R0 movement which debuted six months after Basel in October.