Swiss stainless steel modern ‘extra thin’ dress watch Circa 1990

Pocket watch with precision lever escapement
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An extremely fine modern ‘extra this’ dress watch made by Blancpain in le Brassus, Switzerland, circa 1990. This watch features an open faced case in stainless steel and the silvered dial has Roman stainless steel hour numerals and stainless steel hands. The numbered Frédéric Piguet movement features a precision lever escapement, Geneva Striping decoration, adjustments in 15 positions, sapphire crystals and 20 jewels.
The dial and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 44 mm
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Thickness: 7 mm
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Signed: JB, 1735, Blancpain, Swiss Made
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Piguet, Frédéric
Frédéric Piguet was a highly respected Swiss movement manufacturer with roots in the Vallée de Joux, dating back to 1858 when Louis-Elisée Piguet began producing ebauche movements. The company was known for high end complications, supplying renowned brands like Audemars Piguet, Breguet and Patek Philippe. Jacques Piguet, the heir to the family business created by Louis-Elysée Piguet, buys Blancpain, which becomes the watchmaking manufacturer linked to Frédéric Piguet’s watchmaking movements. Then in 1983, Blancpain became a subsidiary and Jacques Piguet hired Jean-Claude Biver as vice-chairman of Blancpain’s executive committee. Frédéric Piguet and Blancpain will be managed through joint ownership until the official merger in 2010.
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Jacques Piguet agrees in 1992 to sell Blancpain and Frédéric Piguet to the SMH (Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and Watchmaking Industries), which will, later on, become the Swatch Group. F. Piguet was eventually renamed Manufacture Blancpain and merged into Blancpain in 2010.
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Blancpain
Jehan-Jacques Blancpain registers himself as a watchmaker in 1735 in the Villeret village records. He is the founder of the eponymous watch brand, which will remain family owned and be handed down to his descendants for almost 200 years.