To celebrate the Ladybird collection’s 70thanniversary, Blancpain introduces the Lady B, a new timepiece that explores mechanical miniaturisation through a spherical case and an integrated double-wrap strap.
The design draws inspiration from the legendary 1956 Ladybird Bullet, but it is not a reissue. Blancpain takes the original concept and reinterprets it in a thoroughly contemporary construction.
The story begins with Betty Fiechter, who took the helm at Blancpain in 1933 and became the first woman to lead a Swiss watchmaking manufacture.
Under her direction, the Ladybird Bullet brought miniaturisation to an uncommon level in 1956. Its mechanical movement measured just 11.85 mm across, making it the smallest mechanical movement ever produced in series.
The Lady B revisits that idea with a case architecture inspired by the Ladybird Bullet and powered by Blancpain’s in-house Calibre 615 automatic movement.
Case and design: 19 mm across, with a spherical profile
The Lady B’s case measures just 19 mm in diameter and 13.2 mm thick, with a stated volume of only 2.9 cm³. Its spherical shape changes the usual relationship between diameter and depth, turning the case into a three-dimensional form that envelops the movement.
There are no traditional lugs—in fact, there are no lugs. The strappasses directly through the case and wraps twice around the wrist.
This solution makes the case and strap appear as a single, continuous element, making the watch more like a piece of jewellery than a conventional timepiece.
The case is available in stainless steel or 18-karat red gold and is hand-finished, in keeping with Blancpain’s traditions.
The brand pairs polished surfaces with a deliberately simple opaline dial: no diamonds, mother-of-pearl, or other precious decorations.
The casework and mechanical movement define the Lady B. Blancpain’s campaign uses a ladybug to illustrate the watch’s remarkable miniaturisation. Both versions are water-resistant to 3 bar (30 meters).
Calibre 615: small, but fully mechanical
Inside the case is Blancpain’s in-house Calibre 615 self-winding movement, measuring 15.70 mm in diameter and 3.90 mm thick.
The movement comprises 180 components and 29 jewels, runs at 3 Hz, and delivers a respectable 38-hour power reserve. Its balance spring is made of silicon.
The first version of Calibre 615 dates to 1995, and the movement has been progressively updated over the years.
Blancpain cites the addition of a silicon hair spring among those refinements—a technology now widely found in the technical specifications of brands across the group.
The caseback, too, was designed around the watch’s compact dimensions. The case’s internal geometry leaves enough room for the oscillating weight to move, allowing it to function within the limited space available.
This is where the Lady B becomes especially interesting from a technical standpoint: fitting a mechanical movement into such a small case—and offering that achievement in a women’s watch—is exceptionally rare in modern watchmaking.
The double-wrap strap
The strap is integral to the watch’s architecture. Made from calfskin, it comes in seven colours: white, beige, mocha, burgundy, blue, coral red, and purple.
It fastens with a pin buckle and can be changed without tools. By passing directly through the case, the strap eliminates conventional attachment points and wraps twice around the wrist.
Two versions: stainless steel and red gold
Blancpain offers the Lady B in two configurations built around the same architecture. Reference 0064 1142 B24 has a stainless-steel case, while reference 0064 3642 E17 is crafted in 18-karat red gold—both feature Calibre 615 and an opaline dial.
The only difference between the two versions is the case material and the aesthetic character it brings. Stainless steel is clearly the entry point; red gold is an expected—and essential—option for a luxury women’s watch.
Price and availability
The Blancpain Lady B will be available starting September 17, 2026, through Blancpain boutiques and authorised retailers. Prices are €11,360 for the stainless-steel version and €17,350 for the 18-karat red-gold model.
The Lady B and the Ladybird legacy
With the Lady B, Blancpain returns to a theme that has defined the Ladybird’s history: how small can a mechanical watch become without sacrificing the complexity of a fully mechanical architecture?
The result is not a reproduction of the Ladybird Bullet, but a contemporary interpretation of the same principle.
A spherical case, integrated strap, and Calibre 615 were conceived to pack a complete mechanical movement into an exceptionally small space. The result is impressive and confirms Blancpain’s miniaturisation expertise.
The manufacture has long distinguished itself not only through the technical quality of its movements, but also through their compact dimensions—even in its complicated watches.
To close, we should recall the line from a Blancpain advertising campaign released in the early 1990s, which captures the brand’s conviction and vision: “Since 1735, there has never been a quartz Blancpain watch. And there never will be.”
(Photo credit: Blancpain)
In this article:
Strap
A leather, rubber or other material band that secures the watch to the wearer's wrist.
Case
It encases the mechanical movement and is crafted in one or more parts. It can also be a single piece, as with some professional diving watches, or made of unconventional…
Calibre
A calibre is the type of watch movement encased in an assigned timepiece. Its name is usually associated with the manufacturer's name and a standard code, e.g., ETA 2824.
Power Reserve
A mechanical watch feature displays, on the dial or the case back, the remaining power in a watch movement, showing the length of time until the timepiece must be rewound.
Line
It is the measurement unit that identifies the size of a movement. According to this measurement system, one line corresponds to 2,255mm.
