A petite mechanical surprise is in store as a beloved women’s collection celebrates seven decades with a charming new creation.
Ladybird, Blancpain’s collection dedicated to women, has a rather special treat in store. Over the years, we have seen several interpretations of its timepieces, from traditional round cases to more distinctive shapes, often combining precious metals with jewellery-inspired details.
In 2026, the collection celebrates its 70th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, Blancpain draws inspiration from one of its most significant creations – the 1956 Ladybird Bullet, created under the helm of Betty Fiechter, the first woman to lead a Swiss watchmaking house.
The Ladybird Bullet was a horological landmark of its time. Its defining achievement lay within its petite form: the R52/R55 calibre was the world’s smallest round mechanical movement produced in series at the time. Its arrival also coincided with an era of technological optimism, when organic forms were transforming architecture, industrial design, automobiles and fashion.
The movement’s diminutive dimensions also gave designers considerable freedom. The Ladybird inspired gold bracelets and cuff watches, bangles, rings, pendants and other jewellery creations, establishing it as a canvas for horological and decorative expression. Behind this development was Fiechter, who recognised that women’s watches deserved the same mechanical ingenuity and integrity as their larger counterparts.
The R52/R55 was remarkable not merely for its size, but for its robustness: a fifth wheel was added to the gear train to control the force reaching the escapement and reduce the calibre’s dimensions, while shock protection was adapted for its balance wheel. Beating at 3Hz and offering a 40-hour power reserve, the movement combined extreme miniaturisation with the durability expected of a conventional mechanical watch.
To carry that legacy forward, Blancpain pays tribute to the Ladybird Bullet for the new Lady B. This is not a replica, but a contemporary interpretation of the idea born in 1956. Its spherical case measures 19mm in diameter and 13.2mm in height, with a volume of just 2.9cm³. A flat caseback and integrated strap passage allow the double-tour leather strap to pass directly through the case, eliminating conventional lugs.
Through the sapphire crystal, a beige opaline dial is kept deliberately uncluttered, with applied gold indexes, polished hands, and a polished rehaut that follows the curvature of the case. And if you are wondering what the “B” stands for, the brand offers several answers: Blancpain, Bubble-form, Betty and Bijou.
Blancpain has never produced a quartz watch and continues to uphold that all-mechanical philosophy. Inside the case is the Manufacture Calibre 615, one of the smallest contemporary automatic mechanical movements with a round shape. Measuring 15.70mm in diameter and 3.90mm thick, it comprises 180 components, beats at 3Hz, and offers a 38-hour power reserve, with Côtes de Genève decoration.
The Blancpain Lady B is available in stainless steel or 18K red gold, with the applied indexes rendered in grey gold for the stainless-steel model and red gold for the latter. Its double-tour calf leather strap comes in seven colours – white, beige, mocha, burgundy, blue, coral and purple – offering plenty of versatility to complement different styles and occasions.
Thanks to its diminutive size, the Lady B never feels cumbersome despite its spherical form, sitting neatly on the wrist like a polished jewel. The choice of colourful double-tour straps adds another layer of personality, allowing it to complement everything from a tailored suit to a simple white shirt, or to hold its own alongside bracelets and rings. It is a charming expression of mechanical watchmaking, with just enough individuality to make it feel special.
