Established in 1735, Blancpain today is one of the oldest and most respected companies that make mechanical watches. Blancpain is both a Swiss and a world name, and its timepieces are sought for by collectors, connoisseurs and people who appreciate fine things – all coming from many countries. Blancpain's intense focus on high-end luxury watches makes it one of the leading manufacturers in the field, a title that is conveniently backed by almost three hundred years of tradition.

Blancpain belongs to the exclusive club of watchmakers who develop new movements and complications; no more than a dozen companies today can say they continue to explore the field of mechanical watchmaking. In a somewhat ironic turn, Blancpain use computer power to calculate and simulate the disposition of various parts in its watches. There is something nostalgic in the way in which digital innovation is being utilized to serve an essentially old technology. But the nostalgia also serves to demonstrate a point: Blancpain is about the tradition, but it approaches it with a fresh, new attitude.

Blancpain insistently compares its watches – even separate movement parts – to works of art, and watchmaking itself to an artistic process. It becomes clear why upon reading the company's philosophy and discovering about the amounts of research, devotion and painstaking labor invested in each and every timepiece. Considering this dedication, it was inevitable that the skill of Blancpain watchmakers, engravers, jewelers and other professionals arose to the level art, or artistry at the least.

In contrast to Vacheron Constantin, Blancpain website makes stress on function rather than visual elaboration – a viable and, in a way, also a desirable departure. There is one window that effectively accommodates everything; classic black and white color scheme ensures a smooth browsing experience that is almost entirely focused on the timepieces. Blancpain display each and every model of every collection now in production, and the only way to succeed at this online strategy is to reduce the show element, to cut on the embellishment.

Blancpain comprises several collections: Le Brassus, Leman, Villeret, Ladies and Sport, which are continuously refreshed by the company's Novelties and Specialites (special additions and editions). These collections cover the entire spectrum of Blancpain's efforts, from strictly traditional to ultra-modern.

• Villeret consists of classic, visually traditional designs encasing movements of varying complexity. This collection encompasses Blancpain's span in terms of elegance and the capacity to stylishly combine simplicity with complication. Considering the watchmaker's technological and engineering abilities, some of Villeret models almost shock by radically basic design; the most complex watches, on the other hand, include so many features as to put them into the collectible category.

• Leman is the urban collection (Blancpain define it as a travel collection): it combines sleek lines with some sports elements and a straightforward, hospitable design. Possibly the most versatile Blancpain collection, it veers from sporty to more dressy appearance depending on the expressed features. Bracelets complement the majority of Leman timepieces.

• Le Brassus demonstrates Blancpain's achievements in both design and technology in full-scale – this is the maximalist collection that goes all the way with all of the company's strengths. Complications and grand-complications abound in Le Brassus; this is also the collection that often incorporates gold, platinum and diamonds. Some of the watches in Le Brassus display a unique blend of jewelry and sport characteristics. This is the risky, adventurous side of Blancpain.

• Women's collection is the most experimental in terms of design – two ladies timepieces can look oppositely different. Blancpain subject every element to change: color, indexes, dials, hands, bracelets, complications, materials can all be combined and recombined to create original watches. Not all of them, I think, turn out aesthetically balanced, but those that do can surpass the most elegant and exotic pieces on the high-end luxury market. The most intriguing feature in the women's collections is Blancpain's penchant to inject utility complications in the ostentatiously style-oriented designs.

• Sports watches, mostly entirely black, display intensity and purposefulness one doesn't expect to see from such an essentially traditionalist watchmaker as Blancpain. The Sports collection (including the Fifty Fathoms) follows a different set of rules – though not novel to high-end sports watches niche, it opens a new vista for Blancpain, expanding the company's horizons. The Sports collection includes, in my opinion, some of the most consummate Blancpain timepieces.

The strongest impression that transpires from Blancpain philosophy and collections pertains to the company's uncompromising dedication to quality watchmaking – be it an art, a calling, a tradition, or perhaps all, together combined. The company pushes itself in the sphere of complication and grand complication, usually relying on tradition in the sphere of visual design and aesthetics. Ultimately, Blancpain emerges as one of the finest high-end watchmakers, exhibiting a clear technological, workmanship streak: a winning blend that will always have its aficionados.