Blancpain’s Lady B revives a 1956 idea as a tiny mechanical sculpture

Blancpain marked the Ladybird collection's 70th anniversary on 17 September 2026 with a watch that blurs the line between jewellery and timekeeping. Lady B has a polished spherical case just 19mm in diameter, with its leather strap passing through the body instead of attaching to conventional lugs.

The design recalls the 1956 Ladybird Bullet, developed when Betty Fiechter led the manufacture. Its smooth, stone-like shape is a modern reinterpretation, not a direct reproduction.

Despite the diminutive dimensions, the watch is mechanical. Blancpain's automatic calibre 615 measures 15.7mm across, contains 180 components and provides a 38-hour power reserve. The watch is offered in stainless steel or 18K red gold, with a double-tour calf strap.

In an industry often preoccupied with large complications, Lady B demonstrates a different kind of technical confidence: miniaturisation applied to an object meant to feel like jewellery.