Classic haute horlogerie dress collection
Dress watches prioritize elegance and slim profiles over technical specifications. Designed to slip under a shirt cuff, they typically feature minimal dials, thin cases, and leather straps. For the collector, a dress watch represents the art of restraint — where value lies in finishing quality rather than feature count.
Key metrics for dress watches are case thickness (ideally under 10mm), movement finishing visible through a display caseback, dial quality, and strap/buckle craftsmanship. Water resistance is typically lower (30-50m) since these watches aren't designed for sport use.
Dress watches are ideal for business formal, black tie, and occasions where subtlety is valued. They may feel under-dressed with casual wear. Many collectors own a dress watch alongside a sport watch to cover all social contexts.
Blancpain watches are available through authorized dealers with some negotiation room (5-15% off). The brand is considered undervalued by many collectors — you get Swatch Group manufacture-quality finishing and in-house movements at prices well below comparable Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet models.
| Ref | Variant | Market Price | Retail | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6223-1127-55A | Steel/White Grande Date | $7,000–$10,000 | $11,800 | $718/yr | 65 |