The woman, the story: Betty Fiechter would have been pleased
Some objects possess a certain magic that takes them far beyond their practical use. In the world of haute horlogerie, the leading global brands are constantly searching for this intangible quality.
Another complication, another exotic material, another precious stone. Something more.
It is against this backdrop that Blancpain introduces a timepiece that is magical in its simplicity, demonstrating that beauty sometimes needs no explanation. A celebration of the Ladybird collection’s 70th anniversary was expected in 2026, yet what the brand has created still manages to surprise.
The story behind it is well known and remarkable in its own right. In 1939, Betty Fiechter became the first woman to lead a Swiss haute horlogerie brand.
Growing up in the small village of Villeret, watches were part of her everyday life: her father, Jacob Fiechter, owned a small movement company, whilst Blancpain was the largest local employer.
Her five-decade association with the brand began in 1912. In 1933, she bought the company in partnership with commercial director André Leal, following the final wishes of Frederic-Emile Blancpain, the last member of the Blancpain family to run the business.
Over the following 50 years, Betty Fiechter witnessed, experienced, and survived the First World War, the Great Depression, André’s death, the Second World War, cancer, and the advent of quartz watchmaking.
In 1956, she created the Ladybird Bullet, the first timepiece in the Ladybird collection, adopting an approach defined by excellence in miniaturisation and a refusal to use quartz – a principle Blancpain maintains to this day.
Seven decades ago, measuring just 11.85mm by 3.7mm, the R52/R55 calibre became the world’s smallest series-produced round mechanical movement. That legacy is now revived in the Lady B, which uses the manufacture calibre 615, measuring 15.7mm by 3.9mm and currently one of the smallest movements on the market.
Blancpain’s latest creation is a bold departure in an extremely conservative industry. Striking in its beauty, with a spherical case measuring just 19mm in diameter – and a total volume of only 2.9cm³ – it is instantly recognisable, standing apart from any other watch found in a jeweller’s window anywhere in the world.
On the wrist, it is as much a piece of jewellery as it is a watch.
The case is available in stainless steel or red gold, whilst the leather strap comes in seven different colours. Magnificent, distinctive, and unmistakable, the Blancpain Lady B is a work of art and a fitting tribute to the most important figure in the brand’s history.
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