In an era where “complicated” has become shorthand for skeletonized dials and extra sub-registers, Blancpain’s Grande Double Sonnerie arrives as a reminder of what grand complications really mean: mechanical ambition pushed to the edge of what’s wearable, serviceable, and acoustically beautiful on the wrist. This is not a watch that exists to chase social media hype or short-term scarcity. It’s a modern chiming masterpiece designed to sit in the same rarefied air as the most serious repeaters and sonneries ever made—only with a distinctly Blancpain twist: it can chime the time in two different melodies, selectable by the wearer.
What makes this launch especially notable is that it positions Blancpain—often celebrated for its Fifty Fathoms heritage and refined Villeret aesthetic—as a serious contender in the most elite complication category. The Grande Double Sonnerie is a flagship in the truest sense: low volume, largely handmade, and engineered around one of the hardest problems in watchmaking—turning time into music.
What “Grande Sonnerie” Really Means (And Why It’s So Hard)
A grande sonnerie is often described as the “king” of chiming complications. In simple terms, it automatically strikes the hours and quarters as time passes, like a miniature clock tower on your wrist. A petite sonnerie typically strikes the quarters without repeating the hour count at each quarter, and most grande sonnerie watches also include a minute repeater mode to chime the time on demand.
The challenge isn’t only mechanical complexity—though that’s immense—it’s also energy management (chiming needs power), precision regulation (tempo matters), and acoustic engineering (sound must be clean, consistent, and musical). With chiming watches, the human ear is unforgiving. Blancpain itself notes that when you’re listening to a melody, tiny irregularities in tempo become obvious—so controlling pace is essential.
The “Double” in Grande Double Sonnerie: Two Selectable Melodies
Here is the headline innovation: the Grande Double Sonnerie can chime in two different melodies, which the wearer can select. One is the classic Westminster chime, the benchmark melody most collectors associate with high horology. The other is an original “Blancpain melody” composed by musician Eric Singer (widely known as the drummer of KISS), creating a second sonic identity for the same watch.
This is not a cosmetic gimmick. In chiming watch terms, “two melodies” implies serious added complexity. The watch uses four notes (E, G, F, B) and corresponding hammers and gongs to produce the musical sequence.
For collectors, the appeal is surprisingly emotional. Many sonnerie watches are awe-inspiring, but they’re also singular—one voice, one signature sound. The Grande Double Sonnerie gives you a choice: the traditional, church-bell formality of Westminster, or a second tune that feels like a modern house signature. In 2026’s luxury landscape—where buyers increasingly want personality and storytelling alongside technical credibility—this detail matters.
Under the Hood: Calibre 15GSQ and the Big-League Spec Sheet
Blancpain built the Grande Double Sonnerie around a hand-wound movement known as Calibre 15GSQ, and the numbers alone tell you this is not incremental watchmaking. The watch contains 1,053 components, placing it firmly in “ultra-complicated” territory.
The complication stack is equally commanding: beyond the grande/petite sonnerie and minute repeater, the movement incorporates a flying tourbillon and a perpetual calendar with a retrograde date display.
In terms of power, Blancpain quotes a 96-hour power reserve for the movement, and specialist coverage notes separate reserves for the striking work depending on mode (shorter in grande sonnerie, longer in petite). It also uses two barrels that can be wound via the crown, each in a different direction—one of those details that signals “this was designed as a system,” not just a pile of complications.
Case and Wearability: Not Small, Not Apologetic
A watch like this isn’t pretending to be discreet. The case measures 47mm in diameter and about 14.5mm thick, crafted in 18k white or red (pink) gold, with sapphire crystals. Water resistance is stated around 10 meters—which is typical for this category, because chiming acoustics and robust water sealing are constant trade-offs.
Here’s the collector reality: this is not a “throw on and forget” watch. It’s a destination piece. But the best grand complications are wearable in their own way—not because they hide, but because they feel coherent. The Grande Double Sonnerie is engineered around sound resonance and mechanical stability first, and it looks the part: architectural, openworked, and unapologetically technical.
The Acoustic Engineering: Where the Watch Either Becomes Great—or Not
With chiming watches, finishing isn’t just visual; it’s audible. Blancpain emphasises the tuning and adjustment of the gongs so each note is precisely in tune, and it highlights the importance of controlling tempo—because once you move from a simple strike to a melody, the human ear becomes even more sensitive.
This is why sonnerie watches are often made in tiny numbers. You can’t industrialize “perfect sound” the way you can industrialize dial printing. Each watch becomes a small acoustic project—part mechanical engineering, part instrument-making. The Grande Double Sonnerie leans into that truth rather than trying to hide it.
Pricing and Production: A Halo Watch in the Purest Sense
This is the part that separates “headline complication” from “real flagship.” Multiple sources report that Blancpain can produce around two pieces per year, and pricing is stated as starting around CHF 1.7 million (often noted as “price upon request” depending on market and configuration).
In other words: this isn’t limited edition marketing—it’s limited by reality. At this level, the limiting factor is not demand; it’s the number of watchmakers capable of assembling, adjusting, and regulating something with over a thousand parts where timing must be accurate and music must be beautiful.
Why This Watch Matters in 2026
The luxury watch market has matured since the speculative highs of the early 2020s, and many collectors have become more selective. In that environment, halo pieces have a different job than they did during hype cycles. They are not simply “the most expensive thing.” They are brand statements—proof of technical legitimacy and creative identity.
The Grande Double Sonnerie does something important for Blancpain: it expands the brand narrative beyond dive-watch heritage and classic Villeret refinement into the realm of ultra-high watchmaking—without mimicking the usual playbook. The two-melody concept is the kind of idea that can only come from a brand confident enough to take risks at the top end.
Who Is This For?
Realistically, the Grande Double Sonnerie isn’t aimed at the buyer comparing chronographs. It’s aimed at a collector who already understands what a minute repeater is, who knows why a grande sonnerie is exponentially harder, and who values the intangible: the sensation of hearing time, the romance of mechanical music, the private joy of pressing a slide and letting a tiny orchestra perform on the wrist.
It’s also for the collector who wants something that feels less like a safe queen and more like a living instrument—one that can be interacted with and appreciated repeatedly, not just admired behind glass. At this level, the “wearing” experience isn’t about casual practicality. It’s about ownership intimacy.
Final Thoughts: A New Voice at the Summit
Blancpain’s Grande Double Sonnerie is one of the most ambitious wristwatches unveiled in recent years: a grande sonnerie + minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and flying tourbillon—all wrapped around a genuinely fresh idea in chiming watchmaking: two selectable melodies.
Whether you see it as a technical flex, a musical instrument, or a collector’s dream, it succeeds at the one thing a true flagship must do: it makes the rest of the brand feel deeper, more serious, and more alive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blancpain’s Grande Double Sonnerie
What is the Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie?
The Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie is an ultra-high-complication wristwatch that combines a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater, allowing the watch to automatically chime the time and strike it on demand. What sets this model apart is its ability to chime two different selectable melodies, making it one of the most musically complex wristwatches ever produced.
What does “grande sonnerie” mean in watchmaking?
A grande sonnerie is the most advanced chiming complication in horology. It automatically strikes the hours and quarters as time passes, similar to a clock tower, without user interaction. This is significantly more complex than a minute repeater, which only chimes when activated by the wearer.
What makes the Grande Double Sonnerie different from other sonnerie watches?
Unlike traditional sonnerie watches that use a single melody, the Grande Double Sonnerie allows the wearer to choose between two distinct chime sequences, including the classic Westminster chime and a second custom Blancpain melody. This dual-melody capability adds an entirely new layer of mechanical and acoustic complexity.
How many complications does the watch have?
The watch integrates multiple grand complications, including a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, minute repeater, flying tourbillon, and perpetual calendar with a retrograde date. All of this is housed within a single hand-wound movement comprising over 1,000 components.
How large is the Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie?
The case measures approximately 47mm in diameter and around 14.5mm thick, crafted in precious metal. While large, the size is necessary to accommodate the movement, gongs, hammers, and acoustic chambers required for a high-performance chiming watch.
Is the Grande Double Sonnerie meant to be worn daily?
This watch is not designed for casual daily wear in the conventional sense. It is a collector’s instrument intended for careful, intentional use. Owners typically wear it in controlled environments where its acoustic performance and mechanical artistry can be fully appreciated.
How many Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie watches will be made?
Production is extremely limited due to the complexity of assembly, regulation, and acoustic tuning. Industry sources indicate that Blancpain can produce approximately two pieces per year, making this watch exceptionally rare.
What is the price of the Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie?
The watch is priced at approximately CHF 1.7 million, though final pricing is typically listed as “price on request” and may vary depending on configuration and market.
Why is this watch important for Blancpain as a brand?
The Grande Double Sonnerie serves as a halo piece that elevates Blancpain’s position in ultra-high horology. It demonstrates that the brand’s expertise extends far beyond dive watches and classic dress models into the most demanding realm of chiming grand complications.
Who would buy a watch like this?
This watch is aimed at elite collectors who already understand high complications and value mechanical artistry, acoustic performance, and rarity. It appeals to those who view watches not just as timekeepers, but as musical instruments and expressions of horological mastery.
