In 1981, amid the quartz crisis, Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet bought and revived the historic Blancpain brand for just 22'000 CHF. Their mission was to push traditional Swiss mechanical watchmaking to new horizons, to counterattack the push on the market of quartz-powered watches. Biver led marketing while Piguet oversaw production. Together, they developed six iconic mechanical timepieces, now known as "the six masterpieces": the Complete Calendar Moon Phase, Ultra-Thin, Perpetual Calendar, Minute Repeater, Split Seconds Chronograph, and Flying Tourbillon were born. By 1988, all six masterpieces were completed. In 1991, Blancpain showcased the full set in matching platinum cases, releasing 99 limited edition sets during the 1990s.

This specific piece, the Perpetual Calendar reference 5395, is one of the members of the six masterpieces. It featured a clean triple-register white dial and moon phase at 6 o’clock. The later reference 5495 saw an upgraded movement that added the leap year indicator at 12 o'clock. Although this extra complication is a nice feature, the refined dial from the 5395 is still unmatched, keeping all subdials designs sober. These models were produced in various metals, such as this one in 18k yellow gold, but also platinum and even gem-set versions.

The watch is in fantastic condition. The dial is flawless, which is obviously the most important part of the watch. The hands sport tritium which has gained a charming patina. The roman numerals around the dial add classiness and complexity to the design. The 34mm yellow gold case, which perfectly fits both women and men, is also well kept, without too many marks, and no major bumps or scratches. Overall, this watch is the perfect piece for anyone looking to get an out-of-the-ordinary statement piece, which shows great taste and a certain watch knowledge.