Which watchmaker founded Blancpain in 1735, making it one of Switzerland’s oldest surviving watch brands?

Jehan-Jacques Blancpain founded Blancpain in 1735 in Villeret, Switzerland.

Blancpain traces its origin to Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, who established a watchmaking workshop in the family home. The company later became known for mechanical watches and developed an important reputation in complicated and professional timepieces.

Blancpain describes itself as the world’s oldest surviving watch brand, although claims about the “oldest” watchmaker can depend on whether continuity, founding date or uninterrupted ownership is being measured. The 1735 date is the key historical claim associated with Blancpain.

The brand is also strongly associated with the Fifty Fathoms, a professional divers’ watch introduced in 1953. That model came more than two centuries after the company’s founding.