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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Ultra-thin dress watch

1960s Blancpain Rayville Ultra Thin Dress Watch

Partially verified

This Blancpain Rayville wristwatch from the 1960s is a manual-wind mechanical dress watch featuring a stainless steel case measuring 34mm in diameter. The watch features a silver-tone dial with baton markers and simple baton hands. The design emphasizes a slim profile, consistent with mid-twentieth-century Swiss manufacturing trends focused on movement efficiency and reduced case thickness. The watch is presented on a modern leather strap with a generic buckle. The auction description reports that the stainless steel case retains its vintage proportions, and the dial shows signs of wear primarily on the right side. The movement is described as mechanical.

Front view of the 34mm stainless steel Blancpain Rayville Ultra Thin wristwatch, showing the silver-tone dial and baton markers.
Front view of the 34mm stainless steel Blancpain Rayville Ultra Thin wristwatch, showing the silver-tone dial and baton markers. — Huntington Company. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
huntingtoncompany.com
Category
Wristwatch · Ultra-thin dress watch
Maker / attribution
Blancpain
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1960s
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
16856

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in a 34mm stainless steel case characterized by its slender profile and traditional proportions. The case back is plain, featuring only the engraved serial number 16856.

The auction description reports that the case retains its original vintage dimensions and character. The silver-tone dial remains in its original state, though visible wear is noted on the right-hand side of the dial surface. The crystal is described as clear, and the overall construction emphasizes a discreet and thin silhouette.

Evidence for this section
  • “Stainless steel case retains its slender profile and attractive vintage proportions.”
  • “Silver-tone dial retains its original vintage character and appearance with signs of wear mainly on the right side.”

Movement and Functionality

The watch is powered by a mechanical movement, although the specific caliber is not identified in the provided documentation.

The watch functions as a time-only piece, prioritizing a clean, uncluttered interface. The absence of additional complications allows the watch to maintain a thin profile, which the source identifies as an accomplishment in mechanical refinement and efficiency for the period.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement: Mechanical Movement”
  • “The pursuit of thin mechanical watches was an important part of Swiss watchmaking throughout the mid-twentieth century.”
  • “ultra-thin watches represented a different kind of accomplishment, one centered on mechanical refinement and efficiency.”

Signatures and History

The inclusion of the "Rayville" name in the model designation links the piece to a historical period during the twentieth century when the Rayville company was connected to the Blancpain manufacture.

This watch is highlighted as a product of the 1960s, a period when Swiss watchmakers were moving toward increasingly refined and understated designs for daily wear. The piece serves as an example of the manufacturer's output during a time when mechanical watchmaking was transitioning toward thinner and more simplified, classical aesthetic profiles.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rayville name occupies an interesting place within that history, having been closely connected to the manufacture during the twentieth century.”
  • “The Rayville Ultra Thin reflects that era beautifully, offering the kind of restrained design that characterized many of the finest dress watches of the period.”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement caliber used in this Rayville-branded Blancpain?
  • Does the serial number 16856 correspond to specific production archives from the 1960s?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for 1960s Blancpain Rayville Ultra Thin Dress Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
BrandBlancpain“Brand: Blancpain”
ModelRayville Ultra Thin“Model: Rayville Ultra Thin”
Year1960s“Year: 1960s”
Case MaterialStainless Steel“Case Material: Stainless Steel”
Case Size34mm“Case Size: 34mm”
DialSilver-tone“Dial: Silver-Tone Dial”

Visible details

  • Silver-tone dial with baton hour markers
  • Signed "Blancpain Since 1735" on the dial
  • Serial number 16856 engraved on the case back
  • Stainless steel case with slim profile

Research qualifications

  • Movement details not specified beyond "mechanical"
  • Exact year of manufacture within the 1960s is not verified

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

1960s Blancpain Rayville Ultra Thin Dress Watch

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record e1a6867c26

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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