Iconically Swiss

Blancpain and its Métiers d’Art Studio present a new, one-of-akind timepiece crafted in gold and in the brand’s cherished shakudō alloy, depicting a “battle of the queen cows” staged in front of the iconic Matterhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps

THE SPECIAL BREED of cows from the Val d’Hérens Alpine valley in Switzerland has been part of the Swiss national heritage since 1861 – their ancestors were already present in the area in 3000 BC. Thanks to their sturdy nature and short legs, these animals are capable of climbing to heights of 3,000 metres and more, and are above all known for their traditional fights held each spring as part of the ritual of taking them up to the alpine meadows.

These bovines with their strong and combative personality vie with each other to establish a hierarchy among the herd, by butting each other with their heads and horns. A cow is declared the winner when its opponent turns away or refuses the fight in a token of submission. At the end of this face-off, the herd’s “queen of queens” is thus designated. This status enables it to lead the others in the common quest for lush pastureland.