This inaugural edition marks a distinctive and promising moment for the industry.
“As a lifelong enthusiast of Concours d’Élégance concept, it has long been my dream to bring this concept to fine watchmaking. I am delighted that Vacheron Constantin has accepted our invitation to support the world’s very first Concours d’Élégance dedicated to timepieces and I look forward to the inspiring discoveries and scholarly conversations that will emerge from the timepieces entered in this competition”, said Aurel Bacs.

In a context of strong momentum in the vintage watch market, this competition strengthens the dialogue between the Maison and a very active community. It also represents an opportunity to welcome more watch enthusiasts and to reinforce existing links with the world of watch auctions.

The collaboration with Phillips brings unparalleled expertise in the appraisal and presentation of historical timepieces. Their in-depth knowledge of the collectible watch market will allow for the presentation of a selection of pieces that illustrate the diversity and unique richness of Vacheron Constantin.

Beyond its aim to unite and engage the collector community, this event takes on a heritage dimension.

“Following our  270th anniversary celebrations, this competition allows us to further honor those who preserve and promote the Maison’s expertise and history”, according to Christian Selmoni. “It also creates new opportunities for exchange, particularly with members of exclusive communities such as The Hour Club.”

The competition will highlight historical and contemporary pieces, celebrating the art of haute horlogerie in all its forms and emphasizing the importance of transmitting and preserving heritage.

A TRIBUTE TO HERITAGE AND THE QUEST FOR HOROLOGICAL EXCELLENCE
The competition is open to owners of Vacheron Constantin pocket watches and wristwatches launched between 1755 and 1999. Quartz watches, clocks and pieces that have undergone major modifications, as listed in the regulations, are excluded.

Eligible pieces will be evaluated according to nine criteria: authenticity, elegance, rarity, impact on the history of Vacheron Constantin and/or on watchmaking in general, provenance, technicality, métiers d’art (artistic crafts), state of preservation and emotional dimension.

Each watch will only be allowed to compete in one of the seven categories of this edition, at the owner’s choice:
1. Chiming mechanism: pocket watches and wristwatches equipped exclusively with a minute repeater, quarter repeater, half-quarter repeater or grande sonnerie.
2. Chronographs : pocket watches and wristwatches equipped with a two- or three counter chronograph, a single pusher, or a split-seconds mechanism.
3. Astronomical complications: pocket watches and wristwatches equipped with a triple calendar, a complete calendar or a perpetual calendar.
4. Multiple complications: pocket watches and wristwatches combining at least two complications – tourbillon, repeater (quarters or minutes), chiming mechanism, chronograph, split-seconds, complete or perpetual calendar, sky chart.
5. Chronomètre Royal: pocket watches and wristwatches bearing the official designation «Chronomètre Royal» issued from 1907.
6. Métiers d’art: pocket watches and wristwatches featuring engraving, enameling, gem – setting, guilloché or any other decorative craft, with the exception of skeleton pieces.
7. Design: pocket watches and wristwatches featuring Vacheron Constantin’s signature design, either in the case or through the time display – retrograde display, jumping
hour, world time, etc.

Registrations will be open from January 19th to April 30th, 2026, on vacheron-constantin.com and in the Maison’s boutiques.
The awards in the form of trophies, without financial compensation, will be granted in Geneva on November 10th, 2026, after the Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo autumn auctions.

The post Vacheron Constantin Concours d’Élégance Horlogère An initiative by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

A tribute to the Age of Enlightenment 
and the eternal human fascination with Time

Merging horological mastery, decorative arts, precision engineering and the poetry of movement, La Quête du Temps is the first-ever timepiece to feature an automaton as a functional time-telling complication. This celestial figure, a mechanical Astronomer, indicates the time through choreographed gestures in a mesmerising display of sound and motion.

Three dimensions, 
one masterpiece

The glass dome is over 40 cm in diameter. A star chart of the skies above Geneva at Vacheron Constantin’s founding is painted within, its accuracy ensured by the Geneva Observatory. A retrograde 3D moon circles on its dedicated track, while a symbolic Sun hangs aloft, and night follows day at the automaton’s feet. A curved grid of titanium holds scales for hours (Roman numerals) and minutes (Arabic numerals).

The Astronomical Clock – A multi-complication engine of celestial precision

The astronomical clock is the technical heart of La Quête du Temps, housing 23 complications in multiple layers. The upper half dominated by an oversize tourbillon surrounded by baguette-cut diamonds, is magnified for better viewing and flanked by the 15-day power-reserve indicators above the perpetual calendar functions and 24-hour time display. On the rear, rotating circles depict the celestial vault in real time, a cosmic map in motion.

The Base – Foundation of movement, sound, and symbolism

The two-level base combines visual elegance and mechanical power. A stylised rendering of the solar system occupies the upper platform, inlaid with lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl and cabochon stones representing the planets. Beneath, an octagonal base clad in a geometric pattern of rock crystal and semiprecious stones houses the mechanisms that drive both the automaton’s movements and their musical accompaniment.

ARCHITECTURE OF TIME

Created in Harmony

Over seven years of development, La Quête du Temps 
brought together more than 15 expert disciplines, each pushing 
the boundaries of their craft. From fine watchmaking to sculpture, 
from celestial mapping to musical composition, this masterpiece 
was born from collaboration, curiosity, and shared imagination.

A constellation of talents

At the heart of this collective quest is a mission to celebrate horology: expressing humanity’s fascination with Time. Master watchmakers conceived the calibre and designed the dome, consulting with astronomers from the Geneva Observatory. François Junod, recognised as the world’s greatest automatier, built the Astronomer and orchestrated the figure’s 144 fluid gestures, setting them to the music of an instrument created with composer Woodkid, who provided bespoke melodies for the three sequences. Extraordinary masters of every decorative art contributed to the miniature painting, engraving, gemsetting, marquetry, enamelling and more that adorn this masterpiece.

Where time begins
with a gesture

Each element, from the engraved constellations to the hand-painted celestial dome, was crafted with precision, passion, and purpose. It took six months of testing before a single stroke of the dome’s star map could be painted. Even the raw materials such 
as the rock crystal for the base required two years to source in the desired size and clarity.

This is more than an object. It’s a tribute to the power of human hands, minds, 
and dreams, united in a singular pursuit of beauty and excellence.

A living sculpture of Time

More than a complication, the automaton of La Quête du Temps is a philosophical and emotional centrepiece. Designed as a celestial Astronomer, this figure performs 144 distinct gestures, indicating time with elegance and precision – a world first in horology. Its movements are fluid, silent, and natural, orchestrated through 158 cams and a mechanical memory system linked to the clock.

La Quête du Temps: The Exhibition at the Louvre Museum

From 17 September to 12 November, 2025, La Quête du temps is on view at the Louvre Museum in Paris, as part of an exhibition featuring 11 horological masterpieces from Antiquity, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.

The post La Quête du Temps A Masterpiece beyond watchmaking appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

THE EVOLUTION OF AGE-OLD KNOW-HOW
The complications of this new Les Cabinotiers timepiece epitomise the transmission of watchmaking expertise through the generations – a core value of Vacheron Constantin. In 1819, the Maison produced a pocket watch with independent deadbeat seconds and a quarter repeater, one of the first of its kind. The watch incorporated a deadbeat seconds mechanism – a device that had been developed by various watchmakers in the late 18th century as a means of more accurately measuring very small units of time. Designed as an independent mechanism with its own gear train, it enabled the seconds hand to be stopped and restarted independently of the normal timekeeping function and is thus considered to be the forerunner of the chronograph.

The split-seconds chronograph mechanism has two coaxial hands, the second of which can be stopped to calculate an intermediate time before being restarted to catch up with the first. After the system was introduced – first with a single-hand system in 1831, then with the two-hand configuration in 1838 – Vacheron Constantin quickly incorporated these developments into its pocket chronographs.

The Maison’s chiming watches draw on an equally deep history.
Minute repeaters – watches that strike the hours, quarters and minutes on demand – have been part of Vacheron Constantin’s watchmaking vocabulary for more than two centuries. The first mention of a Vacheron Constantin striking timepiece in the production records is a gold quarter-repeating pocket watch recorded in 1806.

Since then, the Maison has continued to build its expertise in striking and repeating watches. Created in 1827, the first Vacheron Constantin watch with grande and petite sonneries, is an impressive example of this savoir-faire, as are Reference 4261 dating from the early 1940s, which incorporates a minute repeater in a calibre just 3.28 mm thick, and Reference 57260 which counts a grande et petite sonnerie (the former with Westminster chimes), a minute repeater, and an alarm among its 57 complications.

A similar historic evolution applies to the tourbillon. This mechanism, which significantly enhances isochronism by mitigating the effects of gravity, is first mentioned in the Maison’s archives with an order placed in 1901 by a Parisian client for a highly complicated timepiece that was to incorporate such a regulator. Over the decades, Vacheron Constantin’s watchmakers have continued to develop the tourbillon, notably by developing technical solutions with multiple axes. The Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon Armillaire bi-axial wristwatch with a spherical hairspring and the Les Cabinotiers – The Berkley Grand Complication, featuring a triple-axis tourbillon, are outstanding examples of this expertise.

While the combination of a chronograph and a minute repeater in a movement with a tourbillon regulator has been seen in some remarkable pocket watches, it has remained rare in wristwatches.

Vacheron Constantin saw this as an opportunity to create such a piece, in the tradition of the grand complication watches that have made its reputation for 270 years.

Three of Haute Horlogerie’s most emblematic complications, the chronograph, minute repeater and tourbillon are among the most difficult to create, let alone combine. Meeting the challenge, in 2022 the Maison unveiled Calibre 2757 in a single-piece edition Les Cabinotiers watch offering this rare and original combination in a single mechanism.

For the Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface, the watchmakers of Les Cabinotiers developed a new version of the calibre, with a spherical hairspring to further improve isochronism, and set it in a one-of-a-kind watch that reveals the beauty and complexity of the movement through an open-worked dial.

HOROLOGICAL MASTERY
The highly technical Calibre 2757 S incorporates 696 components, with the design of the movement, particularly in terms of its chronograph functions, subject to the imperative of performance.
Despite its complexity, the watchmakers at Vacheron Constantin have created a movement of great finesse, barely 10.4 mm high and 33.3 mm in diameter, remaining faithful to the principles of elegance that are a signature of the Maison.

When developing the original Calibre 2757, the additional splitseconds chronograph plate was specially designed with an in-depth arrangement of its components to enhance operating efficiency.

This optimisation of volumes to ensure the calibre’s thinness, was complemented by the use of new materials. Some of the wheels in the gear train have been made of titanium or electroformed in nickel-phosphorus, with a toothing profile particular to Vacheron Constantin that ensures improved penetration of the gears to prevent the second hands from shaking.

After much research, the chronograph seconds hands were made of aluminium, chosen for its rigid and ultra-light properties.

Silicon, another ultra-light material that requires no lubrication, was used for one of the split-seconds levers and its insulator.
These savings in component weight and friction reduce the loss of energy amplitude from the barrel. This contributes to a comfortable power reserve of 50 hours with the chronograph engaged, indicated by a display on the back of the watch.

With measurements accurate to 1/5th of a second thanks to the movement’s frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour, elapsed time is indicated on the peripheral minute track by the two central second hands, together with a 30-minute counter positioned at 2 o’clock. Because this function demands extremely high precision, Vacheron Constantin’s watchmakers opted for a construction with two column-wheels, one devoted to the chronograph and the other to the split-seconds hand.

The chronograph is controlled by a single push-piece at 2 o’clock for the basic functions (start/stop/reset) and by a push-piece at 4 o’clock for the split-seconds (stop/reset). Pressing the latter stops the second hand at an intermediate time while the first hand continues its course. When pressed again, the split-seconds hand instantly joins the first hand in the time countdown.

A CENTRIPETAL REGULATOR AND SPHERICAL HAIRSPRING
The minute repeater featured in Calibre 2757 S has also benefited from technical developments at Vacheron Constantin. These include an ingenious flying strike governor. This device has two weights shaped so as to act as a brake on the governor’s rotating shaft, thus evening-out the energy released by the repeater’s spring. To achieve this, it uses opposing centrifugal and centripetal forces. When the governor spins, the centrifugal force pivots one end of the weights outwards so that the otherend acts as a brake on the central shaft to bring the rotation and the strike to a steady rate.

The governor mechanism, which operates in total silence, regulates both the cadence and duration of the musical sequence so that the notes can be heard distinctly and clearly, with a complete absence of mechanical ‘background noise’. The distinctive feature of this system is its two flyweights with a shape specially designed to generate a kind of ‘motor brake’ by a centripetal force acting on the governor’s rotating shaft. This evens out the energy released by the minute repeater barrel.

Located at 6 o’clock, the tourbillon is fitted with a spherical hairspring, a shape that causes the spring to expand and contract concentrically, thus enhancing isochronism. The distinctive tourbillon cage is inspired by the Maltese cross, the Maison’s emblem. Held in place by a hand-bevelled bridge. the tourbillon performs one complete rotation per minute and a hand mounted on its axis indicates the small seconds.

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE ENHANCED BY HAUTE HORLOGERIE FINISHES
A transparent sapphire dial is the aesthetic signature of the new Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface.
Just 0.5 mm thick, it is distinguished by a highly complex mix of finishes: polished and frosted surfaces alternate on the counters, which are encircled by rings in 5N gold, applied by metallisation on the underside of the sapphire discs; the hour markers are treated with grey NAC and the chronograph markers are engraved and inked. The 30-minute chronograph counter hand and the two chronograph seconds hands are made of PVD-coated aluminium – their olive green colour matched by the green alligator leather strap that attaches the 45mm pink gold case to the wrist.

The sapphire dial and caseback reveal the quality of the hand finishing on the movement components, highlighting the
beauty of this kinetic artwork. Surfaces are, variously, bevelled, polished, satin-finished, grained, circular-grained, engraved and bead-blasted, creating a fascinating play of reflections and light.

Visible through the dial, the sides of the skeletonised bridges are hand-drawn and hand-bevelled and the surfaces are circled.
The wheels, with their bevelled spokes, are rolled and polished, a delicate operation that requires special tools when wheels are made of titanium. The metallic colours of the moving parts contrasts with the black NAC coating on the bridges and main plate.

On the reverse side of the movement, the watchmaker has created a distinctive decoration. The surface of the blackened
bridges was hollowed out then sandblasted by hand to a very fine grain and edged with a mirror-polished sink. The handchamfered sinks for the jewels and screws have also been mirror-polished. The beauty of the movement architecture is amplified by the contrast between the black bridges, their polished borders and the golden tones of the moving parts. The striking governor is engraved with the initials JMV, in homage to Jean-Marc Vacheron, and held by a semi-circular bridge that has been round-polished by hand – the polishing alone requiring eight hours of meticulous work.

Thanks to the meticulous attention to detail dedicated to this calibre, it took twice as long for the finishing of its components as it did to assemble and fit it into the case. As was the case for the 18th-century cabinotiers, a single watchmaker was in charge of the watch, carrying out all of the component finishing, as well as every assembly operation, right down to the adjustment and casing of the calibre. This manner of working is an eloquent testimony to Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to safeguarding the transmission of watchmaking expertise through the generations.

QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN SELMONI, STYLE & HERITAGE DIRECTOR
Why is this combination of functions – minute repeater, chronograph and tourbillon – so unusual and how does this watch highlight them?
The combination is very rare in wristwatches, essentially for reasons of volume and precision. More usually in grand complication wristwatches, we see minute repeaters associated with perpetual calendars. That configuration certainly requires a great deal of expertise but the chronograph, with its clutch and column-wheel system – which on this piece is duplicated for the rattrapante – is an even bigger issue in terms of miniaturisation. It presents a challenge not only for the height of the movement, but also the resonance of the gongs, given that the more ‘cluttered’ the case is with components, the more it can jeopardise the quality of the sound. Added to this is the space required for the tourbillon.

Therefore, it’s easy to understand why this combination of complications is much better suited to the volumes available in pocket watches rather than wristwatches. This is exactly what Vacheron Constantin wanted to highlight with this watch. The choice of an openworked sapphire dial for this new version of Calibre 2757 was made to reveal and highlight the full complexity of the mechanism, not least the ballet of its tourbillon, which remained hidden in the initial version presented in 2022.
What about the performance of the watch?
This grand complication incorporates a chronograph its most accomplished version – with split-seconds, a function that demands the utmost precision. The watchmakers at Vacheron Constantin paid particular attention to this issue, which is essential for obtaining Poinçon de Genève certification. This label of origin is also – and above all – a guarantee of quality and precision.
As for the reliability and functionality of the chronograph, this watch has benefited from in-depth research into materials, in order to achieve excellent performance and optimisation of the energy chain.

Why did the finishing on the components of this watch take twice as long as the assembling and regulating of the movement?
This is because the aesthetics of the piece are just as important as the mechanical prowess it represents. Every movement component, after machining, has to be reworked and finished by hand according to the desired aesthetic result. Some operations, such as chamfering and round-polishing (or berçage) are extremely time-consuming. As another example, the precision of the hand finishes applied to the bridges – which are sandblasted with a polished moulding around the edge – cannot tolerate even the slightest error in the artisan’s gestures. This obsession with detail is used to achieve surface finishes that go beyond Haute Horlogerie standards. The fact that Calibre 2757 comprises 696 parts explains not only the technical complexity of the complications but also the tremendous amount of work required for the decorative finishes.

This is an aspect of watchmaking in which Vacheron Constantin never compromises

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The double-sided Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Première breaks new ground, not only in mechanical complexity, innovation and design, but also in the realm of miniaturisation.

MECHANICAL COMPLEXITY

COMPLEX MINIATURISATION
One major difficulty lay in housing the Calibre 3655 and its 1,521 components in a reasonably sized case that would comfortably fit the wrist. Mission accomplished by the watchmaker, who succeeded in tucking the movement into a case measuring 45mm in diameter with a height of only 14.99mm – a watchmaking tour-de-force.

AN INNOVATIVE CHIMING MECHANISM
One of the first challenges was to accommodate a chiming mechanism without compromising the calibre’s slimness – especially as the musical sequence retained is the most sophisticated of all: a Westminster carillon with four gongs and four hammers. This complication alone accounts for 7 of the 13 patents filed for this unique piece.

TECHNICAL INNOVATION

FIVE RARE ASTRONOMICAL COMPLICATIONS
This watch occupies a special place in horology, notably for its five innovative astronomical complications, four of which relate to the course of the Sun across the sky. Thanks to an innovative mechanism, the display shows the position of the Sun in real time, its height, time of culmination and angle of declination – astronomical feats for a mechanical wristwatch.

TEMPORAL TRACKING OF CELESTIAL OBJECTS, A WORLD PREMIERE
This fifth astronomical complication – a world first – combines a split-seconds chronograph with a representation of the celestial vault and makes it possible to calculate the time it takes for a constellation or a given star to appear centred in the observer’s field of vision.

AESTHETIC REFINEMENT

LEGIBILITY OF DISPLAY
Given the concentration of complications, a major challenge was ensuring legibility. Four counters are positioned on the front, two of which display up to five complications each, while the back combines a sky map and chronograph functions. The watch face features a sophisticated interplay of white, black, and grey tones for a striking contrast that enhances ease of reading.

THE ART OF FINISHING
The components’ finishing required uncompromised attention to detail, notably due to an extreme miniaturisation of the entire Calibre 3655. To showcase the fascinating architecture of this movement, the components’ decoration includes nine types of finish, from circling to satin polishing.

The post The most complicated wristwatch ever made appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

A 270-year quest driven by passion and perseverance, constantly pushing the boundaries of technical and aesthetic mastery.

A history distinguished by innovations, records and bold creativity, perpetually in tune with the times while looking firmly to the future.

An anniversary celebrated throughout 2025, beginning with the launch of a new Historiques 222 timepiece in stainless steel.

In 1755 in Geneva, Jean-Marc Vacheron began writing the first chapter of a story that has become a remarkable human adventure – a quest for excellence passed down from generation to generation. The passion, expertise and creativity of the men and women of the Manufacture have shaped Vacheron Constantin’s identity through a subtle balance between technical mastery and artistic sensitivity. Deeply rooted in the workshops, these values do much to explain the Maison’s longevity. Since the turn of this century, Vacheron Constantin has marked each new decade by honouring its heritage, looking to the future and issuing a number of exceptional timepieces.

Throughout 2025, to mark 270 years of creation, tradition and innovation, a series of celebrations begins with the reissue of an iconic timepiece, much awaited by its clients, the Historiques 222, cased in stainless steel.

An extraordinary human quest

In the 18th century, when Vacheron Constantin was born, Geneva was a peaceful and economically prosperous city. ‘The factory that flourished most in Geneva was the watchmaking industry, which accounted for more than a fifth of the city’s population’, noted Diderot and d’Alembert’s Encyclopédie. Its booming economy was matched by great cultural richness: the home city of Rousseau, it attracted other great minds, including Voltaire, who took up residence the same year that the Maison was established.

Jean-Marc Vacheron’s signing of his watchmaking apprenticeship contract in 1755 is regarded as the founding act of Vacheron Constantin – the beginning of a quest for watchmaking excellence driven by the determination and passion of successive generations. This contract also established a fundamental value of the Maison: the transmission of knowledge and skills. The sharing of knowledge over 270 years – at first supported by the open-mindedness of the Age of Enlightenment and always driven by the desire for constant progress – has forged the character of Vacheron Constantin. In 1819, Jacques Barthélémi Vacheron, the founder’s grandson, received a note from his new business partner, François Constantin, urging him to “do better if possible, and that is always possible”. This maxim remains the motto of the Maison to this day.

Vacheron Constantin’s enduring success lies in its singular approach to watchmaking – one that deftly balances technical mastery and artistic sensitivity, mechanical complexity and craftsmanship, innovation and elegance. Witness the pocket watch with chronograph and chiming mechanism set in an elaborately chased 20k gold case, created in 1918 for American industrialist James Ward Packard; and the Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon, a single-piece edition timepiece created in 2023 for the dashboard of the bespoke Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail.

Timepieces such as these encapsulate the creativity and skill of the Maison’s watchmakers, artisans and designers, driven by perseverance and passion as they constantly push the boundaries, like a quest driven by perseverance and mastery.

This pursuit of fine workmanship has defined the Maison’s identity for the past 270 years and is showcased through a new communication campaign rolled out in 2025. The campaign refers to the quest for excellence that has always motivated Vacheron Constantin, both in the most accomplished expression of the art of watchmaking and in the promotion and transmission of knowledge. The result is a visual story of a human adventure which longevity is entirely dependent on this seek for beauty. Woodkid, a French musician and artistic director who has been working with the Maison for the past three years, notably on mentoring programs, has composed music dedicated to this 270-year quest for excellence.

270 years of technical accomplishments and horological innovation

Throughout its history, Vacheron Constantin has been imbued with a boldly creative spirit that has given birth to countless innovations, particularly in the field of high complications and timekeeping precision.

From the first calendar timepiece recorded in the Manufacture’s archives in 1790 to the 2024 Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication watch equipped with 63 complications, the Manufacture has explored many fields of technical expression: chiming watches, mechanisms for measuring short intervals of time, astronomical functions, special displays and tourbillon regulators.

These avenues of research and development have led to major innovations, not only in timekeeping mechanisms but also in the refinement of production processes. In 1839, the Manufacture engaged Georges-Auguste Leschot to invent a special watchmaking pantograph that enabled the standardisation and interchangeability of components for watches equipped with the same calibre. In 1934, it developed a portable high-frequency precision device enabling the calculation of 1/20th of a second.

In 1914 the Maison’s passion for technical innovation led to the creation of a very small rectangular movement named the tuyau (pipe). At just 26 mm long and 6.5 mm wide, it was the forerunner of the baguette movement, which was fitted to many jewellery watches. In 1932, Vacheron Constantin collaborated with Louis Cottier in developing Reference 3372, the first watch to incorporate the ‘Cottier system’ world time complication. Patented the previous year, the complication enables the simultaneous display of 24 time zones and was to become the standard on which almost all world time displays are based.

Many more world firsts have followed – among them the first retrograde date display (the “Don Pancho” in 1940), the first Hebraic perpetual calendar (Les Cabinotiers Reference 57260 in 2015) and the first Chinese perpetual calendar (Les Cabinotiers The Berkley Grand Complication in 2024). In 2019, the Maison developed a dual-frequency mechanism with two oscillators, presented in Calibre 3160 QP. By alternating between the 5 Hz oscillator (active mode) and the 1.2 Hz oscillator (standby mode), the power reserve can be extended to 65 days.

In Vacheron Constantin’s quest for excellence, accuracy of timekeeping is a prerequisite – equally fundamental in time-only calibres and the most complicated watches – such as Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600, which is orchestrated around civil, solar and sidereal time. This pursuit of timekeeping precision is symbolised by the Maltese cross that has been the Maison’s emblem since 1880. The emblem was inspired by the shape of a component in early movements that improved constant force from the mainspring.

In the 19th century, marine chronometers were synonymous with scientific progress, as the burgeoning of chronometry competitions – notably in Geneva from 1872 onwards – gave the Manufacture the opportunity to shine in this field. In 1869, Vacheron Constantin presented a pocket chronometer with a yellow gold hunter-type case and a white enamel dial, regulated by a highly accurate detent escapement. In 1947, a Vacheron Constantin pocket-watch, submitted to the Geneva Observatory and tested during the 44 days of the competition, registered an average daily deviation in rate of just two hundredths of a second.

In 1907, the Manufacture unveiled the Chronomètre Royal, conceived as a robust and highly technical timepiece that offered an outstanding level of precision and reliability. In 2007, the centenary of that watch was marked with a special re-edition that not only bore the Hallmark of Geneva and COSC chronometer certification, but also successfully passed the Manufacture’s stringent 30-day functional test.

Not content with simply mastering horological complications, Vacheron Constantin went further, combining them in highly complex calibres. During the first half of the 20th century, in keeping with long-established tradition, many special, high-complication timepieces were commissioned from the Maison by distinguished collectors or created as gifts for sovereign rulers. In 1929, King Fouad of Egypt was presented with a Grand Complication pocket watch with beautiful enamelling on the yellow gold case, by Egypt’s Swiss expatriate community. In 1946, as a gift for King Fouad’s son, King Farouk I, the Swiss government commissioned a chiming pocket watch in 18k yellow gold that combined a minute repeater with Grande and Petite Sonnerie with a split-seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar, indication of the phases and age of the moon, an alarm and two power reserves.

270 years of aesthetic mastery and bold creativity

Since the earliest days, the value that has clearly distinguished Vacheron Constantin from other watchmakers is that its continuing quest for complex mechanical engineering is inseparable from its pursuit of beauty and cultivation of aesthetic craftsmanship. This ethos is applied not only to the outside of timepieces but also to the inside part once assembled.

Every movement component is hand-finished – even those that are invisible once the watch is assembled. Many calibres carry the prestigious Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal), a hallmark awarded only to timepieces made in Geneva and attesting to the highest level of hand-decoration and finishing. Decorative techniques may include perlage, Côtes de Genève, bevelling, chamfering, mirror-polishing and engraving. An art unto itself, open-working involves the carving away of metal from movement components to leave only a fine structural skeleton that allows the eye to travel deep into the calibre – its most accomplished and technically demanding expression being the skeletonisation of ultra-thin movements.

Vacheron Constantin has its own métiers d’art workshops. Here, specialised artisans have mastered the crafts of engraving, gem-setting, enamelling and guillochage, among many others – elevating timepieces into miniature works of art and honouring a philosophy that dates back to the Maison’s beginnings.

An early example of this approach is a 1812 quarter-repeater watch with an enamel dial and guilloché caseback, which epitomised the Maison’s technical mastery and artistic sensibility. In 1943 the Maison introduced Reference 4261, a minute repeater with a record-setting ultra-thin movement just 3.2 mm thick. The technical prowess inherent in this movement is equalled by the pure elegance and sublime craftsmanship of its case and dial. At 36 mm in diameter and just 5.25 mm thick, the case – with double-stepped bezel and convex three-tiered sides – is complemented by teardrop-shaped lugs. On the sector dial, pierced dots mark the minutes and Roman numerals and faceted arrowhead hour markers are applied onto a guilloché pattern of concentric circles.

Today, combined with the Manufacture’s openness to world cultures (symbolised by its partnerships with some of the world’s greatest institutions – the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Educational Institute of the Palace Museum in Beijing), the expertise housed in the métiers d’art workshops has made possible the creation of pieces that are as original as they are beautiful. Among many examples the Métiers d’Art – Tribute to Great Civilisations (2022)). With four discs indicating the hours, minutes, days and dates, they seamlessly blend mechanics and art into a whole.

Throughout Vacheron Constantin’s history, its deep commitment to craft has been allied to great creative flair, fostering a signature that has been perpetually in tune with its time – inspired and progressive yet always imbued with classical elegance.

In the 1920s, as men began to adopt wristwatches rather than carrying pocket watches, Vacheron Constantin introduced the American 1921, an avant-garde wristwatch named after its year of launch and the market for which it was secretly produced. Capturing the spirit of the Roaring Twenties, it is said to have been originally designed with drivers in mind: with a cushion-shaped case offset by 45 degrees and the crown at 1 o’clock, its white enamel dial reveals time at a glance with no need for the driver, according to legend, to lift his hand from the steering wheel.

In June 1972, the French government awarded the rare Diplôme du Prestige de la France to Vacheron Constantin – the first watch company to receive the honour. To celebrate this honour, Vacheron Constantin designed a new wristwatch with an oval movement set in an asymmetrical quadrilateral case – an early example of the bold aesthetics that characterised the emancipatory style of the 1970s.

Since the creation of the Maison’s first ladies’ watch in 1889, Vacheron Constantin’s quest for innovative and imaginative watchmaking has consistently led it to pay particular attention to High Jewellery timepieces. A curved version of the baguette movement was made in 1916 for a ladies’ wristwatch acquired by the Maharaja of Patiala, Sir Bhupinder Singh. Crafted in platinum and diamonds, its open-worked, chased and engraved case enables a sideways view of the time. In 1979, the presentation of the Kallista represented the apotheosis of High Jewellery watchmaking. Carved from a one-kilo gold ingot and set with 118 diamonds totalling 130 carats, it required 6,000 hours of work.

In 1994, exploring an entirely different stylistic avenue, Vacheron Constantin commemorated the 400th anniversary of the death of the Flemish Renaissance cartographer Gerhard Kremer, known as Mercator. The dial of the Mercator watch features a multicoloured champlevé enamel motif representing one of his hemisphere maps and the movement features bi-retrograde hours and minutes. Time displays such as this, including jumping hours and retrograde indications, are a signature of the Maison – their visually engaging style underpinned by highly sophisticated mechanics.

Celebrating milestone anniversaries with exceptional timepieces

In 1955, to mark the bicentenary of its founding, Vacheron Constantin showcased the marriage of aesthetic elegance and technical know-how with a series of the thinnest watches ever conceived until that time. The three models were equipped with Calibre 1003, a hand-wound movement as thin as a 20 Swiss centime coin at just 1.64 mm ­– bearing the bearing the Poinçon de Genève hallmark as testament to the superlative hand-finishing of its components.

The Maison also presented the Reference 6068 in a limited edition. Its dial is distinguished by the Maltese Cross emblem – and the four lugs on the 18k yellow gold case form the same cross when brought together.

Since the 1990s, Vacheron Constantin has celebrated each decade anniversary by presenting timepieces that perfectly illustrate the expertise cultivated within the Manufacture since 1755.In 1995, to mark its 240th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin showcased its philosophy of balancing technical prowess and aesthetic sophistication, by unveiling a tonneau-shaped watch in gold or platinum. Set in a case with moveable lugs, Calibre 1127 offers a power reserve indicator along with date and small seconds displays.

In 2005, the Tour de l’Île watch marked the Maison’s 250th anniversary. The movement, Calibre 2750, united 16 complications to be read off a double-sided display, making it the most complicated ever series-produced wristwatch. In the same landmark year, the Manufacture presented the Saint Gervais – with a record-breaking 250-hour power reserve delivered by four barrels – the Jubilée 1755, an ode to sophisticated simplicity; the Métiers d’Art Four Seasons; and L’Esprit des Cabinotiers – a one-of-a-kind secret clock concealed within an eight-petaled pink gold orb.

A decade later, to mark its 260th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin unveiled the entirely new Harmony collection, comprising models for both men and women in a cushion-shaped case. Set in an 8.40 mm case, the Harmony Chronographe Grande Complication set a new world record with the self-winding Calibre 3500 – comprising 459 components – measuring just 5.20 mm thick. The flagship piece of this anniversary was the Les Cabinotiers Reference 57260 pocket watch, which took eight years to develop and craft, featuring 57 complications, including the first Hebraic perpetual calendar.

Historiques 222 stainless steel watch, reinventing a symbol of daring creativity

To begin the celebration of 270 years of passion, and in response to the expectations of its clients, Vacheron Constantin presents the inaugural timepiece marking its anniversary year: the Historiques 222 in stainless steel.

This model harks back to a legendary creation, first unveiled in 1977 to mark its 222nd anniversary. Designed by Jorg Hysek, the model was an immediate departure from the sports watch conventions of the time, which had mainly been professional models for pilots, divers and explorers, and captured a new cultural mood that blurred the lines between formality and sportiness. As well as marking a break with traditional sports watch characteristics, the 222 was a quintessentially 1970s design and introduced a new stylistic signature to the Maison.

Fitted with an integrated bracelet, its case featured a functional construction with a flat table, topped by a prominent fluted bezel and stamped with a Maltese cross at 5 o’clock. The monobloc case, which required the movement to be fitted from the top, was water-resistant to 120 metres thanks to its screw-down bezel. Displaying the hours, minutes and date, the 222 also boasted exemplary slenderness at just 7 mm, thanks to the ultra-thin Calibre 1120; measuring a mere 3.05 mm, it was the world’s thinnest full-rotor automatic movement. Balancing this visual elegance, the simple, baton-style hands and hour-markers, and the large hexagonal central links of the bracelet conveyed an impression of robustness and confident modernity.

In 2025, Vacheron Constantin presents a new edition of the first 222 model – nicknamed ‘Jumbo’ by collectors and featuring a blue dial framed by a 37 mm stainless steel case. The re-edition benefits from several technical improvements. The joints of the bracelet – which is now fastened with a triple-blade rather than a twin-blade clasp – have been redesigned to hide the visible pins and improve ergonomics. The caseback which bears a signature representing Vacheron Constantin’s 270th anniversary, has been fitted with a transparent sapphire crystal to reveal the in-house Calibre 2455/2. Slightly smaller in diameter than its predecessor, it is still only 3.6 mm thick. The oscillating weight of this high-precision movement is engraved with the original 222 logo and edged with a fluted motif reminiscent of the bezel. Thanks to its frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) – compared with 2.75 Hz on the original model – the movement offers enhanced precision and is endowed with a 40-hour power reserve.

On the dial, the date window has been moved towards the centre so that it no longer encroaches on the minutes track. The vintage font of the “AUTOMATIC” inscription and the Super-LumiNova® coating of the hands and hour-markers (off-white by day and lime green by night) are a nod to the hue of the tritium used in historical timepieces. The finishing displays Vacheron Constantin’s eternal attention detail, with a combination of vertical satin-brushing and polishing on several elements of the watch, such as the crown, bracelet and bezel, which creates fascinating light effects.

Like all of the models in Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques collection, the 222 marked an important point in the Maison’s history. While retaining the distinctive design – along with the nostalgic charm – of the original, the 2025 re-edition in stainless steel is absolutely contemporary, embodying the Maison’s core values with sophisticated refinement, a sense of casual ease and uncompromising commitment to the quest for excellence.

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• A creation stemming from a long-running collaboration with French designer Ora ïto, a Vacheron Constantin “One of Not Many” talent.

• A vintage-style monochrome timepiece in yellow gold framing a tone- on-tone dial adorned with concentric circles and a calfskin leather strap featuring graphic motifs inspired by the 1970s.

Inspired by a 1957 model, the Patrimony collection launched in 2004 pays tribute to the grand watchmaking tradition, concealing a complex construction beneath its understated aesthetic. The collection’s 20th anniversary  celebration concludes with the new Patrimony self-winding reference in a 100-piece limited edition, the result of a collaboration with designer Ora ïto.

Minimalist aesthetics inspired by the 1950s

The 1950s were characterised by the creation of outstanding watchmaking calibres whose slenderness matched the beauty of their construction. Vacheron Constantin’s ultra-thin manual-winding 1001 and 1003 movements belong to this category. Back in the day they powered References 6179 and 6187 which hold a special place in the history of the Maison. Calibre 1001 measuring barely 2.94 mm thick features a specific construction with five arabesque bridges. This Hallmark of Geneva-certified movement found its place in the category of chronometer-quality calibres thanks to its precision regulator. It foreshadowed Calibre 1003 launched in 1955 to mark the Manufacture’s bicentenary, the world’s thinnest movement (1.64 mm thick) at the time and still regarded as one of the highest-quality manual-winding models ever produced.

Inspired by these creations, Vacheron Constantin launched the Patrimony collection in 2004: stemming from classic traditional watchmaking, it is distinguished by understated design and a rare aura of elegance. During the 20 years following the launch of this now emblematic collection, Patrimony models have never deviated from these principles, typified by a round case with a slim bezel as well as a refined, domed dial with slender, curved applied hour- markers, curved baton-type hands and ‘pearl’ minutes track.

This apparent formal simplicity demands a high level of craftsmanship. The almost invisible dial curvature calls for stamping rigorously accurate to the nearest micron. The same obsessive concern for detail is applied to the curved shape of the hands, hour-markers as well as the ‘pearls’ on the minutes track, with each machined component requiring manual retouching involving the added difficulty of their tiny size.

Such aesthetic sobriety – a paradoxically complex exercise in style – is matched by High Watchmaking mechanisms. The Maison has developed several ultra-thin movements – both simple and endowed with horological  complications – such as manual-winding minute repeater Calibre 1731 and self-winding perpetual calendar Calibre 1120, respectively measuring 3.90 mm and 4.05 mm thick. All the collection’s timepieces are powered by mechanical movements ranging from those driving three-hand displays to others equipped with noble complications, including special displays such as retrograde date and day models.

The result of a longstanding collaboration

According to Ora ïto, “A good design wasn’t created to be disposed of after a period of usage, it is designed around essentials to make it eternal.” The aesthetic worlds of Patrimony and Ora Ïto were made to meet and mingle. The face of the collection since 2019 as part of the “One of Not Many” campaign, the French designer is a longtime admirer of the Patrimony collection, a horological embodiment of his “Simplexity” concept.

A neologism combining two seemingly contradictory notions: simplicity and complexity, Simplexity is the art of proposing a simple response to a complex problem, of giving a simple appearance to an object involving invisible complexity. From architecture to furniture, fragrances, phones and public transport, Ora ïto is known for perpetual reinvention and for focusing resolutely on essentials – perfectly illustrated in the Patrimony self-winding watch.

A signature timepiece

Understated, quintessential and timeless, the new Patrimony self-winding model celebrates the collection’s apparent simplicity. This 100-piece limited edition features a 40 mm yellow gold case framing a tone-on-tone gold-coloured dial adorned with an infinite number of concentric circles catching the light. This visually simple, circular geometry spreading like a rippling wave echoes the cambered dial surface. Astronomy enthusiast, Ora ïto explains that “this circular movement of light refers to the Baily Pearls, a spectacular phenomenon that accompanies an eclipse of the sun by the moon”. Yellow gold enjoys pride of place: on the applied hour-markers, on the ‘pearl’ minutes track and on the slender, slightly curved hands following the shape of the dial. This multitude of details lend a subtle vintage touch to the watch, as do the date discreetly displayed at 6 o’clock in a tone-on-tone aperture along with the metallic transferred Vacheron Constantin logo appearing beneath the sapphire crystal.

On the reverse, the sapphire crystal caseback reveals in-house self-winding Calibre 2450 with hours, minutes, seconds featuring High Watchmaking, notably including circular graining on the mainplate, Côte de Genève pattern on the bridges and an openworked gold oscillating weight revealing a Maltese cross. The model is paired with a burgundy calfskin strap, punctuated by rectangular shapes with softened angles that reinforce the vintage character of the watch and make a striking contrast with the circular geometry of the case and dial.

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Part retro, part contemporary, the Fiftysix collection is rooted in Vacheron Constantin’s heritage

Its inspiration is twofold: on the one hand, 1950s’ aesthetics, particularly Reference 6073 created by the Maison in 1956; on the other, the Manufacture’s Maltese cross emblem, whose outline discreetly graces several details distilled across various models in the collection. Me Fiftysix aesthetic is thus at the confluence of styles and eras, expressed through multiple variations in pink gold or steel and driven by a self-winding movement in a complete calendar version or with day, date and power-reserve indication.

New Fiftysix self-winding opts for an original, contrasting combination of gold, black and anthracite tones

Harmoniously extended by lugs evoking a Maltese cross, its 40 mm round 18K 5N pink gold case frames a sector-type dial typical of watches produced in the 1950s. For the first time in the collection, it is black toned, with double finishes, opaline in the centre and sunburst on the surrounding chapter ring, offering an elegant play on light and shade with the warm shimmer of pink gold. The contrast continues with the applied 18K 5N pink gold Roman numerals, along with the hour-markers and hands coated with luminescent material ensuring enhanced legibility in the dark. Me dial aesthetics are further enhanced by the box-type sapphire crystal topping the bezel, in the style of post-war watches. This retro-contemporary aesthetic is matched by an anthracite nubuck calfskin leather strap with ecru stitching.

On the reverse, the Calibre 1326 self-winding movement reveals its Côtes de Genève finishing through the sapphire crystal caseback. Me pink gold oscillating weight is open worked and adorned with a Maltese cross, the symbol of Vacheron Constantin’s watchmaking excellence for nearly 270 years.

A powerful 1950s-inspired identity

The personality of the Fiftysix is rooted in the 1950s, the golden age of round, elegant timepieces and more specifically in Reference 6073 presented by Vacheron Constantin in 1956. The fact that this watch occupies a special place within the Maison’s heritage is because it was one of its very first timepieces to feature a self-winding movement, at a time when most were still powered by hand-wound mechanisms. In addition to its technical features ensuring precision and reliability, it also features strong character and retro elegance. Fiftysix watches borrow their streamlined design from their predecessor, reinforced by lugs whose design is inspired by the branches of the Maltese cross. Like the vintage models, they also feature a box-type crystal that dominates the bezel, a sector-type dial and harmoniously alternating Arabic numerals and baton-style hour-markers characteristic of the 1950s.

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Our expert watchmakers are endowed with the unique gift of creating emotion. They have a talent that no machine could ever replace.

They are the artists of time. Passed on from generation to generation, their expertise has endured within the Maison since 1755. Telling extraordinary stories and offering an artistic vision of time, these are the feats accomplished by our Master Craftsmen.

THE MASTER ENGRAVER: ARTISAN OF FORM

Watchmaking offers engraving an exceptional range of expression. Present on the cases, dials and even the tiny components of movements, this age-old art infuses each piece with its unique character. Using movements accurate to the nearest tenth of a millimeter, they shape the curve and depth of the motif. Engraving ensures that a work of art will remain literally etched in history and living memory.

Introducing the latest masterpieces from our Métiers d’Art collection: a series of four limited-edition watches that pays homage to the rich history and culture of China’s final two Imperial dynasties.

THE MASTER GUILLOCHEUR: ARTISAN OF DEPTH

An art of the hand and machine, guilloché work subtly plays with light to lend depth to a surface. These finely carved motifs with exceptional regularity and delicacy are the work of extremely talented Master Craftsmen. With an expert hand, the Master Guillocheur achieves strikingly beautiful, symmetrical or figurative motifs—one of the particularities of the Maison, whose expertise extends well beyond classical guilloché work.

THE MASTER ENAMELER: ARTISAN OF COLOR

This Métier d’Art is so rare that only a few Master Craftsmen in the world have mastered the required skills. To faithfully reproduce designs on the dial, talent is not enough and many years of training are necessary to master each enameling technique whether it be Grand Feu, cloisonné or champlevé. Finally comes the crucial stage of firing, which allows the enamel to fuse to the matrix and is no longer at the mercy of time.

THE MASTER JEWELER: ARTISAN OF LIGHT

Working with extremely fine layers of gold, the Master Jeweler must adapt to the constraints imposed by the functional nature of the watch, while respecting the stones and the metal. Patience and concentration are vital in setting the perfect stage for these stones and enabling them to sparkle with dazzling radiance. the Master Gem setter injects the pieces with soul, perfecting their personality.

THE MASTER WATCHMAKER: ARTISAN OF TIME

Sensitive to the beauty of the watch, Watchmakers challenge themselves to find technical solutions to serve high standards of aesthetics. Through them, the hours reveal their personality and follow a steady rhythm. A perfect illustration of technicality in its most beautiful expression.

ETERNAL FLOW

Adorned in pink gold or white gold, the Eternal Flow series exemplifies the artistry of cloisonné enamelling, a revered technique that originated in China. Each timepiece blends intricate shapes and vivid hues to encapsulate the essence of ancient symbolism.

Paying tribute to Chinese cultural tradition, this limited edition in 18K white gold highlights a highly symbolic motif : the “Seawater Cliff”, combining the fluidity of water against the force of the mountain. Illustrated on the dial and rotor, it is sign of long-lasting unification and stability of the country as well as prosperity and longevity. Named Eternal flow, this cultural heritage is brought to life thanks to the mastery of cloisonné enamel. The hand-engraved bats on the bezel amplify the symbolism of the motif. Its self-winding movement is stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva, a guarantee of excellence and reliability.

Paying tribute to Chinese cultural tradition, this limited edition in 18K 5N pink gold highlights a highly symbolic motif : the “Seawater Cliff”, combining the fluidity of water against the force of the mountain. Illustrated on the dial and rotor, it is sign of long-lasting unification and stability of the country as well as prosperity and longevity. Named Eternal flow, this cultural heritage is brought to life thanks to the mastery of cloisonné enamel. The hand-engraved bats on the bezel amplify the symbolism of the motif. Its self-winding movement is stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva, a guarantee of excellence and reliability.

MOONLIGHT SLIVERS

The Moonlight slivers series also showcases the “Seawater Cliff” motif, on a sophisticated monochrome base. The gold dials feature a stunning array of techniques, from Grand Feu enamelling to intricate engraving and delicate gem-setting.

Paying tribute to Chinese cultural tradition, this limited edition in 18K 5N pink gold highlights a highly symbolic motif : the “Seawater Cliff”, combining the fluidity of water against the force of the mountain. Illustrated on the dial and rotor, it is sign of long-lasting unification and stability of the country as well as prosperity and longevity. Named Moonlight slivers, this cultural heritage is brought to life thanks to a combination of métiers d’art such as enamelling, hand-engraving and diamond-setting. Its self-winding movement is stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva, a guarantee of excellence and reliability.

Paying tribute to Chinese cultural tradition, this limited edition in 18K white gold highlights a highly symbolic motif : the “Seawater Cliff”, combining the fluidity of water against the force of the mountain. Illustrated on the dial and rotor, it is sign of long-lasting unification and stability of the country as well as prosperity and longevity. Named Moonlight slivers, this cultural heritage is brought to life thanks to a combination of métiers d’art such as enamelling, hand-engraving and diamond-setting. Its self-winding movement is stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva, a guarantee of excellence and reliability.

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• A creation reflecting the Maison’s long and rich history of jewellery and pendant watches.
• A piece that comes to life thanks to the meticulous savoir-faire: a mantle of light, embroidered with 57 facets emerald-cut diamonds on the watch; along with diamonds, Akoya and onyx pearls on the pendant. A high-jewellery and versatile timepiece composed of 268 diamonds, for more than 46 carats.
• Creativity as its best: a timepiece composed of a watch and a tassel sautoir that can be worn in four different ways.

The powerful bond between Vacheron Constantin and women has been forged throughout the Maison’s uninterrupted activity since its founding in 1755. Right from its early years – the oldest gemset piece in its private  collection dates from 1812 – the Manufacture has cultivated creativity imbued with elegance matching fine craftsmanship in the realm of Haute Joaillerie. The Grand Lady Kalla now adds a dazzling new chapter to this tradition. Based on the design of the iconic Kalla introduced in 1980 – itself heir to the Kallista unveiled in 1979 – the new timepiece offers several ways of wearing it. A luminous treasure born from the virtuoso pairing and  setting of more than 46 carats of exclusively emerald-cut diamonds, this model is an outstanding example of Vacheron Constantin’s creative freedom and expertise.

A tribute to history
In 1979, Vacheron Constantin made watchmaking history with the Kallista, whose opulence – starring 130 carats of diamonds – was matched only by the innovation of Raymond Morretti’s design, a geometric rivière carved out  of a solid gold ingot from which the watch’s 140 grams were drawn. Issued as a single-piece edition, it was the world’s most expensive watch creation. Its descendants were no less spectacular, as exemplified by the Kalla  unveiled in 1980. Also sculpted from a block of 18K yellow gold sparkling with 108 emerald-cut diamonds totalling around 30 carats, the watch became so iconic that it inspired an eponymous collection whose singular  creations have earned unanimous acclaim. One notable example is the white gold Lady Kalla with a satin strap, which won the Jewellery Watch award at the first Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2001. Nine years later in  2010, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Lady Kalla, the Lady Kalla Flamme was presented, glowing with the fire of 57-facet diamonds and inaugurating the Flame cut, devised by Vacheron Constantin and duly approved by  the GIA (Gemological Institute of America).

In 2024, the Grand Lady Kalla honours the name that inspired it, the Greek word kallista meaning “the most beautiful”. From the first sketch in the design studio to the final polishing operation, the new creation embodies a  wealth of superlatives. The subtlety of the adjustments is matched by their virtuoso execution. The 57 facets of the emerald-cut diamonds chosen for this new piece underline their crystal-clear clarity. Slightly slimmed down to  reflect contemporary tastes, the dial is distinguished by the meticulous work of the master gem-setter who has adorned it with modernised prongs. Reduced to a minimum to provide space for the hands, they are triangular on  the bracelet and case middle to highlight the stones; or pyramid-shaped to form the Maison’s iconic Maltese cross sparkling in the light. The sautoir necklace featuring onyx and diamonds, as well as Akoya pearl tassels chosen  for their luster and their roundness, creates an appealing dialogue between Art Deco and the 21st century.

A jewel on the wrist Emerald-cut diamonds, Akoya and onyx pearls
A veritable Haute Joaillerie masterpiece, the Grand Lady Kalla testifies to the determination to pass on excellence that has consistently driven the Maison. The elegance of the emerald cut, which requires a perfectly pure  crystalline material, is amplified by the beauty of the pairing. No less than 131 diamonds have been meticulously selected by the Maison’s gemmologists to ensure a harmonious match in terms of colour, clarity and luminosity.  The extreme precision of the setting, given the sharp angles of the emerald cut, allows the stones to express their true nature. Their broad flashes of light create a fascinating sparkle bringing special radiance to the design.

The art of the Maison’s jewellers is also expressed on the sautoir necklace, whose mobile ornament paved with 15 diamonds for over 12 carats features a superb centre stone GIAcertified over 2 carats. This transformable  jewellery piece can be worn both on the necklace and on the bracelet.

One watch and one tassel sautoir, four original ways to wear them
Comprising a watch and a sautoir necklace, the Grand Lady Kalla is a playful, contemporary invitation to glide stylishly from wrist to neckline and back. The quartet of wearability options afforded by this timepiece chimes with  the creativity characterising the history of Vacheron Constantin for more than two and a half centuries. This expertise is vividly illustrated by ladies’ pendant watches such as the 1924 model featuring a removable fastening system serving to transform the platinum pendant set with rubies, emeralds, onyx and diamonds into a brooch.

A century later, the Maison has quadrupled this transformability, embedding it firmly in the present era. The Grand Lady Kalla thus instates a jewellery dialogue between a watch entirely set with diamonds and a sautoir  necklace combining diamonds and Akoya pearls contrasting with onyx beads.

The watch can be removed from the bracelet to be replaced by the jewel element gracing the sautoir necklace.

The latter can in turn accommodate the watch, reviving the elegant gestures of the early 20th century, when women glanced at the time using their fingertips, by touching their sautoir. To ensure perfect alignment with  contemporary styling, the master artisans of the Manufacture have deployed their mastery in such a way that the Grand Lady Kalla can be very easily transformed in an entirely tool-free way.

From Geometry to Artistry, Vacheron Constantin annual theme
A Vacheron Constantin watch is far more than merely the sum of its parts. Starting from a sketch, a geometrical drawing and its technical extensions, a whole world of shapes, colours and textures is born. The complex  structures of mechanical engineering combine with design; meticulous detail gives life to grace; artisanal intelligence sparks emotions. Based on formal, mathematical study, Vacheron Constantin timepieces are thus endowed with a touch of soulfulness and elegance representing the ultimate expression of artistic talent. The classicism of the Traditionnelle collection; the minimalism of the Patrimony watches; the allure of Égérie; and the sporty-chic  spirit of Overseas, all vividly illustrate this alchemy within which artistry is inspired by geometrical shapes, expressed through Vacheron Constantin’s 2024 theme.

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Égérie – The Pleats of Time, a concept watch:
• A diamond-set pink gold case, a lilac mother-of-pearl dial adorned with a ‘pleats’ pattern and an original Haute Couture strap woven with exquisite embroidery and mother-of-pearl shards: a horological experience that, above and beyond the watch, makes time stand still.
• An innovative concept watch: Yiqing Yin called on master perfumer Dominique Ropion to create a dedicated fragrance, encapsulated in the strap and randomly released in step with wrist movements.

Égérie moon phase:
• A dial aesthetic reflects Yiqing Yin’s creative universe.
• Three interchangeable straps in colour shades developed by the Haute Couture designer.

A “One of Not Many” creation
This is a singular creation, as much for its looks as for the creative process leading to its birth.
The Égérie concept watch stems from an artistic collaboration between Vacheron Constantin and Yiqing Yin, a “One of Not Many” talent.

United in their quest for refinement and a shared vision of excellence, the Manufacture and the Haute Couture designer have come up with the Égérie The Pleats of time, a concept watch. This creation orchestrates a dialogue  between three worlds: Haute Horlogerie,  Haute Couture and Haute Parfumerie. The roundness of the 37 mm pink gold case embellished with diamonds, the ‘pleats’ pattern adorning the powdered lilac dial, as well as the  asymmetrical geometry so cherished by the Maison whose name appears at 8 o’clock in a diagonal with the moon phase and crown at 2 o’clock. All combine to create a refined and original feminine silhouette into which Yiqing  Yin has instilled an aesthetic appeal that awakens the senses. The Maison and the Haute Couture designer also called on French master perfumer Dominique Ropion to craft an original fragrance that is encapsulated in the watch strap.

Above and beyond the object, a sensory experience
Under Yiqing Yin’s impetus, the Égérie collection reveals a new facet of its personality through a markedly different aesthetic, infused with the designer’s inimitably ethereal universe.

The dial is freed from hour-markers, extending an invitation to experience time in an intuitive and emotional way. Crafted in mother-of-pearl, it is draped in a ‘pleats’ pattern that unfolds in two stages across its entire surface:  in the centre, encircled by fine gold ‘pearls’, as well as around the edge, extending the folds and hollows. Yiqing Yin chose a soft lilac colour, “a feminine, evanescent shade like a delicate embodiment of a daydream”. This hue  also adorns the moon phase sculpted in mother-of-pearl. A row of diamonds enhances the complication, swept over by extremely slender hours, minutes and seconds hands.

Yiqing Yin has designed an exclusive strap adorned with exquisite artistic embroidery, in which mother-of-pearl shards are inlaid between silk threads. According to the designer, “this work recounts the sinuous course of water in a natural landscape, unfurling its scalloped volutes, somewhere between the fragility of shed snakeskin and the elegance of abstract lace. The irregularities adorning the strap bear the imprint of the human hand, creating a  visual dialogue with the pure geometry of the dial.” Invisible yet essential to the personality of this timepiece, a fragrance imagined by master perfumer Dominique Ropion is encapsulated in the strap.

A scent of innovation
The dedicated fragrance specially created for this concept watch stems from numerous exchanges between the master perfumer and the Haute Couture designer. “Dominique is an alchemist of emotions. Our initial idea was to  create a watch offering a singular and sensorial perception of time”, says Yiqing Yin. Then came a wealth of creative and brainstorming sessions to combine emotions and formulas until the scent that would embody the Égérie – The Pleats of Time watch came to life.

As Dominique Ropion explains when evoking the core aims of the process, it was about “creating a fragrance that would be universal, like time itself. A mineral scent with pastel, wintry, powdery and iridescent notes, playing  with the sun and wisps of smoke.”

To ensure this fragrance would echo Yiqing Yin’s approach, a meticulous combination of ingredients was created: a mineral and marine accord of ozonic notes and galbanum; notes of lavender and orange blossom; winter  freshness based on a honeysuckle and immortelle accord; iridescent highlights with tuberose and ylang-ylang; sunshine in a bottle conveyed by orange and lemon; wisps of time passing through incense (olibanum, myrrh,  opoponax) and oud.

Once the fragrance had been defined, the idea was to encapsulate it in the heart of the strap and “accept the passage of time in order to breathe and be receptive to wonder”, as Yiqing Yin points out.

This led to a comprehensive innovative process in which the droplets of fragrance concentrate were encapsulated. Each component of the strap (lining, loop, embroidery, etc.) was then steeped in these encapsulations. The  perfume contained in the nanocapsules is released randomly, as the strap rubs against the skin and in step with wrist movements.

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• Technical mastery to ensure the slimness of complication movements: a tourbillon powered by ultra-thin Manufacture Calibre 2160.

• A watch adorned with a total of 85 baguette-cut diamonds set on the bezel, index and pin buckle.

Vacheron Constantin enriches its Overseas collection with a new technical and precious tourbillon model. Available in an original combination of white gold with a blue dial, it is also distinguished by its bezel and hour-markers entirely set with baguette-cut diamonds. This 42.5 mm-diameter sporty-chic watch features a slender curvature thanks to its ultra-thin self-winding movement, in-house Calibre 2160 with tourbillon. The watch comes with three interchangeable bracelet/straps. The case-integrated first white gold bracelet is fitted with a folding clasp, while the two additional straps in blue calfskin and rubber are secured by a likewise interchangeable white  gold pin buckle set with baguette-cut diamonds.

Baguette-cut diamonds: a first on the Overseas collection

Vacheron Constantin has chosen the Overseas tourbillon model to introduce two new additions to its collection dedicated to the spirit of travel.

For the first time, the model is attired in white gold, a material perfectly suited to its sophisticated nature.

To bring out the luminous gleam of the metal, the watch bears the collection’s emblematic satinbrushed blue dial.

The second addition is about the colour contrast, enhanced by the setting of 60 diamonds on the six-sided bezel, extending onto the hour-markers.

Unlike the other Overseas models, the diamonds set on this piece are baguette-cut, with minimalist contours echoing the watch’s highly structured silhouette. This precious Overseas tourbillon high jewellery is also extremely elegant thanks to its slim case.

Ultra-thin: reflecting technical mastery

The Overseas tourbillon watch offers an excellent interpretation of Vacheron Constantin’s understated, creative aesthetic combined with perfect technical mastery.

This symbiosis is notably expressed through the slenderness of its curvature, made possible by its ultra-thin movement, Calibre 2160 measuring a mere 5.65 mm thick.

Such proportions – just over 10 mm thick for the cased-up watch – are achieved by means of the 22K gold peripheral rotor ensuring an 80-hour power reserve. This construction not only enhances thinness by eliminating the  central axis of rotation of the oscillating weight, but also gives a clearer view of the entire movement from the back.

The show staged by this ultra-thin Calibre 2160 is all the more striking. Drawing all eyes, the ballet performed by the regulator is particularly impressive due to its slender architecture, a veritable technical feat accentuated by  the care devoted to the movement finishes. With its circular-grained mainplate; bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève and hand-bevelled, like the tourbillon bar; its frosted wheels as well as its chamfered and polished screws,  Calibre 2160 and its 188 components offer a concrete embodiment of technical and precious High Watchmaking.

Beating at a frequency at 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour), it displays the hours and minutes, as well as the small seconds on the tourbillon carriage.

One watch, three faces

Water-resistant to 50 metres with a screw-down crown, the Overseas tourbillon high jewellery watch features an interchangeable bracelet/strap system. A special feature of the collection, this technical trick enables the straps  to be changed entirely tool-free, thereby enabling Overseas watches to take on new looks to match the circumstances. Supplied with an integrated white gold bracelet fitted with a folding clasp, the model adopts a sportier vibe with a blue rubber strap, or a more classic character with a calfskin leather strap in the same shade. Both straps are fitted with a white gold pin buckle, itself interchangeable tool-free and set with 16 baguette-cut diamonds.

Sum-up

With the Overseas tourbillon high jewellery watch, Vacheron Constantin introduces two new features to its collection dedicated to travel and discovery:

a new combination of the emblematic Overseas blue dial and a white gold case with integrated bracelet; along with the setting of baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, hour-markers and pin buckle.

This watch with its slender curves is powered by the ultra-thin self-winding in-house Calibre 2160 with tourbillon, measuring just 5.65 mm thick. Beating at a frequency of 2.5 Hz, it ensures an 80-hour power reserve while  driving displays of the hours, minutes as well as small seconds on the tourbillon carriage. The watch comes with two additional interchangeable straps in blue rubber and calfskin, themselves fitted with a gemset pin buckle that is itself interchangeable without any need for tools.

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• A masterpiece of engraving and guilloché work, this single-piece edition reflects a period of prosperity coupled with extraordinary artistic and cultural dynamism.

• Emblematic of the Maison’s technical mastery, and protected by four patents, in-house Calibre 1990 combines a bi-axial tourbillon with an instantaneous bi-retrograde display.

The single-piece editions in the new Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages collection reflect Vacheron Constantin’s geographical expansion, of which the Americas were a major milestone. These new territories became part of  the Vacheron Constantin world at a very early stage, with the first contacts made in the United States in 1832, followed by Brazil in 1835 and Mexico ten years later. In the U.S., the turn of the century was marked by an intense  period reflecting the principles of Art Deco, which quickly became a comprehensive art form. The new Les Cabinotiers Armillary tourbillon – Tribute to Art Deco style watch, bearing the Hallmark of Geneva, is driven by in- house Calibre 1990 featuring a bi-axial tourbillon regulator with instantaneous biretrograde hours and minutes display.

Vacheron Constantin and Americas

Setting up its first representative office in New York as early as 1832, Vacheron Constantin was quick to identify the United States as a key market. The Maison’s watches soon met with success in booming cities such as  Philadelphia and New Orleans. Within the space of just a few decades, it found its place among the country’s social and cultural personalities, with a clientele including leading lights and captains of industry.

Among the timepieces of historical importance to Vacheron Constantin, many were made for American clients.

Aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright placed an order in 1890 for a pilot’s watch to be strapped to the thigh, the very first of its kind. Three decades later, at a time when the Maison became a shareholder in the American Watch Case Co case manufacturer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ordered several thousand watches. The cushion-shaped American 1921 watch, specifically created for the United States, in turn testifies to the  buoyant mood of the Roaring Twenties, which brought a breath of fresh air to the nation. Art Deco was the dominant style at the time, perfectly in keeping with this optimistic, modern vision of a world in the grip of tremendous cultural effervescence. This style imposed new architectural solutions that soon reached dizzying heights in New York, before taking over the fields of furniture, interior design, clothing and cars to the point of  becoming a comprehensive art form in the United States.

It was also a time when the wristwatch was beginning to establish itself as the new horological standard, accompanied by the fanciful touches typical of the spirit of the age. This period notably featured the aesthetic of the  American 1921, designed by Vacheron Constantin during these years of intense creativity and now celebrated with the new Les Cabinotiers Armillary tourbillon –Tribute to Art Deco style.

A subtle combination of engraving and guilloché

With its highly architectural design, generous armillary tourbillon and openworked dial featuring a bi-retrograde display, the watch offers an ideal creative space for combining aesthetics with Art Deco style codes. Entrusted to the Maison’s master engravers, this task not only involves reworking the bridges and plate of Calibre 1990, but also adorning the case middle with a frieze extending over the lugs.

The master engraver juggled several techniques between the case and the rear movement bridges.

Bas-relief serves to obtain a more accentuated motif than drypoint work; the surfaces are hand-chased point by point; while rounding off consists of gently rocking the intaglio tool, whose rounded bevel is fitted with thin sharp steel tips.

The guilloché work complements the engraving techniques applied to the case in 18K 3N yellow gold and to the movement machined from a nickel-silver alloy chosen for its rigidity. On the front, the calibre is entirely hand-guilloché in a perfectly geometrical, purely Art Deco-inspired radiating pattern. The metal has been given a black DLC surface treatment to accentuate the contrast with the colour of the case and bridges, again recalling the  combination of brass and wrought iron typical of Art Deco ornamentation.

On the back, the three engraved bridges feature a motif reminiscent of the decorations on New York skyscrapers at the turn of the 20th century, with the added challenge of creating an uninterrupted pattern despite the break  between the bridges.

It took one month to complete these three components, not counting the bas-relief engraving on the case middle done by the master artisan and extending to the motif created on the back of the movement through a striking  play of light and shade accentuated by the depth of the relief. The technique used consists of removing material to bring out the contours of the engraving. After drawing the motifs with a scriber, the master artisan uses the  pounced ornament technique, which involves intricate chasing using a scorper, a kind of wider-tipped burin. As the sculpture becomes progressively slimmer, the tool itself becomes thinner. Particularly suited to three- dimensional creations where volumes have little depth, this technique provides scope for breathtakingly accurate details, further enhanced by the finishing. This is the first time that the bridges of Calibre 1990 have been  engraved.

Finally, the folding clasp securing the black alligator leather strap of this 45 mm-diameter model was also engraved with Art Deco motifs.

Calibre 1990, a movement featuring historical references

Protected by four patents, Calibre 1990 has benefited from the technical developments made on the Les Cabinotiers Reference 57260 watch, the world’s most complex timepiece to date with its 57 complications.

A manual-winding movement with a 58-hour power reserve, Calibre 1990 features an instantaneous bi-retrograde display of the time indications and a bi-axial armillary tourbillon with spherical balance-spring. The time can  be read on the right-hand side thanks to a retrograde display with grade 5 titanium hands moving over a semi-circular track punctuated by Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes. Confined to a  wide flange, this track reveals part of the movement, reinforcing the technical appearance of the timepiece already accentuated by the construction of the regulator.beating ensures greater isochronism and therefore enhanced precision, in addition to the beneficial effect of the regulator’s rotation, which neutralises the effects of Earth’s gravity

The configuration of Calibre 1990 frees up the left-hand part of the dial, which is exclusively occupied by the bi-axial armillary tourbillon positioned at 9 o’clock beneath a bubble formed by the sapphire crystal. The distinctive  feature of this regulator – oscillating at a rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour and bearing the small seconds hand – is its dual-axis construction with two interlocking aluminium carriages, each rotating at a speed of 60 seconds.

At the heart of the tourbillon is a cylindrical balance-spring with no terminal curve, whose perfectly concentric beating ensures greater isochronism and therefore enhanced precision, in addition to the beneficial effect of the regulator’s rotation, which neutralises the effects of Earth’s gravity.

Each of these two technical developments has its own historical reference. The tourbillon owes its name ‘armillary’ to Antide Janvier, astronomer and watchmaker by appointment to King Louis XVI, one of whose greatest  masterpieces was a moving sphere with a planetary wheel known as an armillary. The cylindrical balance-spring dates back to Jacques-Frédéric Houriet’s invention in 1814 and is coupled here with an escapement featuring an  escape-wheel in silicon with diamond-polished pallets, materials boasting a very low friction coefficient and requiring no lubrication.

Four patents mark the technical innovations of Calibre 1990. These relate firstly to the instantaneous retrograde system, controlled by a single minutes cam that perfectly synchronises the jump of the two hands at midnight or  noon. The patented escapement collet – a component securing the inner end of the balance-spring – is made of titanium. This material matches that of the regulating organ, resulting in improved regulatory performance. The  third patent concerns the architecture of the tourbillon carriage, which rotates every 15 seconds to form the Vacheron Constantin Maltese cross emblem. The final patent covers the silicon escape-wheel, with its diamond- polished pallets offering greater resistance to wear and friction.

Les Cabinotiers Récits de Voyages series

Vacheron Constantin’s vocation has always been to perfect the art of watchmaking in Geneva while remaining open to the world. The founder’s grandson Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron (1787- 1864) was the first to criss-cross the roads of France and Italy, followed by his partner François Constantin (1788-1854), a tireless traveller who oversaw the commercial development of the Maison. He established commercial relations with Central Europe,  South America, Scandinavia and Asia, during a period in time when Vacheron Constantin was also gaining a foothold in the United States and China, as well as in Brazil, Hong Kong and Cuba.

François Constantin’s  correspondence stretching over a quarter of a century paints the portrait of a Manufacture that was open to a Europe undergoing major restructuring in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the  Congress of Vienna. This scope and reach continued to expand as the Vacheron Constantin name crossed borders and conquered new markets. Since that time, the very notion of travel has been inherent to the values of the  Maison, an integral part of the human adventure characterising its nearly 270-year history. Following in its founders’ footsteps, the Maison offers these Récits de Voyages series as a watchmaking odyssey through the world and its wonders, applying craftsmanship and mechanical art as its means of expression.

Sum-up

The single-piece edition Les Cabinotiers Armillary tourbillon – Tribute to Art Deco style watch represents the Americas within the Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages collection, which symbolises Vacheron Constantin’s spirit  of openness to the world since the dawn of the 19th century. This highly technical timepiece, measuring 45 mm in diameter and bearing the Hallmark of Geneva, is powered by Calibre 1990. This in-house movement features  an open architecture conducive to the finishing, engraving and guilloché work. Several engraving techniques are used on this timepiece: the case middle and lugs, along with the movement components, mainplate and bridges,  have been delicately sculpted in bas-relief, as well as guilloche-worked chased and rounded off by hand. The motifs are Art Deco-inspired, reminiscent of the ornamentation on the New York skyscrapers built at the dawn of the 20th century. Manual-winding Calibre 1990 benefits from the developments made on Vacheron Constantin’s single-piece edition Reference 57260 – the world’s most complicated watch to date – to display the hours and  minutes by means of bi-retrograde instant-return hands and the small seconds on the dual-axis armillary tourbillon. This is the first time that Vacheron Constantin has performed engraving work of this kind on this movement.

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• For the first time, the Maison’s master enameller has employed the grisaille technique using green enamels to pay an original and vibrant tribute to the mythical five-clawed imperial dragon depicted on the dial.

• Emblematic of the Maison’s technical mastery, this one-of-a-kind watch set with baguette-cut diamonds is powered by in-house Calibre 1120, an ultra-thin selfwinding movement.

The single-piece edition timepieces in the new Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages range reflects Vacheron Constantin’s geographical expansion. With the first commercial contacts forged between Vacheron Constantin and  China in the mid-19th century, this country became an essential travel destination. To pay tribute to this country, the Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery – Dragon watch features a green grisaille enamel dial, a first for  Vacheron Constantin and an original backdrop for the mythical five-clawed imperial dragon. Manufacture Calibre 1120, one of the thinnest self-winding movements ever produced, powers this one-of-a-kind timepiece set with  baguette-cut diamonds.

Vacheron Constantin and Asia

Vacheron Constantin’s human adventure, which gives substance to artistic crafts, is enriched with Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages, an imaginary horological odyssey to destinations representing the various historical  stages in the expansion of the Maison. Each one-of-a-kind timepiece in the collection evokes the arts and cultures of the different continents visited by the Maison. This international expansion, which began in the early 19th  century, also included China.

The emperor turned to the best European artisans, including Vacheron Constantin to rebuild his lost collection. Having begun prospecting the Chinese market in the first half of the 19th century, with business contacts  documented as early as 1845, the Maison had already established a solid reputation in the country.

First green grisaille for Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin’s master artisan has devised a new grisaille enamelling technique to enhance the dial of this timepiece and highlight the mythical five-clawed dragon.

A symbol of power, nobility and good fortune, this creature is always accompanied by its pearl, an emblem of wisdom.

The art of grisaille, a technique dating back to the 16th century, reveals the motif in a play of chiaroscuro, designed to endow it with special depth. This now rare technique consists of applying layers of a rare white enamel  known as Limoges white to a dark enamel base. Each layer is then fired in a kiln, with the firing time precisely defined to the nearest second. Over the course of the firing, the details of the dragon take shape, gradually giving  consistency to the way in which the dragon is staged with a wealth of incredibly accurate details. The enameller’s work generally ends with the application of a final layer of lapped translucent enamel to achieve an effect of  brilliance and depth that brings out the contrasts in the painting.

For this piece, the Maison’s master enameller took a different approach by choosing to give a green tint to the translucent enamel applied to the initial work in Limoges white. This colouring reinforces the mythical appearance  of the depiction. To accentuate the depth effect, the master enameller then used Limoges white for the final subtleties of the motif by means of successive layers fired in the kiln. Another first is the combination of grisaille  enamel and gemsetting. The 40 mm case in 18K white gold is set with 146 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, middle and lugs (7.1 carats). The crown is adorned with a reverse-set brilliant-cut diamond. It is paired with a dark green alligator leather strap featuring a white gold pin buckle set with 16 baguette-cut diamonds.

Calibre 1120: a legendary ultra-thin movement

The Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery – Dragon watch is distinguished by its elegant silhouette. This model with a case measuring just 8.9 mm thick benefits from the Maison’s expertise in the world of ultra-thin calibres.

While Vacheron Constantin’s first ultra-thin calibres date back to the 19th century, the Manufacture developed several movements renowned for their slenderness throughout the 20th century, in response to the comfort-related expectations of a clientele won over by wristwatches.

In 1911, for example, Vacheron Constantin’s records show three calibres with different diameters but a common thickness of 2.82 mm. This quest for thinness led to the creation of movements measuring 2.25 mm thick in 1917  and 1.88 mm in 1924. In 1955, to celebrate its bicentenary, Vacheron Constantin presented Calibre 1003, a manual-winding movement just 1.64 mm thick and at the time the thinnest ever produced.

At just 2.45 mm thick, Calibre 1120 reflects this same concern for combining technical sophistication with elegant design.

Introduced in 1968, this movement was redesigned in 2010 with an 18K gold oscillating weight shaped like a Maltese cross. It retained the same size, yer with a higher 40-hour power reserve. Bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, it was taken to the next level in terms of decoration and finishing, featuring a Côtes de Genève motif, circular graining, chamfering and straightgrained flanks. With its 144 components and a regulator operating at a  rate of 19,800 vibrations per hour (2.75 Hz), this latest-generation Calibre 1120 drives the watch’s white gold leaf-shaped hands.

Les Cabinotiers Récits de Voyages series

Vacheron Constantin’s vocation has always been to perfect the art of watchmaking in Geneva while remaining open to the world. The founder’s grandson Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron (1787-1864) was the first to criss-cross  the roads of France and Italy, followed by his partner François Constantin (1788-1854), a tireless traveller who oversaw the commercial development of the Maison. He established commercial relations with Central Europe,  South America, Scandinavia and Asia, during a period in time when Vacheron Constantin was also gaining a foothold in the United States and China, as well as in Brazil, Hong Kong and Cuba.

François Constantin‘s correspondence stretching over a quarter of a century paints the portrait of a Manufacture that was open to a Europe undergoing major restructuring in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the  Congress of Vienna. This scope and reach continued to expand as the Vacheron Constantin name crossed borders and conquered new markets. Since that time, the very notion of travel has been inherent to the values of the  Maison, an integral part of the human adventure characterising its nearly 270-year history. Following in its founders’ footsteps, the Maison offers these Récits de Voyages series as a watchmaking odyssey through the world and its wonders, applying craftsmanship and mechanical art as its means of expression.

Sum-up

Vacheron Constantin presents Les Récits de Voyages, a collection of one-of-a-kind Les Cabinotiers timepieces combining craftsmanship and technical mastery. This collection dedicated to the Maison’s international expansion  that began in the 19th century celebrates the spirit of openness it has demonstrated from the outset. Each watch illustrates the successive stages of this odyssey. Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery – Dragon pays tribute to  China, a country whose trade with Vacheron Constantin dates back to 1845. On the dial of this watch featuring a five-clawed imperial dragon and its pearl, Vacheron Constantin’s master artisan has created a motif in green  grisaille enamel, a first for the Manufacture, another first being the gemsetting of a model with a grisaille enamel dial. The case of this timepiece is entirely set with 146 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, middle and lugs,  while a brilliant-cut diamond adorns the crown. This Hallmark of Geneva-certified watch is powered by self-winding Calibre 1120, a legendary movement distinguished by its extreme 2.45 mm thinness and its aesthetically  pleasing construction. It is housed in a white gold case measuring 40 mm in diameter and 8.9 mm thick, paired with a dark green alligator leather strap secured by a gemset white gold pin buckle.

The post Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery Dragon appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

• Vacheron Constantin’s artisans pay homage to traditional Asian architecture and to the Maison’s former headquarters by engraving the dials with three golds, a new technique based on 19th century illustrations.

• Emblematic of the Manufacture’s technical mastery, these four watches are powered by in-house Calibre 1120, an ultra-thin self-winding movement.

The single-piece edition timepieces in the new Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages collection reflect Vacheron Constantin’s geographical expansion. As early as the mid-19th century, the Maison felt a need to explore Asian  countries and establish commercial contacts, particularly in China, from its historical base in the heart of Geneva. This is reflected in the four Les Cabinotiers – Memorable places watches, whose hand-engraved dials are  inspired by period illustrations of famous architectural sites in the Far East and Geneva. They are equipped with in-house Calibre 1120, one of the finest self-winding movements ever produced.

Vacheron Constantin – Far East and Geneva

The first half of the 19th century was synonymous with all-out expansion for Vacheron Constantin. As the Maison found a representative in Brazil, and established itself in Cuba as well as India, all the while delivering its watches to the farthest reaches of the Mediterranean, it was also prospecting the Chinese market. The Treaty of Nanking in 1842 put an end to the First Opium War and opened up new commercial prospects for Europeans.  This was the era of watches for the chinese market that were sold in pairs, designed to withstand humidity and characterised by the richness of their engraved and enamelled decorations. Vacheron Constantin became the Manufacture that contributed, among others, to establish the jewellery watch on the Chinese market, in the words of historian Alfred Chapuis, specialized in watchmaking. From the turn of the century onwards, the number of  partnerships increased, enabling the Maison to strengthen its presence in Asia.

A sought-after travel destination not least because of the traditional architecture of its temples and palaces, the region was also of interest to many illustrators of the time. It was indeed depictions of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, the Temple of Confucius in Beijing and the former Chinese imperial Old Summer Palace, as depicted by so many 19th century artists, that served as models for the single-piece Les Cabinotiers – Memorable places edition.  These timepieces pay tribute to the centuries-old ties with Asia that Vacheron Constantin has woven from Geneva. With this in mind, the Tour de l’Île – Vacheron Constantin’s historical headquarters in Geneva – was also chosen to feature on the dial of a Les Cabinotiers – Memorable places watch inspired by a period engraving. Built in the 13th century as protection against attacks from France, the Château de l’Île burned down several times.  Demolished in 1677, all that remained was the tower. Restored two centuries later, it has become one of the town’s key heritage monuments.

Engraving in three gold colours

The dials of Les Cabinotiers – Memorable places watches depict four historical sites using a new technique that combines engraving – and for two of them a touch of damascening.

Each dial is composed of several plates cut from yellow, white and pink gold, juxtaposed to form the different coloured elements of the painting, or even superimposed to give depth to this precious assemblage.

Before being assembled, these plates are first engraved using micro-sculpture techniques and line-engraving incisions. The challenge for the master artisan is to work on plates that are no more than 0.4 to 0.8 mm thick, and  therefore not to exceed 1 to 2/10ths of a millimetre in engraving them. It takes no less than 200 hours to create a single dial.

Thanks to the precision of the engraver’s deft touch, the reliefs take shape, the depth of field is accentuated, and Nature comes to life. To give an even more realistic touch to the two timepieces representing the site of Angkor  and the Imperial Summer Palace in Beijing, he also proceeded to damascene the tree’s foliage. This decorative technique involves embedding a metal wire in an engraved surface, meaning either pink or yellow gold encrusted  into a white gold base. Given the dial dimensions, it is a task requiring supremely meticulous care, especially as the gold inlays are only slightly softer than white gold. Each composition is framed by a 40 mm-diameter case in 18K 5N pink gold, surrounded by a slim, engraved circular ring highlighting the extraordinary craftsmanship of these pieces.

A legendary ultra-thin movement, Calibre 1120

Vacheron Constantin has chosen its ultra-thin 1120 self-winding movement to power these watches that discreetly display the hours and minutes by means of leaf-type gold hands.

Following on from the legendary manual-winding Calibre 1003 measuring 1.64 mm thick and presented in 1955 to mark Vacheron Constantin’s bicentenary, the Maison began developing Calibre 1120 in 1966, this time with a  self-winding mechanism. The objective was the same: to present an ultra-thin movement of great strength and beauty. This goal was reached in 1968 with the launch of a movement measuring just 2.45 mm thick and 28 mm in diameter.

In 2010, with the release of a limited-edition Historiques Ultra-fine 1968, Vacheron Constantin gave a new lease on life to its Calibre 1120. Redesigned with an 18K gold oscillating weight shaped like a Maltese cross, it retained  the same size, but with a higher 40-hour power reserve. Bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, it was taken to the next level in terms of decoration and finishing, with a Côtes de Genève motif, circular-graining, bevelling  and straight-grained flanks. Since then, this Calibre 1120 has continued to feature in Vacheron Constantin’s collections, but mainly in new versions where it serves as the base movement for the integration of complication modules, most notably the perpetual calendar.

For this series of watches dedicated to historical architectural achievements and each issued as a single-piece edition bearing the Hallmark of Geneva – certifying both origin and fine craftsmanship – this same Calibre 1120  reappears in its original time-only version. Comprising 144 components and a regulator operating at a rate of 19,800 vibrations per hour (2.75 Hz), it is housed in a case measuring a mere 9.1 mm thick and fitted with an  alligator leather strap secured by a pin buckle.

Memorable places – La Tour de l’Île

In 1843, Vacheron Constantin moved from Geneva’s “Fabrique” district to the Tour de l’Île, which had previously been occupied by the police force. For a long time, the Tour de l’Île was the only checkpoint along the north- south axis of European communication routes because of the bridge over the Rhône adjoining the building. The Tour de l’Île was home to Vacheron Constantin and its workshops for some 30 years, before the Maison moved to  the nearby Quai des Moulins in 1875. The same artisanal techniques are used on the dial of this single-piece edition timepiece, inspired by a drawing by French lithographer Auguste Deroy (1823-1906) and dating from 1881.  This strikingly realistic composition is thus presented on a dial composed of seven pink, yellow and white gold elements that are micro-sculpted and line-engraved before being assembled.

Memorable places – Entrance gate to Angkor Thom

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Comprising 200 temples and waterworks spread over some 400 km2 in Cambodia, it contains the remains of the various capitals of the Khmer Empire established between the 9th and 15th centuries. Among these, Angkor Thom, built in the 12th century, was the last and most enduring. The depiction by Louis Delaporte (1842-1925) of the southern gateway to Angkor  Thom served as the model for this single-piece edition. Its dial is composed of nine engraved and damascened pink, yellow and white gold plates, assembled and even juxtaposed to create a depth effect. This very meticulous
work took some 200 hours to complete.

Memorable places – Old Summer Palace

Beijing’s historical Summer Palace, originally known as the “Garden of Perfect Clarity”, is a former imperial palace built 15 kilometres from the Forbidden City and home to architectural treasures as well as magnificent art and  antique collections. This Palace comprising three gardens covering a 3.5 km2 area was built over a period spanning the 18th and 19th centuries as the main residence of the Qing dynasty. This timepiece is an ode to to the Qing  Dynasty Royal Garden culture, its architecture, engraving, sculpture and horticulture: its depiction in an engraving from 1873 served as a model for the dial of this single-piece edition timepiece. Composed of eight engraved  and damascened pink, yellow and white gold plates, assembled to form a striking image of the former Summer Palace, this dial represents more than 200 hours of work.

Memorable places – Entrance gate to Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum

Built in 1302 under the reign of Témur Khan of the Yuan dynasty, and twice enlarged to occupy 20,000 sqm, Beijing’s Temple of Confucius is the second largest in China. The timepiece is a real tribute to the Confucian culture  which is the ground of forming China’s cultural and human activities in the old and contemporary society. The monument is close to the Imperial College, a complex of buildings dating back to the 14th century that served for many years as an administrative centre before being converted into a museum. As shown in a drawing by Emile Thérond (1821-1883), published in an 1864 travel journal, the portico leading to this architectural complex served as an example for the dial of this single-piece edition watch. The dial is composed of six engraved and micro-sculpted pink, yellow and white gold plates, meticulously assembled to create this unique composition in which  depth is created by the use of solid colours.

Les Cabinotiers Récits de Voyages series

Vacheron Constantin’s vocation has always been to perfect the art of watchmaking in Geneva while remaining open to the world. The founder’s grandson Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron (1787-1864) was the first to criss-cross  the roads of France and Italy, followed by his partner François Constantin (1788-1854), a tireless traveller who oversaw the commercial development of the Maison. He established commercial relations with Central Europe,  South America, Scandinavia and Asia, during a period in time when Vacheron Constantin was also gaining a foothold in the United States and China, as well as in Brazil, Hong Kong and Cuba.

François Constantin’s correspondence stretching over a quarter of a century paints the portrait of a Manufacture that was open to a Europe undergoing major restructuring in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the  Congress of Vienna. This scope and reach continued to expand as the Vacheron Constantin name crossed borders and conquered new markets. Since that time, the very notion of travel has been inherent to the values of the Maison, an integral part of the human adventure characterising its nearly 270-year history. Following in its founders’ footsteps, the Maison offers these Récits de Voyages series as a watchmaking odyssey through the world and its wonders, applying craftsmanship and mechanical art as its means of expression.

Sum-up
To illustrate its Récits de Voyages in Europe and Asia, Vacheron Constantin is presenting four Les Cabinotiers – Memorable places models, each representing a single-piece edition bearing the Hallmark of Geneva and dedicated to the Maison’s spirit of openness to the world. To create the dials of these timepieces featuring the site of Angkor Thom, the former Chinese imperial Old Summer Palace, the Confucius Temple in Beijing and the  Tour de l’Île – the Maison’s 19th century Geneva headquarters century – the Manufacture’s master engravers drew inspiration from illustrations dating from the 19th century, at a time when Vacheron Constantin was making  its first contacts with China. The strikingly realistic dials were created using a technique unprecedented at Vacheron Constantin, consisting of  micro-sculpting and engraving six to nine extremely thin yellow, pink and white gold plates measuring less than a millimetre thick. These dial components are then assembled and juxtaposed by playing on the shades of gold to form the depiction, or even superimposed to accentuate the reliefs and the  depth effects. To make the composition even more realistic, the technique of damascene was also used to create the canopy of the trees featured. These 40 mm-diameter pink gold watches are powered by self-winding Calibre  1120, Vacheron Constantin’s legendary movement, chosen not only for its extreme thinness of 2.45 mm but also for its construction.

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The single-piece editions in the new Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages collection reflect Vacheron Constantin’s geographical expansion. Crossing Europe, the journey passes through Paris, a capital where Vacheron Constantin has had its own agent since the early 19th century and whose current urban planning stems from the major works conducted by Georges Eugène Haussmann under the Second Empire. Witness Les Cabinotiers  Malte Tourbillon – Tribute to Haussmannian style watch, distinguished by its in-house manual-winding Calibre 2790 SQ, an ultra-thin skeleton movement featuring a tourbillon regulator with date and power reserve.

Vacheron Constantin and Europe

Europe proved bountiful territory for Vacheron Constantin. Jean-Marc Vacheron, whose workshop founded the Manufacture in 1755, was himself the son of a weaver who had emigrated to Geneva. France and Italy soon came  to represent major commercial outlets for the founder’s descendants, with ports such as Genoa and Livorno offering close contacts with merchant navies. From the beginning of the 19th century following the partnership  concluded between Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron and François Constantin in 1819, the Maison gradually extended its reach to the main countries of Europe, to the point where, by 1850, its watches were already being sold  throughout the continent.

François Constantin was the architect of this expansion. His travels inevitably took him to Paris, where he began sourcing jewellery in the early 1820s, convinced that watches and jewellery would have to complement each  other in order to appeal to European customers. At the same time, his supplier, the jeweller Watin, became Vacheron Constantin’s agent in the French capital. A few decades later, in 1880, an encounter with Ferdinand Verger  in Paris sealed an exceptionally enduring partnership that was to be one of the Maison’s most fruitful. The City of Light had just undergone colossal urban development spearheaded by Georges Eugène Haussmann. Vacheron  Constantin’s Récits de Voyages echoes this masterful architectural undertaking with the single-piece Les Cabinotiers Malte Tourbillon – Tribute to Haussmannian style edition.

A Haussmann-style case, top-notch engraving work

To ensure the watchmaking tribute is worthy of the model, a highly architectural, even three-dimensional piece was the obvious choice.

The entire movement and case passed through the expert hands of the master engraver, whose task was to sculpt the latter using Haussmann- type façades as inspiration, as well as to adorn each movement component with a motif recalling the metal structures of the Eiffel Tower.

This meticulous task required 150 hours of work on a watch whose tonneau shape already evokes Parisian chic through the harmonious curves of its case middle. First introduced in 1912, this ‘barrel’ shape is part of Vacheron  Constantin’s heritage and typical of the Malte collection that was redesigned a century later. At the time, Vacheron Constantin had already distinguished itself through this creative freedom in a watchmaking world that rarely  ventured away from the classic conventions of the round watch. Today, it reaffirms this aesthetic moment through a new timepiece brimming with character.

The master artisan has left no surface blank on the 18K 5N pink gold case. The bezel and caseback are circular-grained and engraved with gadroons that are round on the front and hollowed on the back. While the lugs feature concave gadroons, the case middle provides an exceptional showcase for artistry, while recalling that this watch with its ultra-thin calibre is only 12.7 mm thick. It features a motif recalling the work of Baron Haussmann: while standardising the face of Paris, the latter encouraged the use of ornamentation, resulting in lions ‘taking over’ the capital, its monuments, its building facades and door-knockers as well as its parks.

The case middle of the watch adopts the feline in the form of a bas-relief sculpture surrounded by a frieze. After tracing the decor with a dedicated scriber, the engraver sets about creating a champlevé (raised field) by removing  the material around the motifs, of which the volumes are created using a burin. The result is a meticulously accurate depth effect – corresponding to 4/10ths of a millimetre for the lion and 2/10ths for its frieze –  that still requires polishing. This extremely delicate operation is designed to strike the right balance between the gleam of the metal and the relief of the volumes, whose shadows are accentuated by small incisions or line  engraving. The work is completed by fine chasing on the base, hand-crafted point by point to accentuate the contrasts and bring out the shimmering decoration.

A fully openworked and engraved ultra-thin movement, Calibre 2790 SQ

The mechanism has also been meticulously finished and embellished, a task rendered all the more complex by the fact that it is an ultra-thin movement. At just 6.1 mm thick, given its tonneau shape and, above all, its  tourbillon regulator, manual-winding Calibre 2790 SQ represents a veritable technical feat. Unveiled by Vacheron Constantin in 2014, this 246-component movement powering displays of the hours and minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon, date and power reserve, is entirely skeletonised to create a highly architectural three-dimensional decoration. The movement has also been designed to offer a striking view of the regulating organ, oscillating at 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour), a relatively slow tempo perfectly suited to this mechanical ballet. Similarly, the axis of the hours hands has been moved slightly upwards to leave more space for the tourbillon carriage shaped like a Maltese cross, the emblem of the Maison since 1880.

Once the calibre has been skeletonised, the work of the engraver consists of reworking the components, essentially the fixed parts, mainplate and bridges, in order to give depth to each surface and thus ensure optimal light reflection.

The result is an impression of lightness due to the airy design of the movement, whose technical sophistication is highlighted by the meticulous work of the master artisans wherever their scorpers can cut into the material, including interior angles of less than 45°.

This tonneau-shaped Calibre 2790 SQ with its complete absence of right angles offers a striking horological vision, enhanced by the opulence of the case. In the grand tradition of ultra-thin movements presented by the  Manufacture throughout its history, it perpetuates the Maison’s expertise as much in terms of the technical mastery required to develop them as the aesthetic research required to transform them into works of art.

The Les Cabinotiers Malte Tourbillon – Tribute to Haussmannian style bears the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva – a guarantee of fine craftsmanship, precision as well as High Watchmaking decoration – and comes fitted with a dark brown alligator leather strap secured by a folding clasp, also engraved in the style that was intended to “aerate, unify and embellish” Paris, exactly as Prefect Haussmann wished.

Les Cabinotiers Récits de Voyages series

Vacheron Constantin’s vocation has always been to perfect the art of watchmaking in Geneva while remaining open to the world. The founder’s grandson Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron (1787-1864) was the first to criss-cross the roads of France and Italy, followed by his partner François Constantin (1788-1854), a tireless traveller who oversaw the commercial development of the Maison. He established commercial relations with Central Europe, South America, Scandinavia and Asia, during a period in time when Vacheron Constantin was also gaining a foothold in the United States and China, as well as in Brazil, Hong Kong and Cuba.

François Constantin’s correspondence stretching over a quarter of a century paints the portrait of a Manufacture that was open to a Europe undergoing major restructuring in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna. This scope and reach continued to expand as the Vacheron Constantin name crossed borders and conquered new markets. Since that time, the very notion of travel has been inherent to the values of the Maison, an integral part of the human adventure characterising its nearly 270-year history. Following in its founders’ footsteps, the Maison offers these Récits de Voyages series as a watchmaking odyssey through the world and its wonders, applying craftsmanship and mechanical art as its means of expression.

Sum-up

As part of its new Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages collection, which reflects its spirit of openness to the world, the Maison presents the single-piece Les Cabinotiers Malte Tourbillon – Tribute to Haussmannian style edition. Inspired by the major late 19th century construction projects that gave the French capital its current appearance, this tonneau-shaped 18K 5N pink gold watch bearing the Hallmark of Geneva, features ultra-thin in-house Calibre 2790 SQ with a tourbillon, date and power reserve. The entire case and movement have been expertly engraved. The bezel, case back and lugs feature gadrooned decoration, while the case middle is finely sculpted with a lion’s head and frieze. The mainplate and bridges of the entirely skeletonised movement are also adorned with motifs recalling the structure of the Eiffel Tower. The technical sophistication of this watch is highlighted by means of dedicated hand-crafted ornamentation.

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A symbol of escapism and exploration, the 41 mm Overseas self-winding model, unveiled at the Watches Wonders Shanghai 2020 exhibition, combines for the first time its sleek silhouette sculpted in pink gold with a blue Overseas dial. The Overseas collection, immediately recognisable by its hexagonal bezel evoking the Maltese cross, continues to explore new aesthetic horizons.

Following in the wake of the Overseas perpetual calendar ultra-thin model in pink gold and blue dial launched for Watches and Wonders 2020, the sportiest collection from the Maison is interpreted in a self-winding three-hand version that is as precious as it is sophisticated. Its most striking asset lies in the all-gold theme running from case to bracelet and stylishly enhanced by the iconic Overseas blue. Sleek and functional style

The visual journey begins on the dial, whose intense blue colour accentuates the sporty character of the watch. Its pure surface reveals a world of details, hovering between vibrant and shimmering light effects.

The sunburst satin-brushed centre makes a pleasing contrast with the circular satin-finished flange and velvet-finish minute circle. This subtle translucent blue-lacquered composition is punctuated by gold hour-markers and hands coated in white luminescent material. A date appearing discreetly at completes the picture.

This elegant and functional style makes a perfect match with the pink gold of the 41 mm case, flowing into a bracelet featuring likewise pink gold links inspired by the Maltese cross.

Interchangeable bracelet/straps

Because an active life involves countless surprises, the Overseas self-winding adapts to every situation by adopting an attitude of versatile elegance.

Depending on the occasion, it easily swaps out its gold bracelet for a blue rubber or alligator leather strap thanks to the Overseas line’s signature interchangeability system. The Overseas dual time and pink gold chronograph models can thus be fitted with the new gold bracelet introduced on this model and available in Vacheron Constantin boutiques and points of sale. The accuracy of a self-winding movement

The Overseas self-winding watch relies on the Manufacture 5100 calibre and its comfortable 60-hour power reserve. In addition to its accuracy and reliability, it is graced with refined decorations revealed through the sapphire crystal case-back. A 22K gold oscillating weight adorned with a wind rose rotates on the baseplate graced with a Côtes de Genève motif. A potent symbol, like an invitation to journey…

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What is this initiative about exactly?

Christian Selmoni and a team of 2 watchmakers and restaurateurs work closely together at the manufacture in Geneva to curate the most unique, rare and sought after pieces from the Maison heritage collection.Each watch is chosen with patience and talent by the Maison’s heritage department specialists, vintage watches covering the entire 20th century and are now part of the aptly named “Les Collectionneurs” collection.The latter continues to evolve over time and is regularly offered for sale to brand aficionados at dedicated events organised in Vacheron Constantin boutiques around the world. “Les Collectionneurs” models all come with a certificate of authenticity and a two-year guarantee.The notion of vintage is second nature to Vacheron Constantin. It is expressed through a strong attachment to everything relating to its heritage. In more than 260 years of existence, the Maison has accumulated a unique set of archives in the field of time measurement. Engaged in uninterrupted production since its origins, the Manufacture is also able to take care of – and restore if necessary – any watch from its workshops, whatever its age. A closer look at its archives and its private collection of more than 1,500 timepieces offers an excellent insight into this historical depth and the means used to nurture it. From the watchmakers and craftsmen of its restoration workshop to the historians of the Style & Heritage team, the experts at Vacheron Constantin possess all the necessary skills to best serve this vintage watchmaking that now enjoys such an excellent reputation.

Vacheron Constantin quickly felt the need to unite connoisseurs and aficionados of the Maison around this same passion, leading to the creation of “Les Collectionneurs”: an approach consisting in using the Manufacture’s considerable resources to gather and restore a series of historical Vacheron Constantin pieces, subsequently offered for sale at dedicated events in Vacheron Constantin boutiques around the world.

“Les Collectionneurs” represents another facet of Vacheron Constantin,” Christian Selmoni, Style & Heritage Director. “The collection perpetuates this precious link between past and present, enabling our clientele of connoisseurs and collectors to acquire restored vintage pieces directly through the Maison, which is a real guarantee. As for the events organised around the world to unveil these pieces, they attract both seasoned collectors and young generations eager to delve more deeply into watchmaking history.”

The curated watches

The Vacheron Constantin Heritage team works to bring together these vintage watches, whether pocket or wristwatches. The objective is to create a representative range of timepieces offered by Vacheron Constantin over the years. All kinds of channels are used in order to locate them: auction rooms, personal contacts with private individuals – bearing in mind that an expert eye is decisive in the choice of these timepieces, be they simple or striking models, calendars or chronographs… Pocket watches mainly covering the years 1910 to 1930 and wristwatches prior to 1970 – with a preference for the period from 1940 to 1960 – are then subjected to a dual appraisal.

First of all, a historical evaluation is undertaken in order to authenticate the piece with reference to the in-house archives, which have been listing cases and movements by serial number for a century and a half. Then comes the technical assessment aimed at determining which interventions may be necessary, from simply cleaning the watch to its restoration – the objective being to preserve these timepieces in a state as close as possible to that of their origins.If necessary, they are restored to working order using period components, of which Vacheron Constantin maintains a large stock, or else reproduced the old-fashioned way and in identical form within the Manufacture.Once the process is complete, each timepiece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a two-year guarantee, the latter being the same as that delivered with all models within the Maison’s standard collections.

Unveiling the watches

Throughout the year, Vacheron Constantin organises special events or exhibitions of historical models from its private collection in its boutiques. These are all special experiences that give connoisseurs an opportunity to discover this “Les Collectionneurs” collection; and Vacheron Constantin’s experts a chance to share the history related to the “experience” of these models.Thanks to its extremely well documented archives, the Maison can retrace the destiny of these timepieces that have survived through the ages as testimony to their time and to its watchmaking expertise. Rare and doubtless unique for those who cherish them, these Vacheron Constantin watches bearing the patina of age as a badge of honour are thus ready for a new life.As we are here today in Dubai and for the first time we are being able to see some of those amazing pieces from pocket watches in aluminum to minute repeaters in gold. The breadth and range of timepieces shares is exceptional and what’s even more exciting is the fact that we can purchase them on the spot.

The team is currently at the Dubai Mall from January 12-17 – you can book your appointment to have a private viewing with Christian Selmoni and discover the full breadth of rare vintage pieces they are showcasing

www.vacheron-constantin.com

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