DOUBLE SHOCK

Always on a quest for excellence, the Manufacture combines two original Haute Horlogerie complications in a powerful, monochrome contemporary architecture.

In 2015, Vacheron Constantin presented the most complicated watch ever made. No less than 57 complications were integrated into its movement. Two of these are found in the Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon Armillaire model presented at the end of 2019. Omnipresent on a dial separated into two distinct spaces, they contribute to the esthetics of this reference. On the right-hand dial, the hour and minute hands move in a circular arc. Once the 60 minutes and 12 hours have been reached, they instantly return to their first unit. Faced with the retrograde display of temporal data, a mechanical complex is in perpetual animation. Positioned under a bubble formed by the sapphire crystal, this construction consists of two cages nested inside each other. They move on two different axes at a speed of 60 seconds per rotation. This armillary tourbillon is named after the French watchmaker Antide Janvier who, in the 18th century, made an astronomical clock with a globe composed of armatures, metal circles that model the celestial sphere.

The 1990 caliber masterfully directs this feat of fine watchmaking. The hand-wound movement is housed in a 45mm-diameter titanium case. Once wound, it provides the watch with 65 hours of autonomy.

This timepiece, stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva, is worn on an alligator leather strap with a pin buckle.

Price upon request vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

LIFE THROUGH BLUE-COLORED GLASSES

Combining the useful with the pleasant—this is the Geneva manufacturer’s mission with this model dressed in this year’s standout color, blue. Balanced composition and readability await.

The last of the Vacheron Constantin collections, FiftySix is filling out this year with new references. What do they have in common? All have a sublime petroleum blue dial with an opaline finish in the center and a sunny periphery! On the FiftySix Calendrier Complet presented at the last Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, the date is read off with a central hand, the day and the month in their respective windows. In an indicator housed at 6 o’clock, the Moon phases are displayed accurately for 122 years without needing correction. The hour and minute hands, enhanced with luminescent material, point to white gold hour markers and Arabic numerals. Everything is then topped by a “box”-type glass that lends the timepiece a vintage touch.

Price: 22,600 EUR vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

A SHARED PASSION

Today, two major institutions – Vacheron Constantin and the Louvre – have decided to work hand-in-hand in a collaboration based on the transmission of knowledge to promote art and culture.

Time is a silent witness that has accompanied Humankind through our most grandiose achievements, such as the construction of a garrison tower started around 1190 and which was transformed over 800 years into a royal residence and then a Museum. The Museum, in the heart of the great palace, opened its doors to all to exhibit its treasures in 1793, at the end of the French Revolution. Nearly 200 years later, in 1989, a glass pyramid sprang out of the forecourt to highlight the Museum’s expansion. The Louvre became a public establishment in 1993 and now covers 72,735 m² of exhibition space in more than 400 rooms, welcoming an average of 10 million visitors a year – amazing figures that make it one of the most visited museums in the world.

This sponsorship agreement between the two institutions is based on collaboration in the area of craftsmanship, art and culture, and the production of horological instruments inspired by the heritage in the Parisian museum. A unique, historic example of shared expertise that pays tribute to Humankind and to time which has always accompanied us.

vacheron-constantin.com

By Sharmila Bertin

ENDEARING PAST

Vacheron Constantin is developing its catalog with a new contemporary series: a piece that is memorable for its strong personality both in terms of technology and aesthetics.

Behind the 6087 series, created in the mid 1950s, hides the first chronograph water resistant to 30 m by Vacheron Constantin. Originally powered by a manual-winding mechanical movement, it was equipped with an automatic mechanism in 1969. In 2015, the manufacture brought this series back to life in two refined creations, one in platinum and the other in rose gold. This year, the timepiece now named Historique Cornes de Vache 1955 returns with a 38.5 mm steel case and a thickness of 10.90 mm. On the gray opalescent dial surrounded by a minute track and tachymeter scale, there is a small seconds dial and a 30-minute counter arranged in a bicompax format, passed over by the white gold hour and minute hands.

The Historique Cornes de Vache 1955 comes with a patinaed brown calf leather strap finished with a pin buckle. Its creation has been entrusted to luxury Milanese leather merchant, Seraplan. It sits on the unique stylish lugs which lend their name to this series. This model is stamped with the famous gage of quality, the Geneva Seal.

Price: 41,600 EUR vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

FORMAL COMBINATION

Vacheron Constantin blends a concentrate of classic elegance with an on-trend azure blue finish. This combination gives the watch a relaxed yet stylish feel.

Blue dials are currently very popular. Synonymous with distinction without being conventional, this year they bring style to the most timeless collection by Vacheron Constantin. Although the Patrimony Retrograde Day Date is not new, it has been given a completely new facelift with the time information displayed across the dial which is decorated with this majestic color and a sunray-effect satin finish. The ballet of the gold hands is more refined in this natural, pared-down composition, particularly the two retrograde mechanisms arranged in semicircles which indicate the days and the date. All these functions are easy to adjust with the crown, without the need for correctors.

As with most of the brand’s timepieces, the Patrimony Retrograde Day Date is certified by the Geneva Seal, a sign of excellence and reliability. This model comes with an alligator strap in the same shade as the dial.

Price: 44,300 EUR vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

More at home in urban environments, Vacheron Constantin is now turning its hand to expedition. Planet Earth now serves as a test laboratory for the design of future watches.

Although Cory Richards did not complete his attempt, the adventure certainly proved beneficial to the brand. There is a strong possibility these technical elements will be used in a future variation of its Overseas Dual Time model currently sold in steel or rose gold.

Price: Not for sale vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

AWAKEN THE SENSES

Fine watchmaking is honored with this timepiece unveiled at the latest edition of SIHH in Geneva. Touch, sight and hearing all come into play when admiring the sophistication of this piece.

A sign of excellence, the Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar watch is certified by the Geneva Seal. This timepiece comes in a Makassar ebony box equipped with a winding mechanism.

Price on request vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

THE COLOURS OF ELEGANCE

In these new models, Vacheron Constantin highlights the importance of visual design for showing off a watch complication. The hardest thing will be to choose which dial you prefer!

The model with a pink-gold case and strap comes with two spare, easy to change straps. The first is made of blue alligator leather, the second of rubber in the same colour. These two straps are also included with the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin model with the blue dial.

Price: 78,300 EUR (silver dial) – 76,500 EUR (blue dial) vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

IN PRAISE OF SLOWNESS

This was one of the stars of the 2019 SIHH with an ingenious energy-saving mechanism as its chief asset. We take a closer look at a new watch certified with the Geneva Seal!

Resetting a perpetual calendar after it hasn’t been used for a while can turn into a tedious operation, as tricky as mounting a piece of Ikea furniture without the instructions. To make life easier, Vacheron Constantin has come up with an innovative solution: the option to slow down the frequency of the calibre. How does it work? On your wrist, the Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Date runs at a frequency of 5hz for perfect accuracy. But what happens if you have to go away on a trip and leave your precious timepiece at home? A press on the monopusher at 8 o’clock is enough to slow down the frequency, which falls immediately to 1.2hz. This “stand-by“ mode gives the watch an incredible power reserve of 65 days. The reduction in energy consumption has no effect on the perpetual date function throughout this period. So you will not have to reset the watch when you put on the watch again.

By Dan Diaconu

LUXURY WATCHMAKING IN A LAID-BACK SETTING

Among the new models introduced by the brand at the SIHH in Geneva, this watch is the first in the Overseas collection to feature a tourbillon.

The watches in the Overseas collection by Vacheron Constantin are sometimes sports watches and sometimes refined, but can always adapt to every situation, especially thanks to easily interchangeable straps. They will match your changing styles in line with your schedule or mood. The Overseas Tourbillon was introduced during this year’s SIHH in Geneva and is now the collection’s flagship. This is the first model in the range to include a tourbillon. This elite mechanism is housed in a fairly laid-back setting. The hour and minute hands move above a magnificent lacquered blue dial with a satin sunburst finish. The watch is housed in a 42.5mm-wide steel case that is just 10.39mm thick.

The brand has produced three straps for the model, made of steel, leather or blue rubber. Which one will you choose?

Price: 108,000 EUR vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu