TOWARDS NEW DESINATIONS

The new Overseas has been introduced prior to the Salon de la Haute Horlogerie de Genève 2018, and joins the the collection of timepieces featuring complications that prove highly practical on a daily basis.

Although lacking the gift of ubiquity, watches can show us the time in two different places on the planet simultaneously using a multiple time-zone display. This is, in fact, what is on offer with the Overseas Dual Time and its brand-new automatic mechanical movement (with 60 hours of power reserve). Like the other models in the collection, this timepiece by Vacheron Constantin includes a useful complication for our working lives and private travel. On the dial, a second hour hand, easily recognisable through its arrow tip, shows a second time zone. The date is synchronised to local time, and displayed in a disc at 6 o’clock. A day/night indicator is also coordinated with the local time. All the functions are set using the screwed crown and screwed monopusher at 4 o’clock.

Last but not least, the new Vacheron Constantin timepieces come with interchangeable straps made of steel, leather and rubber, to dress your wrist in style during your travels on land or sea.

Price: €25,400 (steel) – €40,600 (pink gold)

By Dan Diaconu

ELEGANCE AND ECCENTRICITY

A never-before-seen diameter; a unique piece. Vacheron Constantin has unveiled a new American 1921 that will win over any watch wearer!

The Historiques collection launched in 2005 with timepieces inspired by past models by Vacheron Constantin. The Genevan brand first unveiled the stylish 40mm cushion-shaped American 1921 in 2009. This year the timepiece is back on centre stage with brand new measurements. This is the first time it has been available with a 36.5mm case to fit everyone. The watch is true to previous versions with a diagonal time display and off-centre crown in a corner of the case at 1.30. As you’d expect from a Vacheron Constantin watch, the American 1921 bears the prestigious Geneva Seal.

In order for both ladies and gentlemen to wear it, the timepiece comes with two alligator straps and a rose gold deployment clasp, one in brown to wear anytime and one in red to glam up a chic or casual outfit.

Price: €30,000

By Dan Diaconu

KEEPING THE ORIGINAL SPIRIT ALIVE

In the purest tradition of watches from the mid-20^th century, the Geneva manufacture has revisited the triple calendar with two new limited-edition watches.

Like all the firm’s watches from the Historiques collection, the watches are stamped with the prestigious Geneva Seal. They come in a limited edition of 200 pieces.

Price: €19,500 (Triple Calendar 1942) – €36,600 (Triple Calendar 1948)

By Dan Diaconu

A COMPLETE TIMEPIECE

A new addition to the Patrimony collection by Vacheron Constantin, this watch features a useful mechanical complication: a perpetual calendar. All in all, a much more romantic, exquisite and technical alternative to the calendar on your smartphone!

The Patrimony Perpetual Calendar was unveiled at the beginning of the year at the Salon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). The pink gold case is 41mm wide and an extremely slender 8.90mm in width, as well as waterproof down to 30m. Through the sapphire glass case back, you can admire part of the mechanism, particularly the gold rotor in the shape of a Maltese cross, the emblem of Vacheron Constantin.

The Patrimony Perpetual Calendar is powered by calibre 1120QP, a self-winding mechanical movement with a gentle rhythm of 19 800 vibrations an hour (2.75Hz), and providing a power reserve of 40 hours. This extra-flat mechanism, designed and made by Vacheron Constantin, drives the hour, perpetual calendar and moon phase functions.

On the dial, featuring a slate grey disc with slightly curved edges, the hour rim features golden applied indices, with a triangular and stick shape, with a pearled minute track running in between. The hours and minutes are shown by two golden stick-shaped hands. The perpetual calendar includes a date counter at 3 o’clock, the day of the week at 9 o’clock and the month and leap years at 12 o’clock. At the bottom of the dial, a counter with a gold disc and blue galvanic plating shows moon phases. The stars are arranged to reproduce the night sky.

Price: 81,000 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

WHEN A MASTER WATCHMAKER TAKES CONTROL OF THE STARS

After having dazzled the world with an incomparable timepiece embracing no less than 57 complications to celebrate its 260^th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin renews the experience by showcasing an ultra-complex wristwatch powered by an extraordinarily groundbreaking calibre.

During the 18^th century in Geneva, “cabinotiers” was the name given to craftsmen (watchmakers, engravers and jewellers) who made individually-commissioned, bespoke creations for a privileged circle of connoisseurs, in workshops known as “cabinets”, located on the top floors of buildings, in the attic spaces, where they could take optimal advantage of natural daylight. Although “cabinotiers” in their original sense no longer exist, Vacheron Constantin has immortalized the name, by using it for its collection of ever-so rare pieces, which includes the Cabinotiers Celestia Grand Complication 3600 timepiece, to be unveiled during the 2017 edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH – International Fine Watchmaking Exhibition), which will take place in Geneva from 16 to 20 January.

The Cabinotiers Celestia Grand Complication 3600 is a dual-faced watch that could be qualified as ingenious as it hosts 23 complications, features a triple time display (civil, solar and sidereal) implemented by three independent geartrains, and offers around three weeks’ autonomy through its six barrels assembled in two rows of three. These intricate indicators are driven by an innovational Vacheron Constantin-created and -produced movement, the hand-wound mechanical 3600 calibre, housing 514 components and beating at a rhythm of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), yet measuring only 8.7 thick, set in a 45 mm diameter white gold case.

The slate grey opaline dial showcases 15 complications, including civil time (the universal 24-hour-based clock where each hour comprises 60 minutes) displayed in the centre by two white gold hollow moon-tip hands. A second, rose gold minute hand, tipped with an open-worked sun, tells solar time. This time is calculated based on the hour angle indicated by the sun’s movement during the day for a given location. The variation between these two aforementioned time displays is measured by an instantaneous, running equation of time. The dial also boasts a perpetual calendar which, through its mechanical memory, automatically integrates 30 and 31-day months, 28 and 29 days for February and leap years (featured in an aperture). The day and month are revealed in two rectangular windows at 1 o’clock whilst the date ticks over in a counter incorporating a silvered serpentine hand at 3 o’clock. An aperture located at 9 o’clock proposes a specific moon phase and indicates age. The dial is complemented by various other displays: day/night and its duration, sunrise and sunset times, a mareoscope indicating tide levels and a 3D depiction of the Earth-moon-sun alignment as well as a counter comprising the signs of the zodiac, the seasons, solstices and equinoxes.

The Cabinotiers Celestia Grand Complication 3600 caseback, which centre stages a tourbillon, is made of two sapphire crystal discs: one etched with a sky chart illustrating the constellation as seen from the northern hemisphere and the other displaying sidereal time – obtained by measuring the movement of the stars in relation to the prime meridian and counts 4 minutes difference with civil time, and the four cardinal points. These displays are encircled by a large anthracite flange featuring the months of the year and the power reserve indicator.

This unique Vacheron Constantin masterstroke, which required five years of work from the initial vision to the finished piece, is stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva (Poinçon de Genève).

Price on request

By Sharmila Bertin

IN THE WEAVE

The Genevan brand puts a poetic spin on classic menswear to adorn gentlemen’s wrists.

Vacheron Constantin is exploring new creative paths by delving into the sacred art of tailoring. Its Métiers d’Art Elégance Sartoriale collection is only available in its stores and is inspired by classic fabrics that tend to be just for suits. With its legendary sophistication, Vacheron Constantin plays on fabric making on the dial of five pieces using traditional decorative techniques true to watchmaking such as engine-turning and enamelling.

Each design has been carefully chosen and paired with a colour: Prince of Wales and raspberry, chevron and blue grey, check and taupe, pinstripes and buttercup yellow, tartan and blue that verges on lavender and azure. An engraver hollows out the gold dial then coats it in translucent and colourful Grand Feu enamel.

The time features appear in a sub-dial off-centre at 3 with a gadroon trim like trouser cuffs. Roman numerals lie on a white mother-of-pearl hour rim like buttons on a shirt. The ivory disc is engraved with 3D patterns that adorn ties and pocket handkerchiefs (Paisley, floral and geometric and abstract figures) with two classic black domed hands and openwork tips tracking the hours and minutes in the centre.

The display and 40-hour power reserve are fuelled by the manual wind 1400 calibre which you can see through a little sapphire crystal display on the back. The 39mm rose or white gold case is suitable for men and women.

Style should ooze from head to toe so to accessorise this premium piece, every watch in the Métiers d’Art Elégance Sartoriale collection comes with a burgundy, brown or taupe alligator strap with saddle-stitching decorated like a boot. The devil is in the detail.

Price: 56,800 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

ONE WATCH, TWO COMPLICATIONS

The Patrimony Moon Phase and Retrograde Date brings two stunning complications together in one watch in the second new model this autumn from the Genevan brand.

Vacheron Constantin has brought out a new model this autumn with the usual perfect finish housing two fabulous complications in two shades of gold. The Patrimony Moon Phase and Retrograde Date is inspired by the Genevan watch brand’s 50s models with a low-key dial. As the name suggests, the moon’s cycle and age features on the dial alongside the retrograde date.

The moon phase takes pride of place at 6 on the shimmering slightly domed silver dial. A rose or white gold disc showcases the moon on a starry background in a crescent-shape display. A graduation around the semi-circular display enables you to calculate the moon cycle which is exactly 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.9 seconds. You only need to reset it once…every 122 years!

The retrograde date fans out from 9 to 3 and progresses a notch per day until the end of the month before instantly restarting at 1. The date figures are interspersed with subtle dots tracked by a black gold hand with an openwork triangular tip.

A pair of slim rose or white gold hands appear between both complications to chase the hours and minutes. Their sharp tips track slender triangular and rectangular markers and a shimmering minute track all in rose or white gold depending on the model.

The functions are brought to life by the new 2460 R31L calibre by Vacheron Constantin. You can watch the self-winding mechanical movement fuel the 40-hour power reserve inside the 42.5mm case through the sapphire crystal back.

Price: 42,800 CHF

By Sharmila Berti

A RINGING AND SPINNING CLASSIC.

Three months before 2017’s SIHH, the Genevan brand has given us a preview of a fine watch design that’s only available from its stores.

The Traditionnelle collection captures the soul of Vacheron Constantin’s gift for watchmaking. It epitomises over 250 years of mechanical expertise, artistic style and passion from the brand based in the Geneva canton and founded in 1755. Holding such a beautifully made piece as the new Traditionnelle répétition minutes tourbillon, even if it’s just for a few minutes, makes your heart sing.

In terms of design, the watch makes a statement with its perfectly proportioned and curvaceous 44mm platinum case, its shimmering silver or slate grey dial highlighted by the hand-engraved barley pattern and the softly spinning tourbillon. In terms of function, the crystal-clear but powerful gong rings on demand when you press the pusher and chimes the hours, quarters and minutes. Its sweet melody doesn’t just play a timekeeping role but is also soft on your ear.

The hours and minutes on the Traditionnelle répétition minutes tourbillon’s decorated dial are tracked by two white gold hands slightly off-centre to give the tourbillon pride of place at 6. The tourbillon lies in an openwork Maltese cross-shape cage topped by a seconds hand and fuelled by the manual wind 2755 TMR calibre that has a low frequency (2.5Hz, 18,000 beats per hour) and brings to life the 58-hour power reserve.

This model is only available in Vacheron Constantin stores and also comes in rose gold with a shimmering silver dial.

Price: 483,000 CHF (platinum model)

By Sharmila Bertin

The Overseas collection by Vacheron Constantin was founded in 1996 in tribute to travel and is kicking the New Year off with its 20^th anniversary. They’re certainly celebrating in style! To mark the anniversary, the Genevan brand has designed five new models (twelve pieces in total) all with the Geneva Seal and powered by a self-winding mechanical movement providing a 40-60 hour power reserve. Chronograph, three hands with date, ladies’ models, super slim, with or without a perpetual calendar in a 37, 41 or 42.5mm steel or rose gold case topped with a six-sided bezel. 84 round-cut diamonds glitter from the bezel on the ladies’ models. Most of the pieces have a graduated chapter ring around the dial which is lacquered in transparent bright blue, shimmering silver, pink beige or taupe grey studded with gold markers and hands with a luminescent coating. Price upon request. Sharmila Bertin

The name, meaning “cow’s horns”, may raise a smile, but above all it creates a shiver – a shiver of enthusiasm, of excitement and impatience. Because the famous chronograph with the curved horns emblematic of Vacheron Constantin, created in 1955, is a must-have for collectors and fans of vintage watches. The Historiques collection, which celebrates the watch-making heritage of the Geneva-based factory by renovating icons of the past, grows with the Historiques Cornes de vaches 1955. Its 38.50 mm case in 950 platinum houses the hand-wound chronograph calibre 1142 which provides 48 hours of autonomy. On the silver dial, towards the flange, a satin ring features a blue tachymeter scale. The same blue is repeated on the central trotteuse and on the minute totalizer at 3 o’clock. In the centre, two white gold hands show the hours and minutes, while the seconds tick by in a counter at 9 o’clock. Price upon request. Sharmila Bertin