Vacheron Constantin : When horological excellence blends with transmission of skills

Métiers d’Art Savoirs Enluminés

Case : white gold, water-resistant to 30m Diameter : 40mm  Movement : mechanical self-winding Caliber 1120 AT, 40h power reserve, Hallmark of Geneva Functions : dragging display of the hours, minutes Dial : hand-textured gold base, Grand Feu miniature and champlevé enamel Caseback : sapphire Strap : alligator leather Limited edition : 20 per model

Centuries go by yet true values endure. Presiding over each horological creation, the will to pass on knowledge and to combine talents has consistently driven the Vacheron Constantin artisans, watchmakers and engineers – ever since its creation in Geneva by Jean-Marc Vacheron in 1755. How else, if not by sharing its skills, could the Maison Vacheron Constantin have achieved its current status as the oldest watch manufacturer in continuous activity? For 260 years, Vacheron Constantin has displayed tireless creativity, notably embodied by daring expertise in the field of artistic crafts.

 

With the Savoirs Enluminés, Vacheron Constantin highlights a medieval work of art in the form of an ancient Celtic manuscript world-renowned for the quality of its illuminations : the Aberdeen Bestiary. The collection comprises three 20-piece limited series, and each timepiece is adorned with an animal from this extraordinary publication. The first of this trio is the “Altion”, a beautiful seabird connected with the world of Water, which builds its nest on the waves and symbolizes serenity. The meticulous care devoted to its blue green plumage and the elegant curve of its wings, along with the supple grace of its posture, ensure a perfect match with the circular shape of the dial. The second model, “Vultures”, bears back-to-back birds turning their necks to look companionably at each other. The third model, “Caper”, is dedicated to the Earth. It features a night blue goat with a piercing gaze. These three creations are depicted in a manner extremely faithful to the original illustrations. Vacheron Constantin has chosen to call upon traditional decorative techniques, with the art of Grand Feu enameling echoing that of illumination, engraving a nod to calligraphy, along with a delicate phase of shading and texturizing gold to create a gold leaf effect. This aesthetic refinement is matched by equally sophisticated mechanics with self-winding Caliber 1120 AT built on an ultra-thin base. Developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin entirely in harmony with the traditions of Haute Horlogerie, it meets the Hallmark of Geneva standards that are no longer confined to the movement alone, but also take account of the finished watch.

 

The dragging or trailing display of time was designed and developed by the in-house engineers. It creates a surprising effect for these three delicately poetic timepieces available exclusively in Vacheron Constantin boutiques.

 

Métiers d’Art Florilège

Case : white gold set with 64 diamonds, water-resistant to 30m Diameter : 37 mm  Movement : mechanical manual-winding Caliber 4400, 65h power reserve Functions : hours, minutes Dial : hand-guilloché Grand Feu cloisonné enamel Caseback : sapphire Strap : alligator leather Limited edition : 20 per model

 

Poetry is an essential component of the Métiers d’Art Florilège collection that Vacheron Constantin enriches with three new unique decors whose superb graded shades accentuate the stunning realism. Paying vibrant tribute to naturalism and to 19th century British botanical illustrations, the dials are adorned with multicolored petals that bloom in a cleverly orchestrated association of guillochage, Grand Feu cloisonné enameling and gemsetting. Vacheron Constantin has enlisted the talents of its finest artisans to offer interpretations of the plates from one of the most remarkable works of botanical illustrations, The Temple of Flora by Robert John Thornton, published in 1799. The master guillocheur drew the contours of each plantlife element on the gold dial plate : petals, stems, leaves, buds, pistils… He then guilloché-worked each flower while recreating the volume and the vibrancy of each petal. Independent master enamellist Anita Porchet in turn applied the enamel to the motif traced by the guillocheur, with the two artists working in close cooperation. Finally, Vacheron Constantin selected the precious stones in an implacably rigorous manner. The diamonds all feature outstanding clarity (IF to VVS quality) and superior radiance (D to 5 colors) so as to highlight the marvelous botanical decors as well as the fleeting nature of time, ticked off with rare precision by the Caliber 4400 mechanical manual-winding movement developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin.

 

Overseas Dual Time

Case : stainless steel, water-resistant to 150m Diameter : 42mm  Movement : mechanical self-winding Caliber 1222 SC, 40h power reserve Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, pointer-type date display, 2nd time zone with day/night indication, power reserve Dial : glossy blue lacquered  Caseback : solid, engraved with Overseas medallion  Strap : alligator leather Limited edition : 300

 

Overseas 

Case : stainless steel, water-resistant to 150m Diameter : 42 mm  Movement : mechanical self-winding Caliber 1226, 40h power reserve Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, date Dial : glossy blue lacquered Caseback : solid, engraved with Overseas medallion  Strap : alligator leather Limited edition : 350

 

An authentic travel invitation, Overseas clearly displays the functions useful to those who crisscross the globe and juggle with time zones

Vacheron Constantin has consistently demonstrated a passion for travel. The Maison continues to sail the course it has charted by enriching its iconic Overseas collection with two new models clad in deep blue. An authentic invitation to travel, the two new references clearly display all the functions that are useful to those who crisscross the globe and juggle with time zones. On the supremely sporty and elegant Overseas (simple date) watch, the central hours, minutes and seconds hands as well as the aperture-type date display are driven by a reliable and accurate self-winding movement. The Overseas Dual Time provides a pointer-type date indication as well as a dual-time display complete with day/night indication and a power-reserve. These inherently exclusive models are respectively issued in 350 and 300-piece limited editions and delivered with two dark blue straps matching the dial : one in vulcanized rubber and the other in alligator leather.


Brice Lechevalier is editor-in-chief of GMT and Skippers, which he co-founded in 2000 and 2001 respectively. He has also been CEO of WorldTempus since it joined the GMT Publishing stable, of which he is director and joint shareholder. In 2012 he created the Geneva Watch Tour, and he has been an advisor to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève since 2011. Also closely involved in sailing, he has published the magazine of the Société Nautique de Genève since 2003, and was one of the founders of the SUI Sailing Awards in 2009 and the Concours d’Elégance for motor boats at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2015.

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