Vacheron Constantin continues to demonstrate their technical mastery of building grand complications with their new offerings of the season.
As with much of the world, the tradeshow season for watches was unfortunately challenged this year. Baselworld 2020, which was slated for April was postponed to January 2021; while Watches & Wonders 2020 migrated online for a digital edition.
Regardless, high-end watchmaking at Vacheron Constantin, one of the oldest and most esteemed watch brands in the world, has shown that it is very much still on track in 2020. For the virtual showing at WW20, instead of holding back its planned novelty launches, the prestigious Swiss watchmaker to the kings have moved forward with exciting new pieces.
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon
This year, Vacheron Constantin has turned its hand to translating its expertise and precision for a growing female audience – and with brilliant effect.
In March, it unveiled Égérie, a fresh new take on its first-ever women’s only line that was launched in 2003. Designed by a female-led team, the elegant collection combines haute horlogerie and haute couture to create remarkably well-balanced timepieces, with a flourish of fan-textured details and diamonds.
Now for WW20, Vacheron Constantin is launching a particularly decadent women’s update to its classic Traditionnelle collection – its first ladies’ self-winding tourbillon in spectacular rose gold and white gold versions.
Ultimately a fine jewellery piece powered by a sophisticated movement, the model retains the aesthetic codes of the house’s Traditionelle line – elegant brand-style Dauphine hands and matching gold hour markers, a fluted case-back, and railway-type minute track.
Housed within a new 39mm case, the 2160 calibre features a peripheral motor and a three-day power reserve. Perfect for a timepiece dedicated to women, this impressively slender movement is pared down to essentials and beautifully displayed through the transparent caseback.
You’ll know a Vacheron Constantin jewellery watch by its diamonds – the Égérie, Patrimony and Malte collections have all featured stunning diamond-paved models in its line-up, and it makes no exception this time.
The rose gold version features 208 brilliant-cut diamonds set on the bezel, caseband and lugs against the backdrop of an iridescent mother-of-pearl dial; while the white gold version is utterly iced out in decadent fashion, with 559 brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds totalling more than 6.5 carats.
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph
This exceptional new timepiece was initially dreamt up at a Vacheron Constantin Grandes Complications workshop, and boldly combines two iconic horological complications in Traditionelle style.
Retaining the elegance of a classically styled watch, this exciting new model combines the Traditionnelle Tourbillon mechanism and a 45-minute monopusher chronograph – perfectly encapsulating the technical mastery Vacheron Constantin is renowned for.
The single button chronograph function is a nod to the original pocket chronographs before the mechanism migrated to the wrist: these models featured only one pusher, often housed in the crown, which successively handled the start, stop and reset functions.
Usually appearing at the lower part of the dial, the classic tourbillon is instead elevated to 12 o’clock position for special prominence, achieving a harmonious balance with the chronograph counter at 3 o’clock and the power-reserve indication at 6 o’clock.
To power this magnificent timepiece, Vacheron Constantin has chosen a mechanism that is an integral part of its history, the 3200 calibre, which was presented on the occasion of the Manufacturer’s 260th anniversary.
As for the hand-worked decorative flourishes on the tourbillon carriage, expect nothing but the most exquisite level of finesse, calling upon the noblest of horological traditions, such as chamfering, circular-graining, and the distinctive stripes of the Côtes de Genève.
Images courtesy of Vacheron Constantin, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related links:
Vacheron Constantin Égérie: A Muse for Women
Vacheron Constantin: Cobalt Flash
