Showing at Watches & Wonders: Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
Since 2006, Vacheron Constantin has been renowned for its Collection Excellence Platine comprising specific limited editions made of this noble metal. At this year’s Watches & Wonders, a special version of the Traditionelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph produced in a limited annual production joins their ranks. It is powered by the in-house Calibre 1142 QP and distinguished by its salmon-colored watch face.
As its name suggests, this haute-horlogerie timepiece embodies traditional watchmaking codes, including Dauphine-type hands, a railway-type minutes track and a stepped case with distinctive fluting on the back. The legibility of the functions is carefully orchestrated between the chronograph and the perpetual calendar. Time indications are provided by white gold hands and hour markers, while the chronograph and date functions are displayed by blued steel hands.
The 30-minute chronograph counter and the small seconds counter appear in a symmetrical design. The moon phases are displayed on a platinum disc at 6 o’clock, integrated within the pointer-type date display. The day, month and leap-year cycle are indicated through apertures in the upper part of the dial. The technical nature of the model is accentuated by the tachymeter scale around the periphery.
The noble timepiece is driven by manual-winding Calibre 1142 QP. This historical chronograph movement is sought-after among collectors. It dates back to the 1940s and is notably distinguished by the sophisticated aesthetics of its architecture as well as by its reliability and precision enhanced by its column-wheel system. This 324-component movement in this perpetual calendar version has been adapted over the decades, particularly to meet Hallmark of Geneva criteria, while its rate frequency has been modified to 3 Hz (21,600 vph) and its power reserve amounts to 48 hours.
The superb finishing, with a circular-grained mainplate, Côtes de Genève motif on the bridges, hand-bevelled components and straight-grained flanks can be admired through the sapphire crystal caseback. The price is not known as of yet.
To learn more, visit Vacheron Constantin, here.