WATCHES & WONDERS 2020: All Vacheron Constantin novelties

Vacheron Constantin brings two complications in the elegant 42,5 mm diameter pink gold case of the Traditionnelle collection. The tourbillon visible through the aperture at 12 o’clock is matched to a complicated monopusher chronograph in a caliber – 3200 – that demonstrates once again Vachron’s technical mastery in the crafting of Grandes Complications. The model features also a power-reserve indicator at 6 o’clock.

The watch represents the first Vacheron Constantin model with an automatic tourbillon for women. The elegant 39 mm diameter case is available in pink and white gold versions, the pink case being set with diamonds around the dial and tourbillon aperture while the white gold version is full paved. The caliber inside is equipped with a peripheral rotor and offers an impressive power reserve of 80 hours. Visible through the transparent caseback, the movement is adorned with Côtes de Genève finishing.

For the first time, Vacheron Constantin is offering the association between pink gold and blue-lacquered by presenting a new Overseas perpetual calendar with a gold case and bracelet along with a blue dial. In addition to the case/bracelet combination, the brilliance of the gold extends to the blue dial, whose hour-markers, hands and moon discs are also made of 18K 5N pink gold. The 41.5 mm-diameter case accommodates a mechanical automatic movement with a 40 hour power reserve, the ultra-thin Manufacture 1120 QP/1 calibre with perpetual calendar and moon-phase display. The moon-phase function involves impressive feats of miniaturisation enabling it to cope with calendar irregularities while eliminating any need for correction until 2100.

Available in an 18K 5N all-gold version, the new Overseas Skeleton Perpetual Calendar watch offers the fascination of an ultra-thin openworked complication movement. The 41.5 mm-diameter case houses the prestigious Calibre 1120 QPSQ, able to indicate the precise day with no adjustment required before March 1st 2100, neither for the day, date and month indications, nor for the moon phases. The entirely openworked ultra-thin NAC-treated anthracite grey mechanism is visible through a transparent sapphire dial bearing applied 18K 5N pink gold hour-markers. The transparent caseback is allows for the gear trains and the NAC- treated oscillating weight with its segment in 22K gold to be admired which is also openworked for the first time in the Overseas collection. The watch offers a simple bracelet/strap interchangeability system, being offered with a gold bracelet and two additional straps – blue alligator and blue rubber.

The four one-of-a-kind special pieces are created by the Les Cabinotiers department from the Manufacture dedicated to the most special editions and unique pieces. The singing birds timepieces pay symbolic tribute to the range named La Musique du temps and they are focused on artistic crafts. The enamelling work done using the champlevé technique on each of the dials was meant to illustrate the bird motifs. The master artisan has broadened his palette to encompass 10 colours and their subtly graded shades. Inside the 40 mm diameter case there is an ultra-thin automatic movement that has been chosen for all the four watches because it enables an off-centred display of the time. This way there is more space on the dial the miniatured work of art. These four creations depict a hummingbird, a blue jay, a blue tit and a robin, while the right-hand side is adorned with a newly executed guilloché pattern. This area is dedicated to time indications on a 120° sector bearing applied minutes. Each of the satellite hours are connected with three hands each carrying a four-digit rotating disk and taking turns along the minutes scale.

For more than two centuries, chiming watches have been given pride of place by Vacheron Constantin. In 2019, the Maison’s Les Cabinotiers department chose to pay tribute to them through one-of-a-kind models grouped under the theme “La Musique du Temps”. Les Cabinotiers split-seconds chronograph – Tempo is the crowning embodiment of this approach, with its 24 complications orchestrated by the new in- house 1,163-part 2756 calibre. The one-of-a-kind double-sided model housed in a 50 mm diameter pink gold case displays the time and chronograph split-seconds measurements on the front, along with a perpetual calendar. The back is devoted to astronomical functions, including solar time, equation of time, sunrise and sunset times, duration of day and night, age and phases of the moon. is model featuring a tourbillon regulator is also equipped with a minute repeater.

Les Cabinotiers Astronomical striking grand complication – Ode to Music provides a fresh demonstration of Vacheron Constantin’s technical mastery in the creation of horological grand complications. As part of the range of exceptional chiming watches named La Musique du Temps, this new one-of-a-kind creation is based on a minute repeater which determined the construction of the entire movement. The starting point for the work was the Manufacture 1731 calibre, due to its extreme thinness. Redesigned to accommodate a range of astronomical functions, the new 1731 M820 calibre is thus equipped with 19 complications, notably displaying civil, solar and sidereal time – each with its own gear train in addition to that of the minute repeater. Its 600 components are housed in a calibre less than 8 millimetres thick, the pink gold case having only a 45 mm diameter.