Vacheron Constantin has been credited with producing some of horological history’s greatest pieces over their more than 250-year existence as a renowned time brand. While managing to create consistently beautiful timepieces, the house also places an ever-imperative emphasis on tradition in their watch making processes – all while remaining innovative.
Their Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time changed the game as the first wristwatch to display all 37 global time zones simultaneously – and doing so in style. While one would expect a display of so much information to be cluttered, the careful and clever design of the 42.5mm diameter, 18-carat pink gold piece allows for the face to remain clean, impressive, and classy.
Their Overseas Collection has quickly gained an enthusiastic following, leading to the brand’s decision to offer a combination of high complications for the line. Vacheron Constantin recently announced that they would expand their Overseas collection to include two new watches that they had not previously unveiled at this year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva.
One of the new additions to the collection is the Overseas Chronograph Perpetual Calendar “Boutiques Exclusive”, which features both a chronograph and perpetual calendar, made possible through its caliber 1136QP, which debuted in 1992 and has made it a distinctive feature of the fine timepieces.
Additionally, the Overseas Small Model Date Self-Winding will also join the line. At 36mm, the gorgeous piece is meant for women as the house recognizes the importance of female collectors. It boasts a luxe 18-carat pink gold case, calibre 1226 movement, and 88 brilliant-cut diamonds embellishing the bezel.
Vacheron Constantin’s new Quai de l’Ile boasts an incredible 700 variations, making it the ultimate canvas for timepiece customization. The new Quai de l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar features a cushion-shaped 43mm pink, white, or pink-and-white two-tone case, an in-house automatic calibre 2460QRA to supply date, moth, and moonphase, and a clever security method that the Quai de l’Ile collection is known for – located in a disc between four and five o’clock, and is only visible under ultra-violet light.
Luxury Insider describes the Patrimony Contemporaine Perpetual Calendar as “conservative”, but it is still a sterling example of the brand’s stellar craftsmanship nonetheless. The model boasts the renowned calibre 1120QP, the brand’s ultra-thin movement that is a mere 4.05mm in thickness. The classy 41 mm 18-carat pink gold case elegantly displays the time, day of the week, date, month, and leap year with a 48-month counter.
The elegant Historiques Aronde 1954 is a reimagination of last year’s Americaine 1921 and is a symbol of the brand’s pride for the important models in their own watch portfolio. While the original version was a manifestation of post-World War II elation, this year’s version stays contemporary with an in-house 1400AS movement, which has been shaped to match its unique case. The pink gold case measures 45mm by 31mm and hosts double curves on either side. The curves’ resemblance to wings led the piece to be names Aronde, which means swallow’s wings in archaic French.
