News
Vacheron Constantin Finally Launches An All-Titanium Overseas
News
Vacheron Constantin Finally Launches An All-Titanium Overseas
Important to note that prior to this, there was the Overseas prototype worn by adventurer Cory Richards, on this third attempt at Everest, which had a 41mm titanium case with a tantalum bezel. This gave rise later to 2021 the titanium and steel Overseas Dual Time “Everest” and Overseas Chronograph “Everest”, limited to 150 pieces each. The Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton, at long last, is all titanium; case, bezel and bracelet.
Says Style and Heritage Director, Christian Selmoni, “This novelty showcases Vacheron Constantin’s development of technical and complicated models within the overseas collection. In addition, it is of course, a superb opportunity for our maison to express our expertise and knowhow in the art of skeletonizing. A specialty that the maison has offered since the 20s.”
The watch will be powered by a variation of Vacheron Constantin’s own calibre 2160, which can be found in earlier tourbillon pieces launched with in the Traditionnelle and Overseas collections. But Selmoni shares about the 2160 SQ version as a brand new movement as the maison had to work extensively on it to skeletonize it without imposing on its innate beauty and chronometric integrity.
The movement is 6.65mm thick and beats at 2.5Hz, resulting in the one-minute tourbillon. It consists of 186 components from which around 20% of the original material has had to be removed in order to create this piece of architectural art, finished to the nines.
Tech Specs
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton, Ref: 6000V/110R-B934 (18K 5N pink gold) & 6000V/110T-B935 (Grade 5 Titanium)
Movement: Self-winding skeletonised caliber 2160 SQ; 80-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon carriage (coloured screw); one-minute Tourbillon
Case: 42.5mm diameter, 10.39mm thick; 18K 5N pink gold or Grade 5 Titanium; soft iron casing ring ensuring anti-magnetic protection; water resistant to 50m
Dial: Sapphire disc; 18K 5N pink gold / 18K white gold hour-markers and hours & minutes hands highlighted with Super-LumiNova®
Bracelet: 18K 5N pink gold bracelet or grade 5 titanium (half Maltese cross-shaped polished and satin-brushed links), secured by a 18K 5N pink gold or Grade 5 titanium triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and comfort-adjustment system in accordance to case material; additional black calfskin leather and rubber strap provided with titanium version, blue calfskin leather with white stitches and blue rubber strap provided with 18K 5N pink gold version with matching interchangeable folding-clasp
Price: TBA
Availability: Ref. 6000V/110T-B935 (titanium version) only available through the Vacheron Constantin Boutiques
Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton
Given the sheer volume of interest we’ve witnessed for the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton, no one’s going to get any guesses for why the masion would want to execute further expressions of this watch. Although, let’s not kid around, the one that we’re all hoping that Vacheron Constantin will produce, is the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton with that blue accented dial in grade 5 titanium. Given that the maison has now permitted titanium for the newly announced Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton, it may be just a matter of time before we are presented with the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton in grade 5 titanium.
Tech Specs
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton, Ref.:4300V/120R-B642
Movement: Self-winding skeletonised caliber 1120 QPSQ/1; openworked oscillating weight inspired by the shape of a Maltese; 40-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; perpetual calendar (date, day of the week, month, leap year); moon phases
Case: 41.5mm diameter, 8.1mm thick; 18K 5N pink gold; soft iron casing ring ensuring anti-magnetic protection; water resistant to 50m
Dial: Sapphire disc;18K 5N pink gold hour-markers and hours & minutes hands highlighted with Super-LumiNova®
Bracelet: 18K 5N pink gold bracelet (half Maltese cross-shaped polished and satin-brushed links), secured by a 18K 5N pink gold triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and comfort-adjustment system; additional blue calf leather strap with white stitches and blue rubber strap; Each additional strap comes with a 18K 5N pink gold buckle
Price: TBA
Availability: Model exclusively available from Vacheron Constantin boutiques
Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
The Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is 43mm in platinum with a thinness of 12.94mm. Says Product Marketing & Innovation Director, Sandrine Donguy, “This elegant timepiece combines two sciences dear to the maison: astronomy with the perpetual calendar and time measurement with the chronograph function. It features a watchmaking classic, the daring salmon dial, which is a tribute to our past, with a modern interpretation featuring an exceptional color, which fits the platinum case perfectly.”
Donguy then adds the cherry on the cake saying, “We have a small detail to pay attention to at 12 o’clock. You can see the Maltese cross, which is a riveted applique, it is perfectly color matched with the salmon dial. And in fact, this Maltese cross is faceted. There are two finishes, one side is polished and the other side is sandblasted.”
Tech Specs
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, Ref. 5000T/000P-B975
Movement: Manual-winding caliber 1142 QP; 48-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock; perpetual calendar (day of the week, date, month, leap year indication); moon phase; column-wheel chronograph (30-minute counter at 3 o’clock)
Case: 43mm diameter, 12.94mm thick; 950 platinum; water resistant to 50m
Dial: Salmon-colored opaline; 950 Platinum moon disc; 18K white gold applied hour-markers and hour and minute hands; blued steel chronograph and date hands; black painted tachymeter scale
Strap: Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales, fitted with a 950-platinum folding clasp; polished half Maltese Cross-shaped
Accessory: Delivered with a corrector pen
Price:TBA
Availability: Available exclusively from Vacheron Constantin boutiques
Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin
The watches start off with a natural mother of pearl dials, in a pale blue tone for the white gold version and in natural white for the rose gold model. Beating within these is the calibre 1120 QP. Says Selmoni, “This is a legendary movement at Vacheron Constantin, which accounts for 267 components all meticulously finished by hand. The calibre 1120 distiguishes itself by its extreme thinness, it’s only 4.05mm thick for a self-winding calibre. And the last thing we could mention about the movement: have a look at the moohphase indicator, it matches perfectly with the rest of the dial.”
Tech Specs
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin, Ref.: 4305T/000R-B947 (18K 5N pink gold) & 4305T/000G-B948 (18K white gold)
Movement: Self-winding calibre 1120 QP; 40-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes; perpetual calendar (day of the week, date, 48-month display with leap year indication); moon phases
Case: 36.5mm diameter, 8.43mm thick; 18K white gold or 18K 5N pink gold; bezel and lugs set with 76 round-cut diamonds; crown set with 1 round-cut diamond; water resistant to 30m
Dial: Blue grey/White mother-of-pearl; 18K white gold/18K 5N pink gold hour-markers and hands
Strap: Blue grey (4305T/000G-B948) / Rosy beige (4305T/000R-B947) Mississippiensis alligator leather with calfskin leather inner shell, stitched tip, square scales fitted with 18K white gold/18K 5N pink gold pin buckle set with 17 round-cut diamonds; with integrated self-interchangeable system
Total diamond-setting: 94 round-cut diamonds, for a total weight of approx..; 1.20 carats (guaranteed minimum carats)
Price: TBA
Patrimony Self-Winding
The four variations are all powered by the self-winding calibre 2450 Q6/3 with 40 hours of power reserve.
Tech Specs
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Self-Winding, Ref.: 4115U/000G-B908 (white gold + diamond-set bezel); 4115U/000R-B907 (pink gold + diamond-set bezel); 4110U/000G-B906 (white gold + diamond-set dial); 4110U/000R-B905 (pink gold + diamond-set dial)
Movement: Self-winding calibre 2450 Q6/3; 40-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, running seconds and date
Case: 36.5mm diameter, 8.45mm thick; 18K white gold/18K 5N pink gold; bezel set with 72 round-cut diamonds for references 4115U/000G-B908 and 4115U/000R-B907 only; water resistant to 30m
Dial: Deep blue / blush pink, gradient effect; 18K white gold/18K 5N pink gold applied hour-markers and hour/minutes hands; convex external zone with circular “pearl” minute-track composed by 48 polished 18K gold pearls or minute-track composed by 48 round-cut diamonds only for references 4110U/000G-B906 and 4110U/000R-B905
Strap: Night blue/Rosy beige Mississippi alligator leather with satin-effect, calf inner shell, stitched tip, square scales; with self-interchangeable system integrated; 18K white gold/18K 5N pink gold pin buckle; polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Price: TBA
Les Cabinotiers
Enameling masters at Vacheron Constantin have had to apply the chiaroscuro immersion technique of painting to create this sense of depth using nothing but shadows and highlights to tell a complete visual story.
The master artisan first worked on the dial using miniature enamel painting, a technique that forged the reputation of “Geneva enamels” in the 17th century and which requires perfect mastery of pigments and firing. The colors — composed of metal oxide powders mixed with a binding agent — are fired multiple times in a kiln heated to more than 800 °C in order to ensure their adhesion to the surface.
Tech Specs
Vacheron Constantin “Les Royaumes Aquatiques®” Les Cabinotiers Grisaille – Turtle, Ref.: 2400C/000G-071C
Movement: Self-winding calibre 2460 SC; 40-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, central running secondsseconds
Case: 40mm diameter, 9.42mm thick; 18K white gold
Dial: 18K gold covered with “Grand Feu” miniature enamelling and grisaille enamelling representing a “Turtle”; 18K white gold hands
Strap: Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales; 18K white gold buckle; polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Single-piece edition: “Les Cabinotiers”, “Pièce unique”, “AC” hallmark engraved on caseback
The dial of this masterpiece starts off with the artisan painting on a layer of opaque white enamel – coated onto to a gold background – with colors made from on powdered metallic oxides to which an oil-based binder is added. The colors are applied with an extremely fine brush like gouache on a canvas, fixed at each stage by a firing in the kiln that requires perfect control of temperatures and times. On this model representing The Flying Dutchman, the scene of the raging sea beneath a leaden sky streaked with lightning had to be “placed” with a heightened sense of precision, in such a way as to leave the space devoted to the ship in the shade. A dozen passages in the oven were necessary to achieve this marine painting. The stage ends with the application of a layer of fondant (transparent enamel flux), followed by lapping, a polishing process involving very finely grained stones to achieve a smoothly lustrous surface. The process concludes with a “glazing” firing operation that also gives the enamel a domed appearance. At this point, a miniature enamel-painted part is considered complete.
Tech Specs
Vacheron Constantin “Les Royaumes Aquatiques®” Les Cabinotiers Minute repeater tourbillon – Flying Dutchman, Ref. 6540C/000G- 034C
Movement: Manual-winding Caliber 2755 TMR; approximately 58 hours of power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes and small second at 6 o’clock on tourbillon carriage; minute repeater, tourbillon and power-reserve indication on the caseback
Case: 45mm diameter, 13.52mm thick; 18K white gold case
Dial: 18K gold covered with “Grand Feu” miniature enameling and grisaille enameling representing a “Flying Dutchman”; 18K white gold hands
Strap: Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales; 18K white gold folding clasp; polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Single-piece edition: “Les Cabinotiers”, “Pièce unique”, “AC” hallmark engraved on caseback
More information: vacheron-constantin.com