SIHH 2018
1. Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Ornementale
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2. FiftySix Day Date Pink Gold
3. FiftySix Complete Calendar Pink Gold
Constantin this year does not disappoint. The firm this year pays tribute to early ballooning with engraved dials that reproduce in miniature five historical flights undertaken in France between 1783 and 1785. Artisans have hand-engraved and micro-sculpted gold hot-air balloons that hover against a translucent plique-à-jour enamel background. Inside is Manufacture Caliber 2460 G4 / 1, an original movement with its gear trains and discs clearly visible. This special selfwinding caliber enables a hands-free staging of the indications. Hours, minutes, day of the week and date are shown by means of four discs. Around the back, the gold oscillating weight, specially engraved and domed for this new collection, evokes a hot-air balloon. The five hot-air balloon flights each come in a limited and numbered edition of five. PRICE: $ 135,000
and an impressive 80-hour power reserve. Take a look at the hand-beveled tourbillon carriage, just one aesthetic highlight here among many. The new Traditionnelle Tourbillon timepiece displays the hours and minutes with central hands, while the small seconds appear at 6 o’ clock on the tourbillon, framed by an opaline silver-toned dial graced with gold hour-markers and bi-faceted Dauphine-type hands.
The second Traditionnelle debut at SIHH is a rose gold edition of the impressive Traditionnelle Complete Calendar we showed you last month, which Vacheron Constantin launched as an SIHH preview only with a platinum case. Both these watches are now available cased in rose gold( 100 pieces) and platinum( 25 pieces). Prices: Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Rose Gold $ 39,700; Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Platinum $ 68,500; Traditionnelle Tourbillon Rose Gold $ 118,000; Traditionnelle Tourbillon Platinum $ 149,000
OVERSEAS
In addition to the steel and rose gold Overseas Dual Time models previewed in late 2017( noted with link above), Vacheron Constantin adds this impressive 41.5mm Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar Rose Gold model to its 2018 lineup. Few perpetuals are this thin, and Vacheron Constantin pulls this off by using its classic Caliber 1120 QP / 1, an ultra-thin mechanical self-winding movement that features a fairly un-classical peripheral rotor. The caliber powers the hours and minutes, perpetual calendar – day of the week, date, month and leap year on a 48-month counter – as well as moon-phase functions. Price: Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar Rose Gold is $ 74,500. As a reminder the price for the Overseas Dual Time Steel is $ 24,700 and the price for the Overseas Dual Time Rose Gold is $ 39,500.
GRAND COMPLICATIONS
Vacheron Constantin also unveils two 47mm one-of-a-kind pieces in its Les Cabinotiers collection. The first, called Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Ornementale, displays its sixteen functions on two gold dials crafted in purplish red with a sunray satin-finish. Here, the bezel, case band, lugs and pin buckle are created in a pattern inspired by 19th century Victorian architecture.
The second model, the Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Crocodile, offers its multiple functions via a case adorned with two crocodiles and scales in varying sizes. Vacheron Constantin says it was inspired to make both new pieces by its own Tour de l’ Île, which Vacheron Constantin made in 2005 to pay tribute to its 250th anniversary.
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MÉTIERS D’ ART AÉROSTIERS
The unveiling of Vacheron Constantin’ s The Métiers d’ Art collection is a true highlight of SIHH each year. With its Les Aérostiers collection, Vacheron
SPRING 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 117