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