Legends Modernized: Exploring the Classic Sophistication of Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin & SHARP

The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle tourbillon chronograph, the latest edition to the brand’s Collection Excellence Platine, is an unusual watch in more ways than one. Limited to just 50 pieces and released in the run-up to the brand’s 270th anniversary next year, it combines two of the most advanced complications in watchmaking — a monopusher chronograph and a tourbillon regulator — within its 42.5mm polished platinum case. In addition to its refinement and mechanical complexity, however, this exclusive creation stands out aesthetically by blending the sportiness of a chronograph with traditional finishing techniques and Swiss savoire-faire. In short, it represents the unique creative philosophy that makes Vacheron Constantin one of the world’s most respected watch brands.   

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

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Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watch brand in continuous existence, with an unbroken heritage stretching back to 1755, but that doesn’t mean it’s stuck in the past. In the modern era, under the guiding philosophy of “classic with a twist,” Vacheron Constantin is renowned for its unique combination of traditional watchmaking and bold modern design. This is exemplified by pieces like the Historiques American 1921, an unusual timepiece designed in the 1920s with a crown positioned between 1 and 2 o’clock, and a diagonally-oriented dial that allows the wearer to read the time without turning their wrist. More contemporary examples include the Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar, a highly collectible piece that combines classical finishing techniques with a sapphire crystal dial and a next-generation movement that can transition between high-frequency Active mode (5Hz) and low-frequency Standby mode (1.2Hz), with up to 65 days of power reserve.

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

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Another such expression of Vacheron Constantin’s blend of tradition and modernity is the new Patrimony Manual-Winding, a modern dress watch inspired by examples produced by the brand in the 1950s. Two new models feature a 39 mm case in white or pink gold, with antique silver-toned dials and a choice of azure blue or olive-green straps. The third, a new Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date, is sized at 42.5 mm, with a white gold case and a unique two-tone look thanks to a sunburst old-silver-toned dial contrasted by pink gold hands and hour-markers. Accuracy, as ever, is paramount, with an in-house self-winding calibre powering a moon-phase indication that requires just one correction every 122 years and Vacheron Constantin’s signature retrograde date display across the top of the dial.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Homage

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Vacheron Constantin’s creativity, however, isn’t just limited to the traditional elements of mechanical watchmaking. Since 2020, the brand has been developing its partnership with the Louvre Museum in Paris, a collaboration that has resulted in masterpieces like Les Cabinotiers — Homage to Pierre Paul Rubens, La lutte pour l’étendard de la Bataille d’Anghiari, a piece unique featuring the renowned drawing by Peter Paul Rubens painstakingly recreated in miniature enamel on its dial. This heralded the introduction of “A Masterpiece on the Wrist,” a first-of-its-kind program which allows clients to have their choice of works from the museum’s extensive collection reproduced in enamel on the dial of their watch. More such innovations are surely in store for the year ahead, as the brand celebrates an unmatched legacy of craftsmanship and a blend of classicism and artistry that’s uniquely its own.

Learn more about Vacheron Constantin.