Nippon Tribute

At Homo Faber, an international craftsmanship exhibition held in Venice recently, Vacheron Constantin presented two Les Cabinotiers timepieces inspired by mythology of Japan – the event’s country guest of honour. The single-piece Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Ultra-thin – Wind God (top left) and Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Ultra-thin – Thunder God watches are masterpieces of enamelling and engraving that commemorate the close ties between Japan and Vacheron Constantin for over a century.

Drawing from works by 17th-century Japanese painter Sōtatsu, each yellow gold dial features intaglio-type fine line engraving that reproduces an irregular chequered pattern with matte and shiny surfaces, creating the illusion of gold leaf decoration. The 41 mm case of both models features fine line engraving on the bezel, caseband and lugs. The Thunder God model is engraved with volutes representing waves of thunder, while its minute repeater slider is adorned with six baguette-cut rubies to symbolise the power of lightning. There are also similar intaglio motifs on the watch case depicting the Wind God to express the filaments of clouds blowing the wind. Embodying the vitality of air currents are six baguette-cut tsavorites set on the slide piece.

It took four years to create the minute repeater movement, in-house Calibre

1731, which combines slenderness, pure acoustics, aesthetic elegance and reliability. Just 3.9 mm thick, it boasts an impressive 65-hour power reserve.