VACHERON CONSTANTIN REISSUES BELOVED 1955 CORNES DE VACHES TIMEPIECE
Fans of Vacheron Constantin will be excited to know that the luxury brand is reissuing one of its most sought-after models. The “Cornes de vache,” so named because of the distinctive shape of its lugs, was born in 1955, and quickly became one of the most emblematic chronographs of its time. Ref. 6087 was produced in extremely limited numbers, but is now brought back under the maison’s Historiques collection.
The steel version of the Cornes de vache is aesthetically faithful to the original, with its instantly recognizable cow horn-like lugs, but is adapted to current watchmaking standards.
The diameter of the case, which is water-resistant to 30 meters, has been increased to 38.5 mm. It now also houses manual-winding chronograph Calibre 1142, beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, and endowed with a 48-hour power reserve. This movement powers time-keeping functions, including small seconds, as well as chronograph functions with a central seconds hand and minutes counter appearing on a grey velvet-finish opaline dial, embellished with two snailed counters and a white counter.
The crafting of the strap in patinated dark brown calf leather was entrusted to the traditional Milanese leather goods house Serapian, founded in 1928. It is the first time the maison is collaborating with Vacheron Constantin.
Created in 2006, Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques Collection itself pays tribute to the archetypes that have marked the evolution of the maison. It highlights the richness of the Manufacture's technical and aesthetic heritage through contemporary reinterpretations of its emblematic models. All the watches that are part of this collection are exclusive by nature, aimed at connoisseurs looking for pieces imbued with a vintage spirit.
Over the years, various models such as the famous American 1921 or the Ultra-fine 1955 have thus been given a new lease on life, including the “Cornes de vache.”
The brand’s first water-resistant chronograph, Ref. 6087 is equipped with manual-winding Calibre 492, and features a dial bearing 30-minute and small seconds counters.
Serapian crafted the model’s dark brown calf leather strap, treating its second loop to the attacco shape featured on its handbag handles. It’s a signature nod to the famous Milanese leather goods manufacturer’s first collaboration with a watchmaker.
The Cornes de vache 1955 watch is powered by the manual-winding 1142 chronograph caliber with a 48-hour power reserve. In keeping with the grand watchmaking tradition, the short-time measuring mechanism is controlled by a column-wheel, adorned with a screw head shaped like a Maltese cross, which, of course, is the Vacheron Constantin emblem.
There is a transparent sapphire crystal caseback through framed by a ten-sided bezel, through which one can see the entirely beveled and hand-decorated 164-component movement.
The model offers timekeeping functions including small seconds, as well as a chronograph with a central seconds hand and minute counter. A tachymeter scale (serving to determine average speed over a known distance) on a 1000-metre base surrounds the chronograph counter featuring blued steel hands for optimal legibility.