Especially For Her
Vacheron Constantin welcomes six ladies’ models to its Traditionnelle and Patrimony collections, following the success of Égérie, the maison’s first dedicated range of feminine watches
PATRIMONY SELF-WINDING
Drawn from a historical 1957 Vacheron Constantin with a classic round, ultra-thin style and timeless elegance, the Patrimony collection has been known for its restrained yet refined aesthetic since its launch in 2004. The proportions of the new ladies’ Patrimony models have been revisited in keeping with the line’s signature spirit of purity. The curve of its 36.5mm case in white or pink gold has also been redesigned, while the crown is now subtly rounded.
A slightly convex dial, swept over by leaf-shaped hands following its curves, features subtle deep blue shades for the white gold version and blush pink for the pink gold model. Executed in a gradient effect, the colours are lighter in the centre and become progressively darker towards the dial edge to add depth and light to the display. Two looks are offered for each reference: one features a bezel set with 72 round-cut diamonds, while the other has a minute track embellished with 48 round-cut diamonds positioned between the applied gold hour markers.
All four new Patrimony timepieces are powered by the self-winding inhouse 2450 Q6/3 movement with a 40-hour power reserve. Barely 3.6mm thick, it drives displays of the hours and minutes with central seconds and an aperture-type date. Its finishing complies with the Hallmark of Geneva criteria, such as a circular-grained mainplate, hand-bevelled bridges adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif, straight-grained finishing springs, a going train with polished sinks and burnished pinions. The transparent caseback also shows off a 22k gold openworked oscillating weight inspired by the Maltese cross. The watches are finished with interchangeable straps in night blue or rosy beige alligator leather with an iridescent satin finish.
TRADITIONNELLE PERPETUAL CALENDAR ULTRA-THIN
The debut of two Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-thin watches is the maison’s answer to women who want a complex mechanical timepiece for their smaller wrists. Presented in white or pink gold, the latest watches draw from the manufacture’s models from the first half of the 20th century.
Retaining the understated style that characterises the collection, the feminine references are embellished with a few special features, such as the stepped lugs and case, fluted caseback, as well as Dauphine-type hands and a railway minute track punctuated with baton-type hour markers. Function dictates form here as the perpetual calendar is specially designed for easy reading of the calendar indications, thanks to a slimmed-down bezel that allows for a larger display.
However, the standout feature of the elegant watches is the dial. Adorned with blue-grey tinted mother-of-pearl for the white gold model or white mother-of-pearl for the pink gold variant, the moonphase disc on each watch matches the dial’s hue, while the depiction of the moon and the stars adopts the same shade of gold as the case with an opaline finish.
Driven by the in-house Calibre 1120 QP, the timepiece elegantly plays on the distinctive aspects of the Gregorian calendar, which is complemented by a moonphase indication at 6 o’clock. It displays the days, dates, months and years on a four-year cycle, including a leap-year indication without any need for correction before 2100.
Housed in a 36.5mm case that’s just 8.43mm thin, the slim 4.05mm movement is another distinctive feature. All 276 components are visible through an exhibition caseback. Flaunting a Côtes de Genève motif, the oscillating weight with a 22k gold segment is also openworked in the shape of the maison’s Maltese cross emblem. For added flourish, the bezel and top of the lugs are delicately set with 76 round-cut diamonds, while the crown is adorned with a round-cut diamond.
The Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-thin watch is equipped with an interchangeable strap that can be changed at the touch of a pushbutton – a first for the collection. Each model comes with an alligator leather strap in grey blue or rosy beige.