Vacheron Constantin: Marking 270 Years of Horological Mastery at Watches and Wonders 2025

Vacheron Constantin, a venerable name in the realm of fine watchmaking since the establishment of the brand in 1755, celebrated its 270th anniversary with a compelling showcase at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025. The Maison presented a series of exceptional timepieces that not only honour its rich heritage but also demonstrate a continued commitment to technical innovation and artistic refinement. The anniversary collection, spanning the Les Cabinotiers workshop and the esteemed Traditionnelle and Patrimony lines, serves as a powerful testament to Vacheron Constantin's enduring legacy and its deep-rooted connection to the city of Geneva.

LES CABINOTIERS TRIBUTE TO THE TOUR DE L’ÎLE

A central highlight of the anniversary is the Les Cabinotiers Tribute to the Tour de l’Île, a trio of unique timepieces paying homage to a significant Geneva landmark (Tour de l’Île/clock tower) intrinsically linked to the Maison's history. Each of these 40 mm watches (9.42 mm thick) houses the self-winding Calibre 2460, a movement measuring 27.2 mm in diameter and 3.6 mm in thickness. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).

The artistic focus, however, lies on the meticulously crafted dials. One model, encased in elegant 950 Platinum, features grand feu miniature enamelling on an 18 ct white gold base, requiring over a month of dedicated work. Another, also in platinum, combines figurative guilloché on an 18 ct 5N yellow gold base with grand feu miniature enamelling, requiring approximately 16 hours for the guilloché and 40 hours for the enamel work. The third, housed in a warm 18 ct pink gold case, showcases bas-relief engraving on an 18 ct 5N pink gold dial plate, a process that consumed over 140 hours of skilled craftsmanship. All three watches bear the Poinçon de Genève, signifying their Genevan origin and exceptional quality of workmanship.

TRADITIONNELLE OPENFACE 

The Traditionnelle Openface collection has introduced three limited editions in 950 Platinum cases, each with a varying thicknesses. The Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Retrograde Date Openface is powered by the new self-winding manufacture Calibre 2460 QPR31/270, measuring 5.45 mm in thickness. This complex movement, 242-component manufacture movement operates at 28,800 vph and offers a power reserve of around 40 hours. The watch also features a perpetual calendar (day, month, leap year, moon phases) and a retrograde date. The Traditionnelle Tourbillon Retrograde Date Openface houses the self-winding Calibre 2162 R31/270, a 6.35 mm thick movements. Operating at a slower frequency of 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz), it provides a 72-hour power reserve, features a tourbillon at 6 o'clock, along with a retrograde date. 

The Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Openface is driven by the self-winding Calibre 2460 QCL/270, a movement with 312 components. It displays the day, date (peripheral hand), month, and precision moon phases as well. All three models feature openworked dials with a hand-guilloché pattern inspired by the Maltese cross and exhibit meticulously hand-finished movements with the 'côte unique' decoration on the bridges.

TRADITIONNELLE TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR

Further enriching the Traditionnelle line for the anniversary is the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, a 42 mm x 12.2 mm limited edition in 950 Platinum. It is powered by the new self-winding Manufacture Calibre 2162 QP/270, a remarkably thin movement at  6.55 mm in thickness. Comprising 301 components and 30 jewels, it operates at 18,000 vph and offers a 72-hour power reserve.

This highly sophisticated movement combines a tourbillon regulator with a perpetual calendar displaying the day, date, month, and leap year, and includes a patented secure drive system for perpetual calendar adjustments. The gold dial showcases a special hand-guilloché motif inspired by the Maltese cross, and the movement visible through the caseback features the 'côte unique' finish and a 270th-anniversary engraving.

TRADITIONNELLE AND PATRIMONY: DISTINCTIVE DIALS AND MOVEMENT FINISHING

Vacheron Constantin has introduced eight limited editions across the Traditionnelle and Patrimony collections, each featuring a special 270th-anniversary aesthetic signature. These models include the Traditionnelle Manual-Winding, typically housing the manual-winding Calibre 4400 AS (28.6 mm diameter, 2.8 mm thick, 21 jewels, 28,800 vph, approx. 65-hour power reserve); the Traditionnelle Moon Phase, often featuring the self-winding Calibre 2460 QCL (29 mm diameter, 5.4 mm thick, 27 jewels, 28,800 vph, approx. 40-hour power reserve); and the Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date, typically using the self-winding Calibre 2460 R31L (29 mm diameter, 5.4 mm thick, 27 jewels, 28,800 vph, approx. 40-hour power reserve). The Patrimony Self-Winding is often powered by the self-winding Calibre 2450 Q6 (25.6 mm diameter, 3.6 mm thick, 27 jewels, 28,800 vph, approx. 40-hour power reserve). 

All these anniversary editions showcase a new dial decoration inspired by the Maltese cross, while their sapphire casebacks reveal the 'côte unique' finish on the bridges of their respective manufacture calibres, along with a discreet 270th-anniversary emblem engraved on the movement. These limited editions are a fitting tribute to Vacheron Constantin's enduring legacy, seamlessly blending classic design principles with distinctive anniversary details and the exceptional mechanical prowess that has defined the Maison for 270 years.

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