WHL provides a concise overview of Vacheron Constantin's Calibre 2475, tracing its development and various applications since its 2005 debut. This post highlights the significance of the brand's first manufacture self-winding movement and its evolution across different collections. WHL's analysis offers valuable insights into the technical and aesthetic journey of this pivotal Vacheron Constantin caliber.
The introduction of a new caliber is always a big event for a watch manufacturer. It marks the end of a long and expensive development period that necessitates countless hours of testing, feedback, quality control, production planning, and training. When Vacheron Constantin introduced its in-house manual winding caliber 1400 in 2001, an inevitable question was when could collectors expect an automatic movement from the company. The wait was long, but worth it! In 2005, for the 250th anniversary of the brand, Vacheron Constantin finally announced it’s first manufacture self-winding movement, the Calibre 2475, which featured pointer day and date and power reserve indication, and was cased in the limited edition Jubile 1755 watch (500 pieces in each gold color, and 250 in platinum)
This special movement was housed in a case that was unique to the anniversary timepieces that Vacheron Constantin constructed for the occasion. 40 mm in diameter, it featured sculpted lugs and knurling on both the bezel and case back. The dial was hand guilloche with a pattern unique to the anniversary collection.
The complication plate is of a particularly interesting design, with a beautifully shaped bridge securing the calendar and power reserve wheels
Subsequent self-winding watches would be based on the same automatic movement, though without the particular dial layout. The base has also proven to be a good platform for other complications, as it supports the Annual Calendar complication in the Quai de l’Ile line and the World Time complication in the new Patrimony Tradtionnelle model.
In 2008, Vacheron Constantin brought back the caliber 2475 in the boldly designed Quai de l’Ile collection. Though the case is nominally bigger at 41mm in diameter, the effect when compared side by side makes the Quai de l’Ile seem much larger:
This is primarily due to the cushion case giving more area to the case vis a vis the dial. The special aspect of this watch is the sapphire crystal dial allowing the top plate of the movement to be seen in all its glory.
The rotor in the Quai de l'Ile is still made of 22K gold, but it is given a dark ruthenium finish compared with the guilloche gold of the Jubile 1755 and all non-QDI uses of the 24XX movement.
In 2010, Vacheron Constantin brought solid dials to the design of the Quai de l’Ile, in a nod to the fact that the original sapphire dials were not to everyone’s taste. These solid dials models are having better success in the marketplace.
When it comes to the caliber 2475, I have a preference for the original Jubile 1755 design. The combination of case, dial , and movement design is irresistible to me. As for the Quai de l’Ile, I love the concept, and the sapphire dial, but I prefer the relative simplicity of the Self-Winding Date models with the caliber 2460 to the Day-Date-Power Reserve models featuring the 2475.
As much as I appreciate and value movements, it is the total package that has to win me over.
Bill
