Complications
Tick Talk's 'Best of The Hour Lounge' series offers an invaluable historical deep dive into Vacheron Constantin's horological achievements. This particular installment focuses on the brand's complicated timepieces produced up to 2010, excluding repeater watches. It serves as an essential reference for understanding the evolution of Vacheron Constantin's technical prowess and design language over centuries.
1790
Earliest complicated piece by the Manufacture known, movement signed Vacheron Γ Geneve. Maltese Cross wall clock indicating the day and date, engraved dial. Nearly a century later, V&C would adopt this shape as their symbol. They would follow in 1810 with their first minute repeating pocket watch.
1824
Date with central hand, calibre 22βββ verge and fusee, key winding and setting, 52mm pink gold case.
1827
Date with jumping hour, calibre 20βββ 1/2 cylinder escapement, key winding and setting, 53mm pink gold case.
1844
Double-faced perpetual calendar with moon phases. Calibre RA 23βββ lever escapement, 19 jewels, Guillaume balance with helical hairspring, 65mm yellow gold case. Received Observatory bulletin.
1913
Perpetual calendar with equation of time.
1932
Split-seconds chronograph
Day/Date/Month with moon phases
Perpetual calendar with leap year
Tourbillon
Power reserve indicator
Calibre RA 23/23βββ AB, 28 jewels. This is Vacheron & Constantinβs only multiple complication pocket watch with tourbillon. Regulated by Edmond Olivier, it achieved First Prize at Geneva Observatory trials of 1934. Displayed at the National Swiss Exhibition in 1939. Inconsistently attributed to the collection of Henry Graves Jr.
2005 Saint-Gervais
Tourbillon
Day/Date/Month
Perpetual calendar with leap year
Power reserve indicator
12βββ 1/2 calibre 2250, 33 jewels, 450 components, 250 hour power reserve via 4 coupled barrels, 44mm platinum case. Produced in 55 pieces, also a unique piece with black dial for VCβs 250th anniversary.
2010 Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253
Tourbillon
Day/Date/Month
Leap year indicator
Perpetual calendar with leap year
Equation of Time with time of sunset and sunrise
Power reserve indicator
Calibre 2253, 457 components, 250 hour power reserve via 4 coupled barrels, 44mm platinum case and dial. Movement based on the calibre 2250, available as a limited edition of 10 pieces. Also available as open edition in gold case. Set to a customer-specified region, the Equation of Time indicator is placed between 10 and 11, and the times of sunrise and sunset on the bottom left and right.
References
Ah yes for sure THL is a wealth of worthy information and articles. Many thanks Dean for bringing them back to light ;-) Mike
Unfortunately the site's server crashed on me and flushed a couple of hours worth of work, so I'll try again once its stable.
This thread is active on the Vacheron Constantin forum with 3 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.
Join the Discussion →
