Stephen, known as BluNotte on WatchProSite, embarks on a detailed exploration of Vacheron Constantin's Collection Excellence Platine (CEP), a series celebrated for its extensive use of platinum. After an 18-year quest, Stephen has acquired the original Patrimony Contemporaine (Ref. 81180/000P-9220) from this esteemed collection. His post delves into the specific platinum components of CEP timepieces, inviting the community to share their expertise on the material composition, particularly the purity of the Pt950 alloy and the evolution of platinum usage across different generations of CEP models.
Hello everybody,
For those who have known me from years back, you might recall vividly of the time in 2006 when VC launched what was back then an unprecedented usage of our all-time favorite material Platinum in a new series known as the Collection Excellence Platine ( CEP) [ which is the original name of it in French, but depending on the local market they adjust it to their respective languages, e.g. in the publications in Singapore back then it was written to be Excellent Platinum Collection [ which is the English spelling and order of the French ] but what's of interest here to those who were not aware of it was what the collection was called in Japan, ( where I was living in at that time), it was known as the "Platinum Concept" [ ใใฉใใโใณใณใปใใใ, and only later on actually changed it to the katakana writing which said Collection Excellence Platine (ใณใฌใฏใทใงใณโใจใฏใปใฌใณในโใใฉใใ), notice here that although they could write the katakana of Platine [ ใใฉใใณ] they still chose the way that the Japanese language calls the metal ใใฉใใ which is from the Spanish Platina , which you all would know is the origin of the English word Platinum )
After an extremely long 18year rigorous hunt & search for it, I am pleased to announce that I have FINALLY AT LONG LAST manage to acquire the original Patrimony Contemporaine (Ref. 81180/000P-9220) from the CEP! Whilst it would still be a while before i can have it on my wrist in person, (due to me not being where the watch is being sent to due to work, and after's the time that it will be undergoing complete overhaul, strap customization etc.) I will attempt to get shots of my piece (prior to sending it away) and have it here for all to share in my joy. (I am not sure if you are still here Bill (WHL), but I know for sure that you are rejoicing out there with me now
)
But before that happens, I would like to know if anyone could chime in as to which parts of a timepiece from the CEP are made out of Platinum, and at that, would they all be Pt950, or perhaps some components are made out of Platinum of even higher purity, up until Pt999 perhaps in which there is such an alloy in the jewelry market at least.
What I know for sure, especially with regards to the original lineup was that to be considered a CEP piece, the case, buckle, and most importantly (and this is what differentiates a VC CEP from other brand's platinum timepieces) the DIAL of the watch had to be crafted out of platinum. Whilst in later generations they introduced the Pt Stitching on the leather straps that came with the watch.
Is the crown of the watch crafted out of Pt? Like they do over at Rolex(where crown material is same as case material) Or was it not at the 1st generation (eg. my watch), but is at the later generations? (eg. at this year's Watches & Wonders Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph,which clearly belongs to the CEP)
AFAIK the hands, indices and Maltese/ Amalfi cross on the dial are crafted out from WG, from G1 till the present. Would have been cool if these were made from Pt as well though, which i strongly believe is possible for the indices and the cross, but not for the hands due to the weight of the hands being too heavy to be moved by the pivot that supports the hands from the axis.
Here's some press shots of the watch when it was launched in 2006's SIHH for those who may not recall which piece I am referring to.
I sure am eager to have it in my hands (alas that may not happen even before the year ends, but as my wife said to me, what's important is that it is yours now, finally)
Have a pleasant day ahead and blessings!
BluNotte
