Vacheron Constantin

Fred.N
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A myth: the Tour de l'Île

A fabulous Vacheron Constantin dinner in association with the discussion forum of the brand  has allowed Parisian enthusiasts to discover the fabled Tour de l’Île -Non working Proto- (and another pieces) in the flesh.

Presented in 2005 April 3rd for the 250th Anniversary of the Manufacture, the Tour de l’Île is the most complicated wristwatch conducted by Vacheron Constantin! A Vacheron Strike Team was settled from 1999 to meditate on the 250th Anniversary project, and spurred by M. Guillaume-Gentil, the Tour de l’Île development and conception required 4 years (2000–2004) ... Only 7 Tour de l’Île were made between 2005 and 2007.

The 2750 Caliber, the Tour de l’Île’s heart in few datas:
10000 hours of research for 834 parts assembled in a caliber of 36mm diameter for only 11,25mm thick for 16 high complications arranged on two faces!!!

On the front face:
- Minute Repeater (Hours/Quarts/Minutes)
- Tourbillon 60 secondes
- Power Reserve
- Second Time Zone
- Moonphase (in gold hand engraved)
- Age of the moon
- Sonnerie Level Indication





On the back face:
- Perpetual calendar
- Day
- Date
- Month
- Leap year
- Equation of Time
- Sunrise (with for reference the longitude and the latitude of Geneva)
- Sunset (with for reference the longitude and the latitude of Geneva)
- Celestial Chart (with in reference the north hemisphere)





The red gold case looks very simple but was a great challenge for VC designers to deliver a coherent watch in his volume (47mm diameter and 17,8mm thick) to be wearable while remaining legible!!
The case is slightly curvy to reduce the impression of verticality and thickness.

On the flanks of the case, no less than 7 correctors plus the crown… no more place for the Minute Repeater Slide! This MR Slice was implemented on the bezel of the watch!!!







Another challenge, the specific VC Malta Cross lugs … here designers had to find a new design for the lugs to avoid give a harmonious effect to the watch and avoid to have a visually big fat watch!
Lugs were totally handmade and manually welded to the case.








Now, few more pictures ... the principal face of the beast:











Geneva Seal of course )))







... the second face of the Tour de l'Île, that face is very unique to each Tour de l'Île: each guilochage patternis unique and specific to one watch!!





















And a small wristshot before to give back the watch to VC :'(




... the Tour de l'Île is really a superlative watch, wearable and legible, really, classic but contemporary ... I don't know when VC will realase their next super complication but hope it will not be in 2255 LooL!

Thank you to the the VC Team to let few impassioned discover these part of the watchmaking history!!!

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