Vacheron Constantin Adds 14-Day Tourbillon to its Platinum Collection


Vacheron Constantin Platinum_14-Day Tourbillon - frontIn 2006, Vacheron Constantin became the first watch brand to dedicate an entire collection to platinum timepieces. This year, the venerable brand adds a version of its Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon to its Collection Excellence Platine.

Like other watches in Vacheron’s Platinum Collection, the new Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon uses 950 platinum — considered the noblest of metals, with a purity of 95 percent compared to 75 percent for 18k rose gold — for not only its 42-mm case, but also its dial and even the threads in the watch’s leather strap. The elegant, clean dial has slightly off-centered hours and minutes hands, an aperture for the tourbillon at 6 o’clock and a power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock. The power-reserve display features a “trailing” or “dragging” hand to indicate the remaining energy in the mainspring on an arc-shaped scale that is evenly divided into 14 segments — one for each day in the exceptionally lengthy 14-day power reserve from which the watch derives its name. Each of the 14 segments is in turn divided into two 12-hour sectors for a more precise reading.

Vacheron Constantin Platinum 14-Day Tourbillon-front

 

Vacheron Constantin Platinum 14-Day Tourbillon-angle
Vacheron Constantin Platinum 14-Day Tourbillon-back

The watch’s manufacture movement, manual-wind Caliber 2260, achieves its 14-day power reserve by means of its four barrels, which are stacked in pairs, interconnected and discharging simultaneously yet four times more slowly than a single barrel would. Caliber 2260, with its two large bridges, boasts a high level of finishing that includes côtes de Genève and hand-beveled interior angles. The tourbillon carriage is designed to look like Vacheron Costantin’s Maltese cross emblem and the rounding off of each tourbillon bar required 11 hours of hand craftsmanship. Both the movement and the finished watch have been awarded the Hallmark of Geneva.

The platinum dial has a sandblasted finish and, as with all Collection Excellence Platine watches, bears the subtle inscription “PT950” between the 4 and 5 o’clock positions, indicating the use of 950 platinum. The contrast saddle stitching on the dark blue Mississippi alligator leather strap is hand-sewn with silk and platinum thread; completing the picture, polished platinum is also used for the folding triple-blade clasp, fashioned in the shape of the Maltese cross. The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon Collection Excellence Platine, a limited edition of 50 pieces, will retail for $323,500.

 

Vacheron Constantin Platinum 14-Day Tourbillon movement-front
Caliber 2260, front (above) and back (below)Vacheron Constantin 14-Day Platinum Tourbillon - back
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