A Tribute to Genevan Fine Watchmaking, Vacheron Constantin Introduces the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar
This year, Vacheron Constantin celebrates a milestone anniversary: 270 years of fine watchmaking. Founded in Geneva in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, the maison is one of the world's oldest and most esteemed watchmakers with a storied history of horological innovation and craftsmanship. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Vacheron Constantin unveils the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar at Watches and Wonders 2025.
Limited to 127 pieces, the platinum haute-horlogerie timepiece is equipped with a new movement that pays tribute to Geneva's sophisticated fine watchmaking tradition dating back to the 18th century. Like the other introductions commemorating the anniversary, the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar features a superb Maltese cross-inspired guilloche pattern on the dial and a ‘côte unique’ finish and a discreet emblem on the caliber.
In the tradition of Geneva haute horlogerie, this timepiece retains the classic charm of many of its elements, such as the railway minute track, the stepped and fluted case, and the dauphine hands. In addition, it references the Saint-Gervais watch introduced in 2005 on the occasion of the manufacture's 250th anniversary. This timepiece wowed with its combination of a tourbillon regulator and perpetual calendar combined with a remarkable power reserve of 250 hours stored in four barrels.
One of the goals for the Traditionelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar was to keep the case, made from 950 platinum, as slender as possible. Measuring 42mm wide it is just 11.1mm thick. Naturally, the horological journey started inside of it, with a slim-built movement. The new Caliber 2162 QP/270, based on the Caliber 2160 which was introduced in the Traditionelle Self-winding Tourbillon in 2018, is just 6.55 mm thick.
Providing a power reserve of 72 hours, the self-winding caliber beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz)– a relatively slow tempo generally found in historic pocket watches. The advantage of this frequency is that it provides ample opportunity to enjoy the tourbillon’s mechanical choreography, surrounded by the traditional layout of the perpetual calendar, which displays the day, date, month and year, and leap years until 2100. In addition, this new mechanism features a patented secure-drive system for these functions. Thanks to a flexible driving finger-piece on the wheel, this also enables the owner to adjust them both clockwise and counterclockwise without any risk of damaging the movement.
Naturally, the complication watch shows its technical prowess and fine craftsmanship through an exhibition case back. The use of a peripheral oscillating weight was a technical choice that serves to maintain the slimness of the caliber and to allow an unobstructed view of the caliber. It features a discreet 270th anniversary engraving and a challenging special ‘côte unique’ finish on the bridges. Used by Vacheron Constantin more than a century ago, the technique to achieve this was rediscovered only in 2021 when reproducing the Historiques American 1921 watch. The process took more than 500 hours to perfect, requiring precise adjustment for each of the 270th anniversary calibers in order to achieve the perfectly aligned visual effect.
The same is true for the hand-guilloché decoration on the gold dial–a signature motif that distinguishes the limited editions presented to celebrate Vacheron Constantin's 270th anniversary. It was imagined by Vacheron Constantin’s guillocheur who devoted many hours to the creative process, drawing on the maison’s rich heritage, including the distinctive design that graces the dial of the Reference 6068, launched in 1955 for the Vacheron Constantin’s bicentenary.
Inspired by the Maltese cross, the brand's emblem since 1880, this finely hand-guilloché motif symbolizes the constant quest for precision and excellence. While enhancing the watches with a contemporary refinement, it creates eye-catching light effects with every movement of the wearer’s wrist.
Pricing was not available at time of publication and will be updated once it is communicated.
To learn more, visit Vacheron Constantin, here.
