Vacheron Constantin wowed the watch world at SIHH 2014 with its new lineup of openworked timepieces, as well as its introduction of the world’s thinnest automatic minute repeater. But the brand offered some more understated watches as well, such as this week’s Watch to Watch, the new Malte men’s watch in white gold.
The Vacheron Constantin Malte, which made its debut back in 1912, was one of the first wristwatches in a barrel-shaped “tonneau” case. Vacheron made some subtle alterations to the Malte case shape last year, and this year’s men’s model is the first to feature the revamped case in 18k white gold.
The case measures 36.7 mm by 47.6 mm in diameter and is an elegant 9.10 mm thick. It has a sapphire exhibition caseback and is water-resistant to 30 meters.
The silvered and sand-blasted dial has applied, baton-shaped hour markers and Roman numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock, all redesigned to better hug the curves of the tonneau case, and a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock.
The movement is Vacheron’s manufacture Caliber 4400AS, with manual winding, 21 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), and a power reserve of 65 hours. Its high level of decorative finishing has earned Caliber 4400AS the Geneva Hallmark.
The new Vacheron Constantin Malte in white gold comes on a black Mississippi alligator strap secured by a white-gold buckle shaped like half of a Maltese cross, the venerable emblem of the Vacheron Constantin brand. The watch will be available in June, priced at $25,500. Click on the photos for larger images.
