Vacheron Constantin calls the new Patrimony Traditionnelle “Calibre 2755″ a super-complication that is descended from the brand’s 250th anniversary masterpiece, the Tour de l’Ile. The Traditionnelle “Calibre 2755” required three years of development and with a tourbillon, perpetual calendar and minute repeater, it is the most complicated model in Vacheron Constantin’s current catalog.
The movement consists of 602 parts fitted into a diameter of 33.3 mm, and it is only 7.9 mm high. The watch, available only in platinum with gray or silver dial, measures 44 mm in diameter. The minute repeater demonstrates the greatest technical innovation of the three complications with a silent, centripetal governor controlling the rate at which the hammers strike the gongs. Vacheron’s development replaces the noisy recoil escapement with its lever that is subject to wear. The new device has two weights shaped so as to act as a brake on the governor’s rotating shaft, thus evening-out the energy released by the repeater’s spring. To achieve this, it uses the opposite centrifugal and centripetal forces. When the governor spins, the centrifugal force pivots one end of the weights outwards so that the other end acts as a brake on the central shaft to bring the rotation and the strike to a steady rate. The spinning governor is visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback.
Calibre 2755 beats at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations an hour and has a power reserve of about 55 hours. The level of its finish can be appreciated in the chamfered edges of the bridge plates adorned with Côtes de Genève, the circular graining on the baseplate and the rounding-off of the tourbillon bridge. The movement bears the Hallmark of Geneva.
Only a very few Calibre 2755s will be produced each year in the manufacture’s workshops, and they will be priced at $639,000.
Additional technical data appears below the images, which may be enlarged with a click.
TECHNICAL DATA
Reference: Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2755
80172/000P-9505 and 80172/000P-9589
Movement: 2755, developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin, stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva
Energy: Mechanical, manual-winding
Movement thickness: 7.90 mm
Movement diameter: 33.30 mm
Jewels: 40 jewels
Frequency: 18,000 vibrations/hour
Indications: Minute repeater
Tourbillon
Hours, minutes, seconds on tourbillon
Perpetual calendar
Power reserve on the caseback
Power reserve: More than 55 hours
Case: 950 platinum
Diameter: 44 mm
Convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on one side Open-worked back secured with screws, sapphire crystal
Water-resistance: None
Dial: Silvered or dark grey opaline
Finely snailed counters with diamond-polished fillets
Black or white painted minute-track
Strap: Dark blue or black, hand-stitched alligator leather
Clasp: 950 platinum folding clasp
Polished half Maltese Cross
