{"lien_WSTV":"","tax_name":"deprecated","tax_rate":20,"id_manufacturer":"0","id_supplier":"0","id_category_default":"422","id_shop_default":"1","manufacturer_name":false,"supplier_name":false,"name":"Historiques Ultra-fine 1955","description":"<p><strong>Vacheron Constantin : The ultra-thin heritage<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Vacheron Constantin has chosen today to revive some of the finest moments in the quest for ultrathinness. The Geneva-based manufacturer has indeed been closely involved in the epic milestones of this distinctive form of expertise, such as in the 1950s and 1960s when Vacheron Constantin introduced the world\u2019s thinnest wristwatches.<br \/><br \/>Today, Vacheron Constantin is enriching its \u201cHistoriques\u201d collection with two new creations directly inspired by its heritage, each lending a new and distinctively modern touch to one of two legendary calibers.<br \/><br \/><strong>\u201cHistorique Ultra-fine 1955\u201d <\/strong><br \/>Currently the world\u2019s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch measuring just 4.10 mm thick It is equipped with the mechanical hand-wound 1003 movement, the thinnest in the world at just 1.64 mm thick, rebuilt in 2010 for its 55th anniversary in 18-carat gold, and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.<br \/><br \/><strong>\u201cHistorique Ultra-fine 1968\u201d <\/strong><br \/>Equipped with the ultra-thin mechanical self-winding 1120 movement featuring a new decorated oscillating weight, and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.<br \/><br \/>Vacheron Constantin was founded in 1755 and can legitimately claim to be the world\u2019s oldest watch manufacturer still in activity, with over 250 years of continuous expertise and production behind it. A truly unique status within the watch industry.<br \/><br \/>This proud heritage cultivated over a quarter of a millennium is punctuated with timepieces and movements that have each in their own way left an indelible imprint on their era. This stunning and inestimably valuable patrimony, through which the brand\u2019s history is inextricably bound up with that of the watch industry, eloquently testifies to the brand\u2019s consistent technical and aesthetic creativity.<br \/><br \/>Evolving in step with new inventions, techniques and of course with the tastes of horological enthusiasts, Vacheron Constantin has explored all fields of the watchmaking art, including pocketwatches and wristwatches, as well as ring-watches, pendant-watches, and brooch-watches. Its range encompasses highly complicated models, automatons, sophisticated clocks, as well as an area which is less conspicuous yet requires an incredible wealth of expertise, experience and talent: that of ultra-thin mechanical movements.<br \/><br \/>Extreme slenderness is traditionally not considered as a horological complication, in that it does not itself contribute an additional watch function in the same way as a date or a chronograph. It would nonetheless be entirely legitimate to describe it as such, due to its highly complex nature that often pushes micromechanical boundaries to the limit. Although many try their hand in this field, few are successful.<br \/><br \/>While the first ultra-thin Vacheron Constantin calibers were produced in the 19th century, the manufacturer became most prolific in this speciality during the 20th century, which is generally considered as the ultra-thin \u201cgolden age\u201d. It was indeed in the early 20th century that wristwatches began to gain popularity, and weight and thickness thus became crucial factors in ensuring the wearer comfort of such models.<br \/><br \/><strong>The Vacheron Constantin heritage comprises extraordinary ultra-thin creations and a succession of slimness records.<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Right from the start of the 19th century, the Vacheron Constantin archives (including a letter written by Jacques-Barth\u00e9l\u00e9mi Vacheron to a certain Mr. Girod in Paris, dated May 18th 1812) feature references to thin watches. Another letter dated January 27th 1829 and written by Jacques-Barth\u00e9l\u00e9mi Vacheron to Fran\u00e7ois Constantin also mentions the production of \u201ca few thin pieces\u201d.<br \/><br \/>Vacheron Constantin\u2019s historical records for 1911 also include three 8, 9 and 10-ligne calibers, each measuring 2.82 mm thick. The remainder of the century witnessed an impressive number of ultra-thin calibers, representing impressive horological feats and becoming ever slimmer over the years: 2.25 mm in 1917, 1.88 in 1924. Some were used to create such extraordinary models as a rock crystal watch presented in 1926 and equipped with a 2.63 mm red gold movement (visual available).<br \/><br \/>In 1931, Vacheron Constantin set a new world pocket-watch record with a mechanical movement measuring 17 lignes 5\/12 in diameter and less than 1 mm thick \u2013 exactly 0.94 mm to be precise (visual available)!<br \/><br \/>Ultra-thin movements continued to inspire the Geneva-based manufacturer, leading it in 1981 to present the \u201cStructura\u201d collection, which set a highly original stage for one of these movements by reversing it and fitting the hands on the bridge side, thereby enabling connoisseurs to admire the full complexity of its structure.<br \/><br \/>In 1992, Vacheron Constantin confirmed that its expertise in the field of extreme slenderness also extends to Grand Complication movements by presenting the thinnest minute-repeater wristwatch movement to date, measuring 3.28 mm and earning the Geneva-based manufacturer another record (visual available).<br \/><br \/><strong>The world\u2019s thinnest mechanical movements are developed in Vacheron Constantin\u2019s historical L\u2019Ile premises.<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Within this impressive legacy, one particular hand-wound movement continues to attract the attention of specialists and collectors. Work on its development began in 1952 in L\u2019Ile (the building on the Rhone River \u2018island\u2019 that has housed Vacheron Constantin\u2019s histo-rical premises since 1875) and it was presented for the brand bicentenary celebrations in 1955 under the name Caliber 1003 considered as the most beautiful at this time. Its 9-lignes or 20.80 mm diameter and 1.64 mm thickness have made i t the world\u2019s smallest mechanical manual-winding movement on the market. By way of comparison, this micromechanical masterpiece composed of 117 parts is about the size of a small Swiss 20-centime coin.<br \/><br \/>This now legendary caliber (of which the excellence was to be confirmed by the subsequent orders placed by other great names in fine watchmaking) was used to equip three round watches that set a new record as the world\u2019s thinnest watches measuring just 4.54 mm thick. These three timepieces have forever imprinted on people\u2019s minds the image of the archetypal Vacheron Constantin watch: round, classic, ultra-thin and extremely reliable.<br \/><br \/>In 2010, Vacheron Constantin has chosen to pay tribute to this legendary caliber by housing it within a reinterpretation of one of those three watches: the \u201cHistorique Ultra-fine 1955\u201d, currently the world\u2019s thinnest hand-wound watch measuring just 4.10 mm thick to date.<br \/><br \/>The development of Caliber 1120 began in 1966 and production began at the end of 1967. It too attracted the notice of specialists and collectors and was ordered by other great names in fine watchmaking. In 2010, Vacheron Constantin has also chosen to pay tribute to this equally legendary caliber by housing it within a reinterpretation of the vintage ultra-thin watches: the model now called \u201cHistorique Ultra-fine 1968\u201d.<br \/><br \/>These two timepieces will find their natural place within the \u201cHistoriques\u201d collection, specifically created to bring back to life the various designs and movements that have shaped the finest hours of Vacheron Constantin.<br \/><br \/>A collection composed of watches intended for watchmaking collectors, connoisseurs and devotees, for those with a taste for discreet and elegant models, as well as purists. It features models such as the Chronom\u00e8tre Royal 1907 presented in 2007 to mark the 100th anniversary of the original, and the amazingly daring Historique American 1921 model reinterpreted in 2008 and which was named \u201cWatch of the Year\u201d in October 2009 in Geneva.<br \/><br \/><strong>\u201cHistoriques\u201d collection - Calibre 1003 for the \u201cHistorique Ultra-fine 1955\u201d watch<\/strong><br \/><br \/>For Vacheron Constantin, celebrating the 55th anniversary of the birth of the ultra-thin Caliber 1003 provides an opportunity to revisit its heritage, as well as to highlight its ultra-thin expertise in a period when this term tends to be somewhat overused.<br \/><br \/>Considered by many experts to be one of the most beautiful and refined ultra-thin movements on the market, Caliber 1003 has been defying mechanical laws for over 50 years. It is extremely complex to produce and its adjustment calls upon the full measure of expertise cultivated by a fine watch manufacturer.<br \/><br \/>Vacheron Constantin has chosen to present a redesigned version of this movement, while its 1.64 mm thickness \u2013 still a market slimness world record \u2013 and its 20.80 mm diameter remain unchanged. Its finishing is however even more refined, since the bridges and mainplate are now crafted from 18-carat gold. Its 117 parts enable it to beat at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations\/hour, and endow it with an over 30-hour power reserve despite its tiny size.<br \/><br \/>The decoration is extremely meticulous: C\u00f4tes de Gen\u00e8ve, bevelling and chamfering, and drawing the steel parts with a file are all performed by hand. This exceptional degree of finishing earns the new version of Caliber 1003 the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, an independent and sovereign certification awarded by the State of Geneva which thereby guarantees the origin, precision, durability and fine craftsmanship of models from a handful of Geneva-based watch companies.<br \/><br \/>For its 2010 re-edition, Caliber 1003 is presented in a round watch in 18-carat 4N rose gold measuring 36 mm in diameter, inspired by one of the three historical models introduced in 1955 (reference 6099). The latter has been selected because of a design that already embodied a decidedly modern touch at the time of its launch.<br \/><br \/>The reinterpreted version in 2010 magnifies the aesthetic qualities of the original without betraying its spirit. It also features further enhanced technical characteristics on a par with today\u2019s tastes and expectations: water-resistance to 3 bar, equivalent to 30 meters; an exhibition caseback fitted with a transparent sapphire crystal; a titanium casing circle contributing to the overall rigidity; and an even slimmer 4.1 mm case making it currently the world\u2019s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch.<br \/><br \/>The result radiates an aura of uncluttered, pared-down restraint and purity. Its fascinating aesthetic features \u2013 the slender bezel; the distinctive lugs, each shaped like an arm of Vacheron Constantin\u2019s Maltese Cross emblem; its solid gold opaline silver-coloured dial adorned with baton hands marking the hours and minutes \u2013 combine to endow this watch with a rare breed of elegance stemming from the compelling strength of sheer simplicity.<\/p>","description_short":"","quantity":0,"minimal_quantity":"1","available_now":"","available_later":"","price":25750,"specificPrice":false,"additional_shipping_cost":"0.00","wholesale_price":"0.000000","on_sale":"0","online_only":"0","unity":"","unit_price":0,"unit_price_ratio":"0.000000","ecotax":"0.000000","reference":"33155\/000R-9588","supplier_reference":"","location":"","width":"0.000000","height":"0.000000","depth":"0.000000","weight":"0.000000","ean13":"","upc":"","link_rewrite":"historiques-ultra-fine-1955","meta_description":"Vacheron Constantin : The ultra-thin heritageVacheron Constantin has chosen today to revive some of the finest moments in the quest for ultrathinness. 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{"Compl\u00e9ment":"4N Pink Gold","Statut de vente":"En vente depuis","Date":"2010","Pi\u00e8ce unique":"No","S\u00e9rie limit\u00e9e":"No","Sexe":"Unisexe","Gaucher":"No","Diam\u00e8tre":"36","Epaisseur":"4.10","Types":"Hand-winding","Styles":"Evening","Calibre_autre":"Vacheron Constantin 1003","Calibre distinction":"Extra-thin, Hallmark of Geneva","Calibre distinction_autre":"Rebuilt in 18-carat gold for its 55th anniversary in 2010","Affichage":"Hands","Mati\u00e8re du bo\u00eetier":"Pink gold","Particularit\u00e9 du boitier":"Sapphire caseback, Extra-thin","Etanch\u00e9it\u00e9":"30 meters","Forme":"Round","Cadran":"Gold","Couleur du cadran":"Silver, Opalescent","Index":"Baton-type","Mati\u00e8re du bracelet":"Alligator leather","Fermeture du bracelet":"Pin buckle","Couleur du bracelet":"Black","Plus de caract\u00e9ristiques":"Movement<br \/>Thickness : 1.64 mm<br \/>Diameter : 20.80 mm<br \/>18 jewels<br \/>Frequency :<br \/>18 000 vibrations per hour<br \/>Power reserve : 30 hours<br \/><br \/>Case and buckle in 18 carat 4N rose gold<br \/>18-carat gold dial with mirror-polished Maltese Cross and indexes<br \/>Hand-stitched strap<br \/>Clasp with polished half Maltese <br \/>Cross"}
Historiques Ultra-fine 1955
33155/000R-9588
| Brand : | Vacheron Constantin |
| Collection : | Historiques |
| Model : | Historiques Ultra-fine 1955 |
| Reference : | 33155/000R-9588 |
| Complement : | 4N Pink Gold |
| On sale : | 2010 |
PDF INDEX CARD
-
Brand : Vacheron Constantin Collection : Historiques Model : Historiques Ultra-fine 1955 Reference : 33155/000R-9588 Complement : 4N Pink Gold On sale : 2010 List Price : 30 900 € Diameter : 36 mm Thickness : 4.10 mm Styles : Evening Types : Hand-winding Calibre : Vacheron Constantin 1003 Calibre distinction : Extra-thin Hallmark of Geneva Rebuilt in 18-carat gold for its 55th anniversary in 2010 Case material : Pink gold Case peculiarity : Sapphire caseback Extra-thin Shape : Round Water-resistance : 30 meters Dial : Gold Dial color : Silver Opalescent Display : Hands Indexes : Baton-type Strap material : Alligator leather Strap color : Black Strap clasp : Pin buckle + More characteristics : Movement
Thickness : 1.64 mm
Diameter : 20.80 mm
18 jewels
Frequency :
18 000 vibrations per hour
Power reserve : 30 hours
Case and buckle in 18 carat 4N rose gold
18-carat gold dial with mirror-polished Maltese Cross and indexes
Hand-stitched strap
Clasp with polished half Maltese
Cross
DESCRIPTION
Vacheron Constantin : The ultra-thin heritage
Vacheron Constantin has chosen today to revive some of the finest moments in the quest for ultrathinness. The Geneva-based manufacturer has indeed been closely involved in the epic milestones of this distinctive form of expertise, such as in the 1950s and 1960s when Vacheron Constantin introduced the world’s thinnest wristwatches.
Today, Vacheron Constantin is enriching its “Historiques” collection with two new creations directly inspired by its heritage, each lending a new and distinctively modern touch to one of two legendary calibers.
“Historique Ultra-fine 1955”
Currently the world’s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch measuring just 4.10 mm thick It is equipped with the mechanical hand-wound 1003 movement, the thinnest in the world at just 1.64 mm thick, rebuilt in 2010 for its 55th anniversary in 18-carat gold, and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.
“Historique Ultra-fine 1968”
Equipped with the ultra-thin mechanical self-winding 1120 movement featuring a new decorated oscillating weight, and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.
Vacheron Constantin was founded in 1755 and can legitimately claim to be the world’s oldest watch manufacturer still in activity, with over 250 years of continuous expertise and production behind it. A truly unique status within the watch industry.
This proud heritage cultivated over a quarter of a millennium is punctuated with timepieces and movements that have each in their own way left an indelible imprint on their era. This stunning and inestimably valuable patrimony, through which the brand’s history is inextricably bound up with that of the watch industry, eloquently testifies to the brand’s consistent technical and aesthetic creativity.
Evolving in step with new inventions, techniques and of course with the tastes of horological enthusiasts, Vacheron Constantin has explored all fields of the watchmaking art, including pocketwatches and wristwatches, as well as ring-watches, pendant-watches, and brooch-watches. Its range encompasses highly complicated models, automatons, sophisticated clocks, as well as an area which is less conspicuous yet requires an incredible wealth of expertise, experience and talent: that of ultra-thin mechanical movements.
Extreme slenderness is traditionally not considered as a horological complication, in that it does not itself contribute an additional watch function in the same way as a date or a chronograph. It would nonetheless be entirely legitimate to describe it as such, due to its highly complex nature that often pushes micromechanical boundaries to the limit. Although many try their hand in this field, few are successful.
While the first ultra-thin Vacheron Constantin calibers were produced in the 19th century, the manufacturer became most prolific in this speciality during the 20th century, which is generally considered as the ultra-thin “golden age”. It was indeed in the early 20th century that wristwatches began to gain popularity, and weight and thickness thus became crucial factors in ensuring the wearer comfort of such models.
The Vacheron Constantin heritage comprises extraordinary ultra-thin creations and a succession of slimness records.
Right from the start of the 19th century, the Vacheron Constantin archives (including a letter written by Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron to a certain Mr. Girod in Paris, dated May 18th 1812) feature references to thin watches. Another letter dated January 27th 1829 and written by Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron to François Constantin also mentions the production of “a few thin pieces”.
Vacheron Constantin’s historical records for 1911 also include three 8, 9 and 10-ligne calibers, each measuring 2.82 mm thick. The remainder of the century witnessed an impressive number of ultra-thin calibers, representing impressive horological feats and becoming ever slimmer over the years: 2.25 mm in 1917, 1.88 in 1924. Some were used to create such extraordinary models as a rock crystal watch presented in 1926 and equipped with a 2.63 mm red gold movement (visual available).
In 1931, Vacheron Constantin set a new world pocket-watch record with a mechanical movement measuring 17 lignes 5/12 in diameter and less than 1 mm thick – exactly 0.94 mm to be precise (visual available)!
Ultra-thin movements continued to inspire the Geneva-based manufacturer, leading it in 1981 to present the “Structura” collection, which set a highly original stage for one of these movements by reversing it and fitting the hands on the bridge side, thereby enabling connoisseurs to admire the full complexity of its structure.
In 1992, Vacheron Constantin confirmed that its expertise in the field of extreme slenderness also extends to Grand Complication movements by presenting the thinnest minute-repeater wristwatch movement to date, measuring 3.28 mm and earning the Geneva-based manufacturer another record (visual available).
The world’s thinnest mechanical movements are developed in Vacheron Constantin’s historical L’Ile premises.
Within this impressive legacy, one particular hand-wound movement continues to attract the attention of specialists and collectors. Work on its development began in 1952 in L’Ile (the building on the Rhone River ‘island’ that has housed Vacheron Constantin’s histo-rical premises since 1875) and it was presented for the brand bicentenary celebrations in 1955 under the name Caliber 1003 considered as the most beautiful at this time. Its 9-lignes or 20.80 mm diameter and 1.64 mm thickness have made i t the world’s smallest mechanical manual-winding movement on the market. By way of comparison, this micromechanical masterpiece composed of 117 parts is about the size of a small Swiss 20-centime coin.
This now legendary caliber (of which the excellence was to be confirmed by the subsequent orders placed by other great names in fine watchmaking) was used to equip three round watches that set a new record as the world’s thinnest watches measuring just 4.54 mm thick. These three timepieces have forever imprinted on people’s minds the image of the archetypal Vacheron Constantin watch: round, classic, ultra-thin and extremely reliable.
In 2010, Vacheron Constantin has chosen to pay tribute to this legendary caliber by housing it within a reinterpretation of one of those three watches: the “Historique Ultra-fine 1955”, currently the world’s thinnest hand-wound watch measuring just 4.10 mm thick to date.
The development of Caliber 1120 began in 1966 and production began at the end of 1967. It too attracted the notice of specialists and collectors and was ordered by other great names in fine watchmaking. In 2010, Vacheron Constantin has also chosen to pay tribute to this equally legendary caliber by housing it within a reinterpretation of the vintage ultra-thin watches: the model now called “Historique Ultra-fine 1968”.
These two timepieces will find their natural place within the “Historiques” collection, specifically created to bring back to life the various designs and movements that have shaped the finest hours of Vacheron Constantin.
A collection composed of watches intended for watchmaking collectors, connoisseurs and devotees, for those with a taste for discreet and elegant models, as well as purists. It features models such as the Chronomètre Royal 1907 presented in 2007 to mark the 100th anniversary of the original, and the amazingly daring Historique American 1921 model reinterpreted in 2008 and which was named “Watch of the Year” in October 2009 in Geneva.
“Historiques” collection - Calibre 1003 for the “Historique Ultra-fine 1955” watch
For Vacheron Constantin, celebrating the 55th anniversary of the birth of the ultra-thin Caliber 1003 provides an opportunity to revisit its heritage, as well as to highlight its ultra-thin expertise in a period when this term tends to be somewhat overused.
Considered by many experts to be one of the most beautiful and refined ultra-thin movements on the market, Caliber 1003 has been defying mechanical laws for over 50 years. It is extremely complex to produce and its adjustment calls upon the full measure of expertise cultivated by a fine watch manufacturer.
Vacheron Constantin has chosen to present a redesigned version of this movement, while its 1.64 mm thickness – still a market slimness world record – and its 20.80 mm diameter remain unchanged. Its finishing is however even more refined, since the bridges and mainplate are now crafted from 18-carat gold. Its 117 parts enable it to beat at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations/hour, and endow it with an over 30-hour power reserve despite its tiny size.
The decoration is extremely meticulous: Côtes de Genève, bevelling and chamfering, and drawing the steel parts with a file are all performed by hand. This exceptional degree of finishing earns the new version of Caliber 1003 the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, an independent and sovereign certification awarded by the State of Geneva which thereby guarantees the origin, precision, durability and fine craftsmanship of models from a handful of Geneva-based watch companies.
For its 2010 re-edition, Caliber 1003 is presented in a round watch in 18-carat 4N rose gold measuring 36 mm in diameter, inspired by one of the three historical models introduced in 1955 (reference 6099). The latter has been selected because of a design that already embodied a decidedly modern touch at the time of its launch.
The reinterpreted version in 2010 magnifies the aesthetic qualities of the original without betraying its spirit. It also features further enhanced technical characteristics on a par with today’s tastes and expectations: water-resistance to 3 bar, equivalent to 30 meters; an exhibition caseback fitted with a transparent sapphire crystal; a titanium casing circle contributing to the overall rigidity; and an even slimmer 4.1 mm case making it currently the world’s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch.
The result radiates an aura of uncluttered, pared-down restraint and purity. Its fascinating aesthetic features – the slender bezel; the distinctive lugs, each shaped like an arm of Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese Cross emblem; its solid gold opaline silver-coloured dial adorned with baton hands marking the hours and minutes – combine to endow this watch with a rare breed of elegance stemming from the compelling strength of sheer simplicity.
Vacheron Constantin : The ultra-thin heritage
Vacheron Constantin has chosen today to revive some of the finest moments in the quest for ultrathinness. The Geneva-based manufacturer has indeed been closely involved in the epic milestones of this distinctive form of expertise, such as in the 1950s and 1960s when Vacheron Constantin introduced the world’s thinnest wristwatches.
Today, Vacheron Constantin is enriching its “Historiques” collection with two new creations directly inspired by its heritage, each lending a new and distinctively modern touch to one of two legendary calibers.
“Historique Ultra-fine 1955”
Currently the world’s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch measuring just 4.10 mm thick It is equipped with the mechanical hand-wound 1003 movement, the thinnest in the world at just 1.64 mm thick, rebuilt in 2010 for its 55th anniversary in 18-carat gold, and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.
“Historique Ultra-fine 1968”
Equipped with the ultra-thin mechanical self-winding 1120 movement featuring a new decorated oscillating weight, and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.
Vacheron Constantin was founded in 1755 and can legitimately claim to be the world’s oldest watch manufacturer still in activity, with over 250 years of continuous expertise and production behind it. A truly unique status within the watch industry.
This proud heritage cultivated over a quarter of a millennium is punctuated with timepieces and movements that have each in their own way left an indelible imprint on their era. This stunning and inestimably valuable patrimony, through which the brand’s history is inextricably bound up with that of the watch industry, eloquently testifies to the brand’s consistent technical and aesthetic creativity.
Evolving in step with new inventions, techniques and of course with the tastes of horological enthusiasts, Vacheron Constantin has explored all fields of the watchmaking art, including pocketwatches and wristwatches, as well as ring-watches, pendant-watches, and brooch-watches. Its range encompasses highly complicated models, automatons, sophisticated clocks, as well as an area which is less conspicuous yet requires an incredible wealth of expertise, experience and talent: that of ultra-thin mechanical movements.
Extreme slenderness is traditionally not considered as a horological complication, in that it does not itself contribute an additional watch function in the same way as a date or a chronograph. It would nonetheless be entirely legitimate to describe it as such, due to its highly complex nature that often pushes micromechanical boundaries to the limit. Although many try their hand in this field, few are successful.
While the first ultra-thin Vacheron Constantin calibers were produced in the 19th century, the manufacturer became most prolific in this speciality during the 20th century, which is generally considered as the ultra-thin “golden age”. It was indeed in the early 20th century that wristwatches began to gain popularity, and weight and thickness thus became crucial factors in ensuring the wearer comfort of such models.
The Vacheron Constantin heritage comprises extraordinary ultra-thin creations and a succession of slimness records.
Right from the start of the 19th century, the Vacheron Constantin archives (including a letter written by Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron to a certain Mr. Girod in Paris, dated May 18th 1812) feature references to thin watches. Another letter dated January 27th 1829 and written by Jacques-Barthélémi Vacheron to François Constantin also mentions the production of “a few thin pieces”.
Vacheron Constantin’s historical records for 1911 also include three 8, 9 and 10-ligne calibers, each measuring 2.82 mm thick. The remainder of the century witnessed an impressive number of ultra-thin calibers, representing impressive horological feats and becoming ever slimmer over the years: 2.25 mm in 1917, 1.88 in 1924. Some were used to create such extraordinary models as a rock crystal watch presented in 1926 and equipped with a 2.63 mm red gold movement (visual available).
In 1931, Vacheron Constantin set a new world pocket-watch record with a mechanical movement measuring 17 lignes 5/12 in diameter and less than 1 mm thick – exactly 0.94 mm to be precise (visual available)!
Ultra-thin movements continued to inspire the Geneva-based manufacturer, leading it in 1981 to present the “Structura” collection, which set a highly original stage for one of these movements by reversing it and fitting the hands on the bridge side, thereby enabling connoisseurs to admire the full complexity of its structure.
In 1992, Vacheron Constantin confirmed that its expertise in the field of extreme slenderness also extends to Grand Complication movements by presenting the thinnest minute-repeater wristwatch movement to date, measuring 3.28 mm and earning the Geneva-based manufacturer another record (visual available).
The world’s thinnest mechanical movements are developed in Vacheron Constantin’s historical L’Ile premises.
Within this impressive legacy, one particular hand-wound movement continues to attract the attention of specialists and collectors. Work on its development began in 1952 in L’Ile (the building on the Rhone River ‘island’ that has housed Vacheron Constantin’s histo-rical premises since 1875) and it was presented for the brand bicentenary celebrations in 1955 under the name Caliber 1003 considered as the most beautiful at this time. Its 9-lignes or 20.80 mm diameter and 1.64 mm thickness have made i t the world’s smallest mechanical manual-winding movement on the market. By way of comparison, this micromechanical masterpiece composed of 117 parts is about the size of a small Swiss 20-centime coin.
This now legendary caliber (of which the excellence was to be confirmed by the subsequent orders placed by other great names in fine watchmaking) was used to equip three round watches that set a new record as the world’s thinnest watches measuring just 4.54 mm thick. These three timepieces have forever imprinted on people’s minds the image of the archetypal Vacheron Constantin watch: round, classic, ultra-thin and extremely reliable.
In 2010, Vacheron Constantin has chosen to pay tribute to this legendary caliber by housing it within a reinterpretation of one of those three watches: the “Historique Ultra-fine 1955”, currently the world’s thinnest hand-wound watch measuring just 4.10 mm thick to date.
The development of Caliber 1120 began in 1966 and production began at the end of 1967. It too attracted the notice of specialists and collectors and was ordered by other great names in fine watchmaking. In 2010, Vacheron Constantin has also chosen to pay tribute to this equally legendary caliber by housing it within a reinterpretation of the vintage ultra-thin watches: the model now called “Historique Ultra-fine 1968”.
These two timepieces will find their natural place within the “Historiques” collection, specifically created to bring back to life the various designs and movements that have shaped the finest hours of Vacheron Constantin.
A collection composed of watches intended for watchmaking collectors, connoisseurs and devotees, for those with a taste for discreet and elegant models, as well as purists. It features models such as the Chronomètre Royal 1907 presented in 2007 to mark the 100th anniversary of the original, and the amazingly daring Historique American 1921 model reinterpreted in 2008 and which was named “Watch of the Year” in October 2009 in Geneva.
“Historiques” collection - Calibre 1003 for the “Historique Ultra-fine 1955” watch
For Vacheron Constantin, celebrating the 55th anniversary of the birth of the ultra-thin Caliber 1003 provides an opportunity to revisit its heritage, as well as to highlight its ultra-thin expertise in a period when this term tends to be somewhat overused.
Considered by many experts to be one of the most beautiful and refined ultra-thin movements on the market, Caliber 1003 has been defying mechanical laws for over 50 years. It is extremely complex to produce and its adjustment calls upon the full measure of expertise cultivated by a fine watch manufacturer.
Vacheron Constantin has chosen to present a redesigned version of this movement, while its 1.64 mm thickness – still a market slimness world record – and its 20.80 mm diameter remain unchanged. Its finishing is however even more refined, since the bridges and mainplate are now crafted from 18-carat gold. Its 117 parts enable it to beat at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations/hour, and endow it with an over 30-hour power reserve despite its tiny size.
The decoration is extremely meticulous: Côtes de Genève, bevelling and chamfering, and drawing the steel parts with a file are all performed by hand. This exceptional degree of finishing earns the new version of Caliber 1003 the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, an independent and sovereign certification awarded by the State of Geneva which thereby guarantees the origin, precision, durability and fine craftsmanship of models from a handful of Geneva-based watch companies.
For its 2010 re-edition, Caliber 1003 is presented in a round watch in 18-carat 4N rose gold measuring 36 mm in diameter, inspired by one of the three historical models introduced in 1955 (reference 6099). The latter has been selected because of a design that already embodied a decidedly modern touch at the time of its launch.
The reinterpreted version in 2010 magnifies the aesthetic qualities of the original without betraying its spirit. It also features further enhanced technical characteristics on a par with today’s tastes and expectations: water-resistance to 3 bar, equivalent to 30 meters; an exhibition caseback fitted with a transparent sapphire crystal; a titanium casing circle contributing to the overall rigidity; and an even slimmer 4.1 mm case making it currently the world’s thinnest mechanical hand-wound watch.
The result radiates an aura of uncluttered, pared-down restraint and purity. Its fascinating aesthetic features – the slender bezel; the distinctive lugs, each shaped like an arm of Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese Cross emblem; its solid gold opaline silver-coloured dial adorned with baton hands marking the hours and minutes – combine to endow this watch with a rare breed of elegance stemming from the compelling strength of sheer simplicity.
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Brand : Vacheron Constantin Collection : Historiques Model : Historiques Ultra-fine 1955 Reference : 33155/000R-9588 Complement : 4N Pink Gold On sale : 2010 List Price : 30 900 € Diameter : 36 mm Thickness : 4.10 mm Styles : Evening Types : Hand-winding Calibre : Vacheron Constantin 1003 Calibre distinction : Extra-thin Hallmark of Geneva Rebuilt in 18-carat gold for its 55th anniversary in 2010 Case material : Pink gold Case peculiarity : Sapphire caseback Extra-thin Shape : Round Water-resistance : 30 meters Dial : Gold Dial color : Silver Opalescent Display : Hands Indexes : Baton-type Strap material : Alligator leather Strap color : Black Strap clasp : Pin buckle More characteristics : Movement
Thickness : 1.64 mm
Diameter : 20.80 mm
18 jewels
Frequency :
18 000 vibrations per hour
Power reserve : 30 hours
Case and buckle in 18 carat 4N rose gold
18-carat gold dial with mirror-polished Maltese Cross and indexes
Hand-stitched strap
Clasp with polished half Maltese
Cross