{"lien_WSTV":"","tax_name":"deprecated","tax_rate":20,"id_manufacturer":"0","id_supplier":"0","id_category_default":"491","id_shop_default":"1","manufacturer_name":false,"supplier_name":false,"name":"M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art M\u00e9caniques Grav\u00e9es - Tourbillon 14 Jours","description":"<p><strong>M\u00c9TIERS D\u2019ART M\u00c9CANIQUES GRAV\u00c9ES COLLECTION <br \/><br \/>THE ORIGINS OF TRADITIONAL ADORNMENT <\/strong><br \/><br \/>At the occasion of its 260th anniversary celebrations, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin is <br \/>making a remarkable return to its roots by enriching its M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art collection with two timepieces distinguished by movements that are entirely hand-engraved in keeping with classic ornamental watchmaking traditions. The plates and bridges of the hand-wound 2260 and 4400 calibers are adorned with delicate floral motifs, reminiscent of the engravings gracing the first pocket watches created by Vacheron Constantin from 1755 onwards. Housed in a precious platinum case, these two iconic movements from the Manufacture feature traditional tone-on-tone decors expressing a desire to achieve a pure, understated design. The scrolling motifs and arabesques pay tribute to the acanthus leaf, an exceptional source of inspiration consistently celebrated since Antiquity across all forms of artistic expression. Engraving, which has been used in watchmaking right from its very origins, is a demanding art requiring extreme expertise and dexterity on the part of the master artisan who sculpts tiny parts without ever compromising their perfect aesthetic and functionality. The skilfully engraved parts endow these timepieces with a distinctive stature, confirmed by the Hallmark of Geneva. \u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<br \/>After recently providing an airily graceful interpretation of the art of openworking in its most contemporary and architectural expression, the M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art collection by Vacheron Constantin pays an elegant tribute to the traditional engraving of Haute Horlogerie movements. To exalt the beauty of the two iconic in-house movements, Calibers 2260 and 4400 have been adorned with floral motifs inspired by ancient jewellery. Reflecting the finest ornamental traditions, these scrolling motifs and arabesques are hand-engraved on functional parts so as to magnify their exceptional mechanics and unique aesthetic appeal. Epitomising these traditional decors, the acanthus leaf appearing on these two movements is a characteristic ornamental element in classic Greek architecture. Its earliest representations date back to the fifth century BC, when it adorned the capitals of Corinthian columns. Thanks to its stylised shape affording inexhaustible interpretive freedom, the acanthus leaf is depicted on countless artistic creations dotted across the history of Western civilisation, especially during the Renaissance and the Baroque period. A symbol of eternity, victory and glory, this refined plant-life motif has found its way through the centuries, expressed in a rich variety of fields including engraving, marquetry, embroidery and painting. Its distinctive curves thus adorn a number of pocket-watch movements at the heart of the Vacheron Constantin heritage. Subsequently a number of calibers developed by the Manufacture have been graced with some remarkable hand-crafted decorations: <br \/>\u00a0<br \/>18th century floral motifs; mid-19th century scrolling patterns; cherubs and arabesques in the 1920s; \u201cmille feuilles\u201d (\u201cthousand-leaf swirls\u201d) in the 1940s, and arabesques once more in the 1980s. To honour this ancestral art that has consistently exalted its horological expertise since its early years, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin has chosen the M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art collection to house two timepieces equipped with calibers entirely hand-engraved in keeping with the tenets of traditional decorative work. \u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<br \/><strong>The art of engraving on an infinitely small scale <\/strong><br \/>\u00a0<br \/>While the extremely malleable acanthus leaf motif gives artists from all horizons almost boundless scope for expression, engraving the functional parts of an Haute Horlogerie movement is an astoundingly delicate task. A miniaturised work of art such that only the most virtuoso master- engravers can even begin to envisage, since the extreme slenderness of the parts to be engraved calls for impressive dexterity and expertise in order to reveal a motif without ever damaging the <br \/>functionality of complex mechanisms. Eager to magnify two benchmark calibers and to demonstrate the talent of its gifted artisans, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin made the demanding choice of maintaining the movement composition exactly as usual. This means that no part to be engraved has been made any thicker to facilitate the task of the engraver, who must therefore sculpt surfaces that are less than one millimetre thick. In addition to the supreme challenge of miniaturisation, this infinitely delicate work consists in engraving motifs on parts that have been previously bevelled, straight-grained, circular-grained and polished by the decorative artisans of the Manufacture \u2013 since, like all movements developed by Vacheron Constantin, Calibers 2260 and 4400 feature superlative Haute Horlogerie finishes. Performing the last stage in a remarkable ornamental process, the master engraver works with no safety net, intensely focused and driven by a constant concern to avoid any scratching of the perfectly finished surfaces. Using a tool known as a chisel, he first marks out a line engraving to define the contours of the motif. He then conscientiously removes a certain amount of material using the champlev\u00e9 technique. This operation that involves hollowing to a depth of 2\/10 of a millimetre serves to create a volume effect and brings out the raised motif. With parts sometimes measuring less than 0.35 mm thick, there is a considerable risk of piercing or distorting the metal. Working around the chamfers, the inside of the bridges and plates as well as the jewel holes \u2013 which cannot be altered in any way \u2013 is a particularly meticulous task. This painstakingly intricate labour of love, entailing more than ten days spent engraving a single caliber, reveals an admirable contrast between the brilliance of the polished motifs and the matt appearance of the other surfaces. A subtly patinated anthracite colour is finely wrought with a tiny pointed tip, enhancing the volumes and relief effects. In a clever play on light and shade, the M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art M\u00e9caniques Grav\u00e9es models provide an original interpretation of the grand ornamental tradition, imbued with a powerful sense of understated elegance. \u00a0<br \/><br \/><strong>M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art M\u00e9caniques Grav\u00e9es \u2013 14-day tourbillon\u00a0 <br \/>Caliber 2260\/1 <\/strong><br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Set off to perfection within a 41 mm-diameter round case in 950 platinum featuring a concave bezel that intensifies its finesse, the engraved 2660\/1 caliber is a mechanical hand-wound tourbillon movement with an exceptional 14-day power reserve. Its slightly off-centred hour and minute functions highlight the tourbillon carriage, coupled with a small seconds display. The power reserve is read off with a \u201cdragging\u201d or \u201ctrailing\u201d hand that displays the remaining energy on a 280\u00b0 sector. This larger surface than on traditional indicators enables a precise division into 14 days, themselves splitinto two 12-hour portions, thus enhancing the readability of the power reserve.\u00a0 <br \/><br \/>The architecture of the 231-part movement features two large bridges, delicately hand-engraved with floral motifs and acanthus leaves, and visible through the sapphire crystal back of the case which is water-resistant to 30 metres. On the display side, the M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art M\u00e9caniques Grav\u00e9es \u2013 14-day tourbillon by Vacheron Constantin provides a stunning view of the tourbillon carriage shaped like a Maltese Cross and adorned with the most refined finishes. Swept over by anthracite-toned white gold hands and composed of two distinct parts, the sapphire crystal dial features frosted zones ensuring perfect readability of the engraved and inked small seconds and power-reserve graduations, while a slate grey ring bears the minute circle and a white gold Maltese cross. Revealed through the transparency of the dial, the stunning scrolling motifs and arabesques exalt the extreme beauty and rare elegance of an entirely hand-engraved work of art requiring more than a week\u2019s work for a single movement.\u00a0 <br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Harking back to the origins of traditional watchmaking ornamentation, the new M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art M\u00e9caniques Grav\u00e9es models embody an ideal alliance between watchmaking techniques and the artistic crafts passionately perpetuated by Vacheron Constantin for 260 years. Rare by their very nature, these two exceptional timepieces are available exclusively in Vacheron Constantin boutiques.<\/p>","description_short":"","quantity":0,"minimal_quantity":"1","available_now":"","available_later":"","price":257500,"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":"6000A\/000P-B025","supplier_reference":"","location":"","width":"0.000000","height":"0.000000","depth":"0.000000","weight":"0.000000","ean13":"","upc":"","link_rewrite":"metiers-dart-mecaniques-gravees-tourbillon-14-jours","meta_description":"M\u00c9TIERS D\u2019ART M\u00c9CANIQUES GRAV\u00c9ES COLLECTION THE ORIGINS OF TRADITIONAL ADORNMENT At the occasion of its 260th anniversary celebrations, the Manufacture Vache...","meta_keywords":"","meta_title":"Watch Vacheron Constantin M\u00e9tiers d\u2019Art M\u00e9caniques Grav\u00e9es - Tourbillon 14 Jours | M\u00e9tiers d'Art 6000A\/000P-B025 Platinum - ...","quantity_discount":"0","customizable":"0","new":false,"uploadable_files":"0","text_fields":"0","active":"1","redirect_type":"404","id_product_redirected":"0","available_for_order":"0","available_date":"0000-00-00","condition":"new","show_price":"1","indexed":"1","visibility":"both","date_add":"2015-08-03 22:47:21","date_upd":"2018-03-19 12:56:28","tags":false,"base_price":"257500.000000","id_tax_rules_group":"1","id_color_default":0,"advanced_stock_management":"0","out_of_stock":0,"depends_on_stock":false,"isFullyLoaded":true,"cache_is_pack":"0","cache_has_attachments":"1","is_virtual":"0","id_pack_product_attribute":null,"cache_default_attribute":"0","category":"metiers-dart","pack_stock_type":"3","id":5254,"id_shop_list":null,"force_id":false,"customization_required":false}
{"Compl\u00e9ment":"Platinum - Aliigator Strap","Statut de vente":"En vente depuis","Date":"2015","Pi\u00e8ce unique":"No","S\u00e9rie limit\u00e9e":"No","Sexe":"Homme","Gaucher":"No","Diam\u00e8tre":"41","Epaisseur":"12.35","Types":"Hand-winding","Styles":"Atypical, High Horology","Calibre_autre":"Vacheron Constantin 2260\/1","Calibre distinction":"Hallmark of Geneva, Hand-engraved","Calibre distinction_autre":"Entirely hand-decorated","Affichage":"Hands","Complication":"Power Reserve Indicator, Tourbillon, Small Seconds","Mati\u00e8re du bo\u00eetier":"Platinum","Particularit\u00e9 du boitier":"Hallmark of Geneva, Transparent caseback","Etanch\u00e9it\u00e9":"30 meters","Forme":"Round","Cadran":"Sapphire","Couleur du cadran":"Slate","Index":"Baton-type","Verre":"Sapphire","Mati\u00e8re du bracelet":"Alligator leather","Fermeture du bracelet":"Pin buckle","Couleur du bracelet":"Dark blue","Plus de caract\u00e9ristiques":"Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece <br \/>Only available in Vacheron Constantin Boutiques <br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Movement<br \/>Caliber 2260\/1 <br \/>Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin <br \/>29.1 mm (12\u2019\u2019\u2019\u00be) diameter <br \/>6.8 mm thick <br \/>Approximately 336 hours (14 days) of power reserve \u00a0<br \/>2.5 Hz (18.000 vibrations\/hour) \u00a0<br \/>231 components <br \/>31 jewels <br \/>Hand-engraved caliber on front and back with 'acanthus leaves' pattern\u00a0 (copper-plate and champlev\u00e9) <br \/>\u00a0 <br \/>Indications <br \/>Hours <br \/>Minutes <br \/>Small seconds at 6\u2019oclock on tourbillon carriage <br \/>Power reserve <br \/>Tourbillon <br \/>\u00a0 <br \/>Case <br \/>Platinum 950 <br \/><br \/>Dial\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <br \/>Central zone: sapphire glass. engraved and inked indications <br \/>External zone: slate-colored metal external ring with transferred minute-track <br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<br \/>Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap. hand-stitched. saddle- <br \/>finish. large square scales <br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Platinum 950 buckle <br \/>Polished half Maltese cross-shaped <br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Delivered with a magnifying glass\u00a0"}
Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées - Tourbillon 14 Jours
6000A/000P-B025
| Brand : | Vacheron Constantin |
| Collection : | Métiers d'Art |
| Model : | Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées - Tourbillon 14 Jours |
| Reference : | 6000A/000P-B025 |
| Complement : | Platinum - Aliigator Strap |
| On sale : | 2015 |
PDF INDEX CARD
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Brand : Vacheron Constantin Collection : Métiers d'Art Model : Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées - Tourbillon 14 Jours Reference : 6000A/000P-B025 Complement : Platinum - Aliigator Strap On sale : 2015 List Price : 309 000 € Diameter : 41 mm Thickness : 12.35 mm Styles : Atypical High Horology Types : Hand-winding Calibre : Vacheron Constantin 2260/1 Calibre distinction : Hallmark of Geneva Hand-engraved Entirely hand-decorated Complication : Power Reserve Indicator Tourbillon Small Seconds Case material : Platinum Case peculiarity : Hallmark of Geneva Transparent caseback Shape : Round Water-resistance : 30 meters Dial : Sapphire Dial color : Slate Display : Hands Indexes : Baton-type Glass : Sapphire Strap material : Alligator leather Strap color : Dark blue Strap clasp : Pin buckle + More characteristics : Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Only available in Vacheron Constantin Boutiques
Movement
Caliber 2260/1
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
29.1 mm (12’’’¾) diameter
6.8 mm thick
Approximately 336 hours (14 days) of power reserve
2.5 Hz (18.000 vibrations/hour)
231 components
31 jewels
Hand-engraved caliber on front and back with 'acanthus leaves' pattern (copper-plate and champlevé)
Indications
Hours
Minutes
Small seconds at 6’oclock on tourbillon carriage
Power reserve
Tourbillon
Case
Platinum 950
Dial
Central zone: sapphire glass. engraved and inked indications
External zone: slate-colored metal external ring with transferred minute-track
Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap. hand-stitched. saddle-
finish. large square scales
Platinum 950 buckle
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Delivered with a magnifying glass
DESCRIPTION
MÉTIERS D’ART MÉCANIQUES GRAVÉES COLLECTION
THE ORIGINS OF TRADITIONAL ADORNMENT
At the occasion of its 260th anniversary celebrations, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin is
making a remarkable return to its roots by enriching its Métiers d’Art collection with two timepieces distinguished by movements that are entirely hand-engraved in keeping with classic ornamental watchmaking traditions. The plates and bridges of the hand-wound 2260 and 4400 calibers are adorned with delicate floral motifs, reminiscent of the engravings gracing the first pocket watches created by Vacheron Constantin from 1755 onwards. Housed in a precious platinum case, these two iconic movements from the Manufacture feature traditional tone-on-tone decors expressing a desire to achieve a pure, understated design. The scrolling motifs and arabesques pay tribute to the acanthus leaf, an exceptional source of inspiration consistently celebrated since Antiquity across all forms of artistic expression. Engraving, which has been used in watchmaking right from its very origins, is a demanding art requiring extreme expertise and dexterity on the part of the master artisan who sculpts tiny parts without ever compromising their perfect aesthetic and functionality. The skilfully engraved parts endow these timepieces with a distinctive stature, confirmed by the Hallmark of Geneva.
After recently providing an airily graceful interpretation of the art of openworking in its most contemporary and architectural expression, the Métiers d’Art collection by Vacheron Constantin pays an elegant tribute to the traditional engraving of Haute Horlogerie movements. To exalt the beauty of the two iconic in-house movements, Calibers 2260 and 4400 have been adorned with floral motifs inspired by ancient jewellery. Reflecting the finest ornamental traditions, these scrolling motifs and arabesques are hand-engraved on functional parts so as to magnify their exceptional mechanics and unique aesthetic appeal. Epitomising these traditional decors, the acanthus leaf appearing on these two movements is a characteristic ornamental element in classic Greek architecture. Its earliest representations date back to the fifth century BC, when it adorned the capitals of Corinthian columns. Thanks to its stylised shape affording inexhaustible interpretive freedom, the acanthus leaf is depicted on countless artistic creations dotted across the history of Western civilisation, especially during the Renaissance and the Baroque period. A symbol of eternity, victory and glory, this refined plant-life motif has found its way through the centuries, expressed in a rich variety of fields including engraving, marquetry, embroidery and painting. Its distinctive curves thus adorn a number of pocket-watch movements at the heart of the Vacheron Constantin heritage. Subsequently a number of calibers developed by the Manufacture have been graced with some remarkable hand-crafted decorations:
18th century floral motifs; mid-19th century scrolling patterns; cherubs and arabesques in the 1920s; “mille feuilles” (“thousand-leaf swirls”) in the 1940s, and arabesques once more in the 1980s. To honour this ancestral art that has consistently exalted its horological expertise since its early years, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin has chosen the Métiers d’Art collection to house two timepieces equipped with calibers entirely hand-engraved in keeping with the tenets of traditional decorative work.
The art of engraving on an infinitely small scale
While the extremely malleable acanthus leaf motif gives artists from all horizons almost boundless scope for expression, engraving the functional parts of an Haute Horlogerie movement is an astoundingly delicate task. A miniaturised work of art such that only the most virtuoso master- engravers can even begin to envisage, since the extreme slenderness of the parts to be engraved calls for impressive dexterity and expertise in order to reveal a motif without ever damaging the
functionality of complex mechanisms. Eager to magnify two benchmark calibers and to demonstrate the talent of its gifted artisans, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin made the demanding choice of maintaining the movement composition exactly as usual. This means that no part to be engraved has been made any thicker to facilitate the task of the engraver, who must therefore sculpt surfaces that are less than one millimetre thick. In addition to the supreme challenge of miniaturisation, this infinitely delicate work consists in engraving motifs on parts that have been previously bevelled, straight-grained, circular-grained and polished by the decorative artisans of the Manufacture – since, like all movements developed by Vacheron Constantin, Calibers 2260 and 4400 feature superlative Haute Horlogerie finishes. Performing the last stage in a remarkable ornamental process, the master engraver works with no safety net, intensely focused and driven by a constant concern to avoid any scratching of the perfectly finished surfaces. Using a tool known as a chisel, he first marks out a line engraving to define the contours of the motif. He then conscientiously removes a certain amount of material using the champlevé technique. This operation that involves hollowing to a depth of 2/10 of a millimetre serves to create a volume effect and brings out the raised motif. With parts sometimes measuring less than 0.35 mm thick, there is a considerable risk of piercing or distorting the metal. Working around the chamfers, the inside of the bridges and plates as well as the jewel holes – which cannot be altered in any way – is a particularly meticulous task. This painstakingly intricate labour of love, entailing more than ten days spent engraving a single caliber, reveals an admirable contrast between the brilliance of the polished motifs and the matt appearance of the other surfaces. A subtly patinated anthracite colour is finely wrought with a tiny pointed tip, enhancing the volumes and relief effects. In a clever play on light and shade, the Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées models provide an original interpretation of the grand ornamental tradition, imbued with a powerful sense of understated elegance.
Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées – 14-day tourbillon
Caliber 2260/1
Set off to perfection within a 41 mm-diameter round case in 950 platinum featuring a concave bezel that intensifies its finesse, the engraved 2660/1 caliber is a mechanical hand-wound tourbillon movement with an exceptional 14-day power reserve. Its slightly off-centred hour and minute functions highlight the tourbillon carriage, coupled with a small seconds display. The power reserve is read off with a “dragging” or “trailing” hand that displays the remaining energy on a 280° sector. This larger surface than on traditional indicators enables a precise division into 14 days, themselves splitinto two 12-hour portions, thus enhancing the readability of the power reserve.
The architecture of the 231-part movement features two large bridges, delicately hand-engraved with floral motifs and acanthus leaves, and visible through the sapphire crystal back of the case which is water-resistant to 30 metres. On the display side, the Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées – 14-day tourbillon by Vacheron Constantin provides a stunning view of the tourbillon carriage shaped like a Maltese Cross and adorned with the most refined finishes. Swept over by anthracite-toned white gold hands and composed of two distinct parts, the sapphire crystal dial features frosted zones ensuring perfect readability of the engraved and inked small seconds and power-reserve graduations, while a slate grey ring bears the minute circle and a white gold Maltese cross. Revealed through the transparency of the dial, the stunning scrolling motifs and arabesques exalt the extreme beauty and rare elegance of an entirely hand-engraved work of art requiring more than a week’s work for a single movement.
Harking back to the origins of traditional watchmaking ornamentation, the new Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées models embody an ideal alliance between watchmaking techniques and the artistic crafts passionately perpetuated by Vacheron Constantin for 260 years. Rare by their very nature, these two exceptional timepieces are available exclusively in Vacheron Constantin boutiques.
MÉTIERS D’ART MÉCANIQUES GRAVÉES COLLECTION
THE ORIGINS OF TRADITIONAL ADORNMENT
At the occasion of its 260th anniversary celebrations, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin is
making a remarkable return to its roots by enriching its Métiers d’Art collection with two timepieces distinguished by movements that are entirely hand-engraved in keeping with classic ornamental watchmaking traditions. The plates and bridges of the hand-wound 2260 and 4400 calibers are adorned with delicate floral motifs, reminiscent of the engravings gracing the first pocket watches created by Vacheron Constantin from 1755 onwards. Housed in a precious platinum case, these two iconic movements from the Manufacture feature traditional tone-on-tone decors expressing a desire to achieve a pure, understated design. The scrolling motifs and arabesques pay tribute to the acanthus leaf, an exceptional source of inspiration consistently celebrated since Antiquity across all forms of artistic expression. Engraving, which has been used in watchmaking right from its very origins, is a demanding art requiring extreme expertise and dexterity on the part of the master artisan who sculpts tiny parts without ever compromising their perfect aesthetic and functionality. The skilfully engraved parts endow these timepieces with a distinctive stature, confirmed by the Hallmark of Geneva.
After recently providing an airily graceful interpretation of the art of openworking in its most contemporary and architectural expression, the Métiers d’Art collection by Vacheron Constantin pays an elegant tribute to the traditional engraving of Haute Horlogerie movements. To exalt the beauty of the two iconic in-house movements, Calibers 2260 and 4400 have been adorned with floral motifs inspired by ancient jewellery. Reflecting the finest ornamental traditions, these scrolling motifs and arabesques are hand-engraved on functional parts so as to magnify their exceptional mechanics and unique aesthetic appeal. Epitomising these traditional decors, the acanthus leaf appearing on these two movements is a characteristic ornamental element in classic Greek architecture. Its earliest representations date back to the fifth century BC, when it adorned the capitals of Corinthian columns. Thanks to its stylised shape affording inexhaustible interpretive freedom, the acanthus leaf is depicted on countless artistic creations dotted across the history of Western civilisation, especially during the Renaissance and the Baroque period. A symbol of eternity, victory and glory, this refined plant-life motif has found its way through the centuries, expressed in a rich variety of fields including engraving, marquetry, embroidery and painting. Its distinctive curves thus adorn a number of pocket-watch movements at the heart of the Vacheron Constantin heritage. Subsequently a number of calibers developed by the Manufacture have been graced with some remarkable hand-crafted decorations:
18th century floral motifs; mid-19th century scrolling patterns; cherubs and arabesques in the 1920s; “mille feuilles” (“thousand-leaf swirls”) in the 1940s, and arabesques once more in the 1980s. To honour this ancestral art that has consistently exalted its horological expertise since its early years, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin has chosen the Métiers d’Art collection to house two timepieces equipped with calibers entirely hand-engraved in keeping with the tenets of traditional decorative work.
The art of engraving on an infinitely small scale
While the extremely malleable acanthus leaf motif gives artists from all horizons almost boundless scope for expression, engraving the functional parts of an Haute Horlogerie movement is an astoundingly delicate task. A miniaturised work of art such that only the most virtuoso master- engravers can even begin to envisage, since the extreme slenderness of the parts to be engraved calls for impressive dexterity and expertise in order to reveal a motif without ever damaging the
functionality of complex mechanisms. Eager to magnify two benchmark calibers and to demonstrate the talent of its gifted artisans, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin made the demanding choice of maintaining the movement composition exactly as usual. This means that no part to be engraved has been made any thicker to facilitate the task of the engraver, who must therefore sculpt surfaces that are less than one millimetre thick. In addition to the supreme challenge of miniaturisation, this infinitely delicate work consists in engraving motifs on parts that have been previously bevelled, straight-grained, circular-grained and polished by the decorative artisans of the Manufacture – since, like all movements developed by Vacheron Constantin, Calibers 2260 and 4400 feature superlative Haute Horlogerie finishes. Performing the last stage in a remarkable ornamental process, the master engraver works with no safety net, intensely focused and driven by a constant concern to avoid any scratching of the perfectly finished surfaces. Using a tool known as a chisel, he first marks out a line engraving to define the contours of the motif. He then conscientiously removes a certain amount of material using the champlevé technique. This operation that involves hollowing to a depth of 2/10 of a millimetre serves to create a volume effect and brings out the raised motif. With parts sometimes measuring less than 0.35 mm thick, there is a considerable risk of piercing or distorting the metal. Working around the chamfers, the inside of the bridges and plates as well as the jewel holes – which cannot be altered in any way – is a particularly meticulous task. This painstakingly intricate labour of love, entailing more than ten days spent engraving a single caliber, reveals an admirable contrast between the brilliance of the polished motifs and the matt appearance of the other surfaces. A subtly patinated anthracite colour is finely wrought with a tiny pointed tip, enhancing the volumes and relief effects. In a clever play on light and shade, the Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées models provide an original interpretation of the grand ornamental tradition, imbued with a powerful sense of understated elegance.
Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées – 14-day tourbillon
Caliber 2260/1
Set off to perfection within a 41 mm-diameter round case in 950 platinum featuring a concave bezel that intensifies its finesse, the engraved 2660/1 caliber is a mechanical hand-wound tourbillon movement with an exceptional 14-day power reserve. Its slightly off-centred hour and minute functions highlight the tourbillon carriage, coupled with a small seconds display. The power reserve is read off with a “dragging” or “trailing” hand that displays the remaining energy on a 280° sector. This larger surface than on traditional indicators enables a precise division into 14 days, themselves splitinto two 12-hour portions, thus enhancing the readability of the power reserve.
The architecture of the 231-part movement features two large bridges, delicately hand-engraved with floral motifs and acanthus leaves, and visible through the sapphire crystal back of the case which is water-resistant to 30 metres. On the display side, the Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées – 14-day tourbillon by Vacheron Constantin provides a stunning view of the tourbillon carriage shaped like a Maltese Cross and adorned with the most refined finishes. Swept over by anthracite-toned white gold hands and composed of two distinct parts, the sapphire crystal dial features frosted zones ensuring perfect readability of the engraved and inked small seconds and power-reserve graduations, while a slate grey ring bears the minute circle and a white gold Maltese cross. Revealed through the transparency of the dial, the stunning scrolling motifs and arabesques exalt the extreme beauty and rare elegance of an entirely hand-engraved work of art requiring more than a week’s work for a single movement.
Harking back to the origins of traditional watchmaking ornamentation, the new Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées models embody an ideal alliance between watchmaking techniques and the artistic crafts passionately perpetuated by Vacheron Constantin for 260 years. Rare by their very nature, these two exceptional timepieces are available exclusively in Vacheron Constantin boutiques.
-
Brand : Vacheron Constantin Collection : Métiers d'Art Model : Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées - Tourbillon 14 Jours Reference : 6000A/000P-B025 Complement : Platinum - Aliigator Strap On sale : 2015 List Price : 309 000 € Diameter : 41 mm Thickness : 12.35 mm Styles : Atypical High Horology Types : Hand-winding Calibre : Vacheron Constantin 2260/1 Calibre distinction : Hallmark of Geneva Hand-engraved Entirely hand-decorated Complication : Power Reserve Indicator Tourbillon Small Seconds Case material : Platinum Case peculiarity : Hallmark of Geneva Transparent caseback Shape : Round Water-resistance : 30 meters Dial : Sapphire Dial color : Slate Display : Hands Indexes : Baton-type Glass : Sapphire Strap material : Alligator leather Strap color : Dark blue Strap clasp : Pin buckle More characteristics : Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Only available in Vacheron Constantin Boutiques
Movement
Caliber 2260/1
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
29.1 mm (12’’’¾) diameter
6.8 mm thick
Approximately 336 hours (14 days) of power reserve
2.5 Hz (18.000 vibrations/hour)
231 components
31 jewels
Hand-engraved caliber on front and back with 'acanthus leaves' pattern (copper-plate and champlevé)
Indications
Hours
Minutes
Small seconds at 6’oclock on tourbillon carriage
Power reserve
Tourbillon
Case
Platinum 950
Dial
Central zone: sapphire glass. engraved and inked indications
External zone: slate-colored metal external ring with transferred minute-track
Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap. hand-stitched. saddle-
finish. large square scales
Platinum 950 buckle
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Delivered with a magnifying glass