Métiers d'Art Mécaniques Gravées

1100A/000P-B026

Métiers d'Art Mécaniques Gravées View larger
Métiers d'Art Mécaniques Gravées

Brand  : Vacheron Constantin
Collection  : Métiers d'Art
Model  : Métiers d'Art Mécaniques Gravées
Reference  : 1100A/000P-B026
Complement : Platinum - Aliigator Strap
On sale : 2015

87 500 €Recorded list price in FranceI WANT IT

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  • Brand  : Vacheron Constantin
    Collection  : Métiers d'Art
    Model  : Métiers d'Art Mécaniques Gravées
    Reference  : 1100A/000P-B026
    Complement : Platinum - Aliigator Strap
    On sale : 2015
    List Price : 87 500 €
    Diameter : 39 mm
    Thickness : 8.50 mm
    Styles : High Horology
    Atypical
    Types : Hand-winding
    Calibre : Vacheron Constantin 4400/1
    Calibre distinction : Hand-engraved
    Hallmark of Geneva
    Entirely hand-decorated
    Case material : Platinum
    Case peculiarity : Transparent caseback
    Hallmark of Geneva
    Shape : Round
    Water-resistance : 30 meters
    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 4400/1
    Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin  
    Mechanical. manual-winding  
    28.6 mm (12’’’½) diameter
    2.8 mm thick
    Approximately 65 hours of power reserve  
    4 Hz (28.800 vibrations/hour)  
    127 components
    21 jewels
    Hand-engraved caliber on front and back with 'acanthus leaves' pattern  (copper-plate and champlevé)
        
    Case
    Platinum 950
     
    Dial
    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 
    Caliber 4400/1

     
    One of the most iconic base movements from the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin, hand-wound Caliber 4400 finds supremely delicate expression in the Métiers d’Art collection. Hosted in a precious 950 platinum, 39 mm-diameter round case with a concave bezel accentuating its elegance and slenderness, this entirely hand-engraved caliber drives hour and minute functions. Comprising 127 parts whose carefully preserved original thinness entails impressive feats of precision on the part of the master-engraver who decorates them, this movement has a generous almost 3-day power reserve. Free of any dial so as to enable an unobstructed view of the remarkable engravings adorning its mainplate and bridges, the Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées model features graceful white gold hands whose deep grey shade makes a perfect match with the slate grey tone of the minute circle enhanced by a white gold Maltese cross. The transparency of the sapphire crystal fitted both on the display side and on the back of the 30-metre water-resistant case, reveal the subtle floral motifs. This fine and delicate workmanship involves more than 10 days to engrave a single 4400/1 caliber.
     
    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 
    Caliber 4400/1

     
    One of the most iconic base movements from the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin, hand-wound Caliber 4400 finds supremely delicate expression in the Métiers d’Art collection. Hosted in a precious 950 platinum, 39 mm-diameter round case with a concave bezel accentuating its elegance and slenderness, this entirely hand-engraved caliber drives hour and minute functions. Comprising 127 parts whose carefully preserved original thinness entails impressive feats of precision on the part of the master-engraver who decorates them, this movement has a generous almost 3-day power reserve. Free of any dial so as to enable an unobstructed view of the remarkable engravings adorning its mainplate and bridges, the Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées model features graceful white gold hands whose deep grey shade makes a perfect match with the slate grey tone of the minute circle enhanced by a white gold Maltese cross. The transparency of the sapphire crystal fitted both on the display side and on the back of the 30-metre water-resistant case, reveal the subtle floral motifs. This fine and delicate workmanship involves more than 10 days to engrave a single 4400/1 caliber.
     
    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
    Reference  : 1100A/000P-B026
    Complement : Platinum - Aliigator Strap
    On sale : 2015
    List Price : 87 500 €
    Diameter : 39 mm
    Thickness : 8.50 mm
    Styles : High Horology
    Atypical
    Types : Hand-winding
    Calibre : Vacheron Constantin 4400/1
    Calibre distinction : Hand-engraved
    Hallmark of Geneva
    Entirely hand-decorated
    Case material : Platinum
    Case peculiarity : Transparent caseback
    Hallmark of Geneva
    Shape : Round
    Water-resistance : 30 meters
    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 4400/1
    Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin  
    Mechanical. manual-winding  
    28.6 mm (12’’’½) diameter
    2.8 mm thick
    Approximately 65 hours of power reserve  
    4 Hz (28.800 vibrations/hour)  
    127 components
    21 jewels
    Hand-engraved caliber on front and back with 'acanthus leaves' pattern  (copper-plate and champlevé)
        
    Case
    Platinum 950
     
    Dial
    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