Patrimony Self-Winding

TRADITIONNELLE AND PATRIMONY

DISTINCTIVE DIALS AND MOVEMENT FINISHING CELEBRATE 270 YEARS OF HISTORY 

270 years of excellence: Traditionnelle and Patrimony, two classic collections in eight limited editions to celebrate the Maison’s anniversary.

Ne 270th anniversary signature: a Maltese cross-inspired decoration on the dial, a ‘côte unique’ finish and a discreet emblem on the calibre.

Manufacture self-winding and manual-winding calibres appreciated by connoisseurs of Haute Horlogerie.

Vacheron Constantin is celebrating its 270th anniversary by launching eight limited editions within its Patrimony and Traditionnelle collections. In keeping with the Maison’s heritage, each one features a new aesthetic dial signature and original finishes on the calibre.

A PROUD 270-YEAR HISTORY IN THE CREATION OF CLASSIC DESIGNS

Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch Maison in continuous operation since its founding has stood the test of time through its constant quest for excellence. Mis quest is reflected in its sophisticated yet understated designs, coupled with technical innovation. Mese characteristics are epitomised by two classic lines: the Traditionelle and Patrimony and collections. Both draw inspiration from the rich heritage cultivated by Vacheron Constantin over centuries.

Me Traditionnelle collection pays homage to the rigorous traditions of Geneva’s 18th-century Haute Horlogerie, combining high technical standards with distinctive horological aesthetics. Its signatures include stepped lugs, a fluted caseback and a slender bezel. Reflecting watchmaking tradition, the dial has a railway-type minutes track, faceted Dauphine-style hands and applied gold baton-type hour-markers.

Me Patrimony collection, inspired by the ultra-thin, round timepieces crafted by Vacheron Constantin in the 1950s, has embraced minimalism and subtlety for more than two decades. Its understated design codes are expressed through a round case with a slim bezel, a subtly domed dial with slender, curved applied hour-markers, curved baton-type hands and a ‘pearl’ minutes track.

Each of these emblematic collections is introducing four new limited editions, with every watch individually numbered on the caseback. Mey include references valued by connoisseurs of Haute Horlogerie such as the Traditionnelle Manual-Winding and the Traditionnelle Moon Phase, and the Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date and Patrimony Self-Winding.

Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch Maison in continuous operation since its founding has stood the test of time through its constant quest for excellence. Mis quest is reflected in its sophisticated yet understated designs, coupled with technical innovation. Mese characteristics are epitomised by two classic lines: the Traditionelle and Patrimony and collections. Both draw inspiration from the rich heritage cultivated by Vacheron Constantin over centuries.

A DISTINCTIVE AESTHETIC SIGNATURE

The limited editions are united by distinctive stylistic details created especially for the 270th anniversary. Me dials feature a subtle geometric motif inspired by the Maltese Cross, Vacheron Constantin’s emblem since 1880. Representing the Maison’s unwavering commitment to precision, the symbol evokes an ancient calibre component connected to the barrel that ensured consistent power flow to the spring, and thus, optimal performance. Me 270th anniversary motif adds a note of contemporary flair to the dials and creates striking light effects with every movement of the wearer’s wrist.

Me sapphire casebacks reveal the ‘côte unique’ finish on the bridges of each calibre made for this anniversary. Mis refined finishing is an eloquent expression of Vacheron Constantin’s signature understatement. While it looks deceptively simple, its execution – in a combination of carefully controlled machining technique and manual gestures – demands great precision and skill. Me result is a watch whose wealth of detail invites prolonged contemplation to fully grasp its beauty.

Me technique was used by Vacheron Constantin more than a century ago and rediscovered only in 2021 while reproducing the Historiques American 1921 watch. It took more than 500 hours for today’s artisans to perfect the craft, with each of the anniversary calibres requiring precise adjustments to the artisan’s gestures to create the impression of unbroken lines flowing from one bridge to another.

As a final touch, each movement is engraved with an emblem representing Vacheron Constantin’s 270th anniversary. Mis commitment to fine craftsmanship is testament to the Maison’s dedication to preserving its artisans’ savoir-faire, to be shared with future generations.

Each of the anniversary references is fitted with an alligator leather strap with large square scales and tone-on-tone hand stitching, fastened with an 18K gold pin buckle in the shape of a half Maltese Cross.

MANUFACTURE CALIBRES DEDICATED TO MECHANICAL ELEGANCE

Since its founding in 1755, Vacheron Constantin has been unwavering in its pursuit of mechanical excellence, embracing technical challenges and constantly improving, in a deft balance between innovation and tradition, past and present. From the elegance of the movement architecture to the refined finishes, the calibres that drive the 270th anniversary Traditionelle and Patrimony references epitomise the Maison’s philosophy.

Me Traditionnelle Manual-Winding is offered in limited editions of 370 pieces in 950 platinum and 370 pieces in 18K 5N pink gold, featuring dials with the geometric motif created for the 270th anniversary. Me 38mm case is fitted with the manufacture Calibre 4400 AS/270, which, like all those marking this anniversary, is enhanced by the ‘côte unique’ finish and engraved with the anniversary emblem. Mis calibre offers a generous 65-hour power reserve and drives the hours and minutes, as well as small seconds at 6 o’clock.

Presented in a diamond-set pink gold case measuring 36 mm in diameter, the 270-piece limited edition Traditionnelle Moon Phase is driven by the manufacture Calibre 1410 AS/270. Mis high-precision moon phase (also known as the ‘astronomical moon’) tracks the exact lunar cycle, accumulating only one day of discrepancy in 122 years. The calibre bears the 270th anniversary emblem and features the ‘côte unique’ finish. On the mother-of-pearl dial, which is enhanced by the 270th anniversary motif, the moon-phase complication is complemented by small seconds at 6 o’clock and a 38-hour power-reserve display.

Me 33 mm diamond-set pink gold case of the is equipped with the manufacture Calibre 1440/270. Designed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin, the calibre offers a 42-hour power reserve and, at only 2.6 mm thick, guarantees slimness and elegance for this 270-piece limited edition. Me movement features the ‘côte unique’ finish and anniversary emblem, and the mother-of-pearl dial is enhanced by the Maltese cross-inspired motif created for the 270th anniversary, its subtle pink tone complemented by a pink alligator strap.

Sought-after by Haute Horlogerie connoisseurs, the Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date watch is offered in white gold and pink gold, in 270-piece limited editions of each. It is powered by the self-winding manufacture Calibre 2460 R31L/270 with a 40-hour power reserve. Visible through the sapphire back of the 42.5 mm case, the calibre features the ‘côte unique’ finish and an openworked 22K gold oscillating weight incorporating a Maltese cross. Me silver-toned dial is distinguished by the 270th anniversary motif. Set on the upper part of the dial, the retrograde date indication via a central hand – a Vacheron Constantin speciality since the 18th century – is balanced by the moon-phase display at six o’clock, set in an aperture graduated from 0 to 29.5. Following the cycle of the Moon, which rotates around the Earth in 29 days, 12 hours and 45 minutes, it requires adjustment only once every 122 years.

Issued in two 370-piece limited editions in pink gold or white gold, the Patrimony Self-Winding watch is driven by the manufacture Calibre 2450 Q6/270, endowed with a 40-hour power reserve. Set in a 40 mm case, the silver-toned dial is distinguished by the 270th anniversary motif and displays the hours, minutes and central seconds, complemented by the date in an aperture at six o’clock. A stop-second system ensures perfect time- setting for optimum precision. Me sapphire caseback reveals bridges with the ‘côte unique’ finish, the anniversary emblem and an 22K gold openworked oscillating weight incorporating a Maltese cross.

QUESTIONS FOR SANDRINE DONGUY, PRODUCT & INNOVATION DIRECTOR

Why did you choose the Traditionnelle and Patrimony collections to represent the essence of Vacheron Constantin’s quest for style over the centuries?

Mese two collections epitomise the understated elegance of the watches created by Vacheron Constantin over the last 270 years. Me Traditionnelle collection pays tribute to traditional watchmaking’s technical and artistic heritage, with finely crafted cases and rigorously formal dials that testify to the expertise passed down from generation to generation by the Maison’s artisans and watchmakers. Patrimony is a textbook example of understatement, with models directly inspired by the minimalist aesthetic of the 1950s – a time when horology was distinguished by its discreet presence. Mese classic collections are elevated by signature complications, including the retrograde date display, and subtle details, such as the Patrimony’s domed dial; and the Traditionnelle’s fluted caseback. Mese unexpected twists give each piece a distinctive character, making it a natural decision to honour these timeless designs. 

The Maltese Cross has been Vacheron Constantin’s emblem since 1880 and has inspired the dial motif created especially for these 270th anniversary limited editions. Has the Maltese Cross featured on other pieces created by the Maison over the years?

Historically, yes, the Maison has incorporated the Maltese Cross into many pieces, in different ways. Examples include the lugs of the historic Reference 6099, made in the 1950s, which form a Maltese cross when placed together. A subtle Maltese Cross motif also decorates the dials of the limited-edition Reference 6068 and Reference 6069 that were made to celebrate the Maison’s bicentenary in 1955.

Today, the Maltese Cross is subtly woven into many of our designs and examples of its presence in current collections include the pin buckles that fasten our straps; the links of the Overseas bracelet; the prongs that hold the diamonds on the jewellery-watch Grand Lady Kalla; the open-worked winding rotor of the FiftySix models; and the tourbillon cages.

What is so special about the ‘côte unique’ finish that you have chosen for the calibres in these limited editions?

We wanted the limited editions to illustrate the 270th anniversary on the movements as well as the dial. Me ‘côte unique’ is quitesymbolic, since it is created by an ancestral craft that had been lost over time and that we had to relearn. Me finish is both technical and decorative, with the bridges appearing to form a continuous and harmonious line. It was rediscovered in 2021, when our Restoration Workshop undertook to recreate the original Historiques American 1921 model and its movement with this ‘côte unique’ finish. Our artisans had to remaster the craft to decorate the five movements in these anniversary editions, a process that required hundreds of hours. Perpetuating ancestral skills, preserving knowledge and passing it on are key values that define Vacheron Constantin’s ongoing history.