Girls don’t just wanna have fun – Vacheron Constantin, Part 21

In this series, we showcase mechanical and artistic wonders that were specially designed for women and others originally for men that come alive on spirited ladies’ wrists. Vacheron Constantin presented wonderful novelties to women at the online Watches and Wonders event in April. Finally, we were able to try them on.

Vacheron Constantin owns an exceptional heritage collection and from time to time they show it to the fine-watchmaking connoisseurs – they used to organise exhibitions of these pieces every year in their Geneva boutique or in other cities. These included some of the brand’s monopushers and split-seconds chronographs, marine chronometers or travel clocks and other amazingly decorated timepieces.

Within the Maison, watchmaking expertise in the field of ladies’ watches dates back to the 19^th century. Beside the novelties, we had the chance to see a few beautiful women’s watches from the museum collection. We saw a yellow gold, enamelled retractable purse watch, two very Art Deco pieces – a bracelet watch and a brooch watch with diamonds and pearls from the ‘30s as well as a yellow gold, engraved brooch watch with a flower from 1902.

Bracelet watch with diamonds, 1930

Vacheron Constantin Égérie collection

The collection is named after Aegeria, or Egeria, the ancient Latin nymph of healing, springs, sacred knowledge or inspiration and it also means ‘muse’.

The first appearance of Égérie was in 2003 – in the form of tonneau-shaped, dainty watches. The new Égérie received a completely new design – the sophisticated ladies’ watches are paired with the asymmetrical aesthetic faithfully perpetuating the Vacheron Constantin heritage.

The line consists of a small model (30mm, with quartz movement); self-winding models in stainless steel and pink gold (35mm); moonphase models also in stainless steel and pink gold (37mm) and jewellery models in white gold with moonphase and pavé diamond-set surfaces.

One of the highlights is certainly a wonderful example of haute horlogerie – meets – haute joaillerie, the Égérie Moon-phase Jewellery, a boutique-only timepiece. The Égérie Jewellery model has a 37mm white gold case, a dial and a bracelet studded fully with diamonds – 246 brilliant-cut diamonds on the case, 588 on the bracelet and the dial is carpeted with 510 brilliant-cut diamonds. A rose-cut diamond adorns the offset crown aligned with the moon-phase display.

The moon-phase indication is placed asymmetrically on the dial at 2 o’clock. A mother-of-pearl moon peeks out from behind translucent sapphire crystal clouds. Behind the clouds is the 1088 L self-winding moonphase calibre.

Vacheron Constantin Égérie Moon-phase Jewellery, set bracelet

Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Tourbillon

The Traditionnelle collection – as its name suggests – inspired by the Geneva Haute Horlogerie traditions inherited from the 18^th century. From the simple hours-minutes pieces to the most complicated ones, these models are very classic and elegant and pay tribute to the know-how of the company.

With the latest Traditionnelle Tourbillon this is the first time Vacheron Constantin created a women’s watch with a self-winding tourbillon. It comes in two versions – one is pink gold with a mother-of-pearl dial and the other is white gold, paved with 559 brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds.

I tried on the pink gold model and loved it. The 39mm watch combines the balanced proportions and fine details of a great women’s watch with a fine-watchmaking signature – the open-worked tourbillon. The bar of the tourbillon carriage inspired by the shape of the Maltese cross is entirely hand-bevelled.

It has a slim case (11.22 mm) for a tourbillon watch – with stepped flanks and a fluted caseback it sits very comfortably on the wrist. The in-house 2160 calibre works inside and makes the slender case possible – equipped with a peripheral rotor, this 188-part movement is only 5.65 mm thick.

The mother-of-pearl dial and 208 brilliant-cut diamonds (set on the bezel, caseband and lugs) set the perfect stage for the tourbillon at six o’clock.

Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Tourbillon, pink gold

Vacheron Constantin boutique at the Hôtel La Réserve Eden au Lac

Vacheron Constantin boutique at the Hôtel La Réserve Eden au… During the renovation period of its Zurich boutique, Vacheron Constantin welcomes its customers by appointment in its Suite 1755, a specially designed area at the Hotel La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages, Part 1

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers – Récits de Voyages,… Vacheron Constantin presented novelties under the motto ‘A watchmaking odyssey honouring arts and cultures of the world’. The new Les Cabinotiers pieces combine the excellence and dedication of master watchmakers and great artisans.

Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 Vacheron Constantin's Historiques collection is now enriched by the 222, a contemporary re-edition of the Maison’s iconic 1977 ‘Jumbo’. We saw the novelty at Watches and Wonders 2022.