Vacheron Constantin may keep the lights on through sales of its high-end dress watches and sporty Overseas line, but the brand’s greatest contributions to the horological world come when it shows off its nigh-unbeatable flair for craftsmanship. In joining up with Paris’ Louvre Museum for a new quartet of watches in its exclusive Métiers d’Art line, Vacheron has once again proven why it’s managed to remain in continuous operation since 1755.
The new collection is dubbed the “Tribute to Great Civilisations” and it constitutes some of the finest artistry and skill we’ve ever seen in a timepiece. Developed by VC in close collaboration with teams from the Louvre, each of the four watches depicts a different ancient civilization through a depiction of one of the legendary museum’s iconic works. Ancient Egypt is honored through the Grand Sphinx de Tanis, the Persian Empire gets its due from the Lion de Darius, Hellenistic Greece is represented by the famed statue of Victory (Victoire de Samothrace), and last but not least, the post-Julius Caesar Roman Empire sees a tribute to the bust of Octavian Augustus (Buste d’Auguste).
All four watches feature dials dominated by miniature representations of their respective artworks, painstakingly crafted through a combination of hand-painted enamels, micro mosaics consisting of hundreds of tiny precious stones, and expertly engraved 3D models. All four watches are powered by Vacheron’s self-winding Manufacture Calibre 2460 G4/2, which features four apertures on four corners of the dial for reading the hours, minutes, day, and date, leaving most of the real estate for the artwork in a hands-free layout. The movements and dials are housed in solid gold 42mm cases, two of which are in white gold with the other two in pink gold. Finally, the movement is visible through a sapphire display caseback, where an image of the Louvre as it appeared in the 18th century is engraved on the solid gold rotor.
Each of the four Métiers d’Art Tribute to Great Civilisations watches is limited to just five pieces, and they’re only available through Vacheron Constantin boutiques. Price is available upon request.
