In honour of its historic ties with China, Vacheron Constantin is unveiling a new Métiers d’Art cycle entitled The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, this year celebrating the sign of the snake.
Following an initial 12-year cycle during which Vacheron Constantin dedicated two limited series to each sign of the Chinese zodiac, this year the Maison is launching a new Métiers d’Art series, The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, based on the figure of the snake. A symbol of wisdom and a mysterious animal associated with renewal and agility, the sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac also brings good luck and prosperity. Depicted as a cobra on the dial of the two limited editions, it once again underlines the historic ties uniting Chinese and Swiss cultures since the mid-19th century.
From 1845 onwards, the company founded in 1755 began to explore new horizons in Asia, particularly in China. Barely 90 years after its founding, Vacheron Constantin played a key role in establishing the jewellery watch among the high dignitaries of the Court, for whom it produced so-called Chinese watches, richly decorated with engravings or enamels and often sold in pairs.
Vacheron Constantin is opening up new aesthetic perspectives and broadening its artisans’ creative reach with its new Métiers d’Art cycle, The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac. This cycle over the next twelve years will demonstrate the full diversity of craftsmanship, the most advanced techniques of which are perfectly mastered within the Maison. On the dials of these two limited editions, their technical mastery can be appreciated through a multitude of details featuring the combined skills of the artisan engraver and the artisan enameller.
These two gold appliques were created by the master engraver, who expertly carved the precious metal in pink or white gold to create its final texture, using a skilful blend of force and gentleness. Three days of work are needed to sculpt the snake and the rock, whose texture and relief are enhanced by the application of miniature paint and patina. On the pink gold version, the cobra and the rock are ochre-coloured, while the platinum version is anthracite grey. As a final detail, the colours chosen for the indications displayed in the four windows match the motifs of the dial adorned with miniature paintings.
To create the decoration, Vacheron Constantin called on the talent of a master enameller. Two techniques were chosen. The first is in gradient Grand Feu enamel for the dial background, while the second is an ancestral Geneva technique, flux-coated miniature opaque enamel for the flora. To paint the decoration, the Master Enameller applies enamel powder of the chosen colour to the surface of the dial using an extremely fine brush. Each colour application requires firing in an oven at a temperature of between 820°C and 850°C. This operation is then repeated as many times as necessary to cover the full range of colours in the design.
The dials of the Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake thus reveal a very fine gradient of nuances between the centre and the periphery, festooned with delicate foliage tinted with ochre tones on the pink gold version and green on the platinum limited edition. These two exclusive 25-piece limited editions are presented in an elegant 40 mm case paired with an alligator leather strap, brown on the pink gold version and blue on the platinum model.
Vacheron Constantin powers these two Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake watches by means of in-house Calibre 2460 G4. It is distinguished by a unique indication of the hours, minutes, day and date by four discs visible through apertures positioned around the dial periphery. This hands-free movement with trailing indications for the hours and minutes along with jumping indications for the day and date illustrates the Maison’s expertise in designing mechanisms with original displays in which technology is dedicated to serving artistic expression. On the back of the case, a sapphire crystal reveals the 22K gold oscillating weight adorned with a guilloché motif, as well as the movement components with their sophisticated finishes.
Technical Specifications:
Métiers d’Art The legend of the Chinese zodiac
Year of the Snake
References
86073/000R-H034
86073/000P-H033
Calibre
2460 G4
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding
31 mm (11¼’’’) diameter, 6.05 mm thick
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve
4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour)
237 components
27 jewels
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepieces
Indications
Hours, minutes, day of the week and date in apertures
Case
18K 5N pink gold / 950 platinum
40 mm diameter, 12.72 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal case back
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3bar (approx.30 meters)
Dial
18K 4N gold, opaque miniature and Grand Feu enamelled
Cobra and rock: 18K 4N pink gold/18K white gold hand-engraved and enamelled
Strap
Brown/blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, tone on tone stitches, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Clasp
18K 5N pink gold / 950 platinum folding clasp
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Accessories
Delivered with a corrector pen
Limited series of 25 pieces per reference.
Pieces only available through the Vacheron Constantin Boutiques.
For pricing and more information please visit Vacheron Constantin