Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art collection, paying tribute to the great civilisations of Antiquity in partnership with the Louvre, is a unique opportunity to travel through time and space thanks to the talents of its master artisans.
Expressed across four eras, the main theme originated in the museum’s incredible collection of antiquities: the Persian Empire under Darius the Great; the Egypt of the pharaohs from the time of the Middle Kingdom; the Hellenistic period in Greece; and the birth of the Roman Empire with the advent of Augustus. Each of these great civilisations is thus represented by a major artistic work drawn from some of the Louvre’s masterpieces.
The craft project involved a real challenge for craft makers that required reproducing their expressive strength on a less than 40 mm-diameter dial featuring ornamentation inspired by the decorative arts of the corresponding period, embellished with written elements. The choice of techniques, the rare talents required to implement them, as well as the original composition of these timepieces converge to offer a fascinating watchmaking spectacle, commensurate with these great moments in history.
Grand sphinx de Tanis – the Ancient Egyptian Empire (2035-1680 BC)
The Great Sphinx of Tanis, capital of the kings of the 21st and 22nd dynasties, is 1.83 metres high and 4.80 metres long. It is one of the largest sphinxes preserved outside Egypt. It arrived in the Louvre in 1826, as part of the collection of the British consul Henry Salt. A royal symbol, the sphinx is a hybrid comprising the body of a recumbent lion and a human head wearing the Nemes – the royal headdress par excellence – as well as the beard worn only by sovereigns. All the power of the pharaoh that is expressed through this fabulous animal. Long attributed to the Old Kingdom (2700-2195 BC approx.), it is now more generally linked to the Middle Kingdom (approx. 2035-1680 BC), considered by the Egyptians themselves as the golden age of Egypt. It was probably carved for King Amenemhet II, whose cartouche it bears. Other kings appropriated it by affixing their cartouches: Apophis, Merenptah and Chechonq I.
18K 42mm pink gold case on blue alligator strap. Dial: Champlevé enamel frieze, champlevé enamel & enamel background, writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal, Hand-engraved 3N gold applique with patina.
Lion de Darius – the Persian Empire of the Achaemenids (559 – 330 BC)
The Frieze of Lions, a glazed brick decoration, was located in the first courtyard of the palace of Darius the Great in Susa, the capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire in southwestern Iran. After freeing themselves from the control of the Medes and conquering Lydia, Babylon and Egypt, the Achaemenids formed one of the greatest empires to have ever existed in antiquity. With a territory stretching from present-day Pakistan to the shores of the Black Sea, and from the steppes of central Asia to Egypt and Libya, it united the oldest civilisations in the Middle East. Darius the Great is remembered for his confrontation with the Greek cities who succeeded in stopping his armies on the Plain of Marathon.
18K 42mm pink gold case on grey alligator strap. Dial: Engraved metal & champlevé enamel frieze, stone marquetry background, Writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal , Hand-engraved white gold applique with patina.
Victoire de Samothrace – Hellenistic Greece of the Antigonid dynasty (277 – 168 BC)
This statue of Victory, a winged goddess resting on the prow of a warship, was discovered in 1863 on the island of Samothrace in the northern Aegean Sea. Excavated from a sanctuary dedicated to the Great Gods, who were widely worshiped throughout the Greek world, it depicts an offering linked to a naval victory. Following the death of Alexander in 323 BC, his generals shared his legacy, giving rise to three great empires, including that of the Antigonid dynasty in Macedonia. During this Hellenistic period, which ended with the Roman conquest of Egypt in 31 BC, naval battles followed one another for the domination of the eastern part of the Mediterranean. One of them was majestically commemorated in the sanctuary of this small Greek island.
18K 42mm white gold case on brown alligator strap. Dial: Hand-engraved gold frieze, grisaille enamel & enamel background, Writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal, Hand-engraved white gold applique with patina.
Buste d’ Auguste – The Roman Empire of the Julio-Claudians (27 BC – 68 AD)
This bust of Octavian Augustus, the adopted son of Caesar, represents him crowned with an oak wreath, a distinction awarded him by a Senate decision in 27 BC, when he became the principate or first citizen of Rome. In actual fact, following his conquest of Egypt, where he defeated Mark Antony, an ally of Cleopatra, he ended a long period of civil wars marking the end of the Republic and becomes master of Rome. He is now considered the first Roman emperor and lays the foundations of a political organization that would last another four centuries. The Julio-Claudian dynasty, of which he was the first «prince», ended with the suicide of Nero in 68 AD.
18K 42mm white gold case on burgundy alligator strap. Dial: Hand-engraved gold frieze, enamel & stone micro-mosaic background, Writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal, Hand-engraved white gold applique with patina.
Technical Specifications:
Métiers d’Art Tribute to great civilisations
Grand sphinx de Tanis
Reference 7620A/000R-B927
Calibre 2460 G4/2
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding
22K pink gold oscillating weight with the Louvre eastern façade engraving
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
42 mm diameter, 12.9 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3bar (approx.30 meters)
Dial Champlevé enamel frieze, champlevé enamel & enamel background
Writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal
Hand-engraved 3N gold applique with patina
Strap Blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle 18K 5N pink gold buckle
Polished and half Maltese cross-shaped
Limited and numbered series of 5.
Métiers d’Art Tribute to great civilisations
Lion de Darius
Reference 7620A/000R-B926
Calibre 2460 G4/2
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding
22K pink gold oscillating weight with the Louvre eastern façade engraving
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
42 mm diameter, 12.9 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3bar (approx.30 meters)
Dial Engraved metal & champlevé enamel frieze, stone marquetry background
Writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal
Hand-engraved white gold applique with patina
Strap Grey Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle 18K 5N pink gold buckle
Polished and half Maltese cross-shaped
Limited and numbered series of 5.
Métiers d’Art Tribute to great civilisations
Buste d’Auguste
Reference 7620A/000G-B929
Calibre 2460 G4/2
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding
22K pink gold oscillating weight with the Louvre eastern façade engraving
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 white gold
42 mm diameter, 12.9 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)
Dial Hand-engraved gold frieze, enamel & stone micro-mosaic background
Writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal
Hand-engraved white gold applique with patina
Strap Burgundy Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle 18K white gold buckle
Polished and half Maltese cross-shaped
Limited and numbered series of 5.
Métiers d’Art Tribute to great civilisations
Victoire de Samothrace
Reference 7620A/000G-B928
Calibre 2460 G4/2
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding
22K pink gold oscillating weight with the Louvre eastern façade engraving
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 white gold
42 mm diameter, 12.9 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)
Dial Hand-engraved gold frieze, grisaille enamel & enamel background
Writings engraved by metallisation on sapphire crystal
Hand-engraved white gold applique with patina
Strap Dark brown Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle 18K white gold buckle
Polished and half Maltese cross-shaped
Limited and numbered series of 5.
Available exclusively through the Vacheron Constantin Boutiques. Price on application (POA)
For more information please visit Vacheron Constantin