a vacheron constantin tradition

7/31/2019 A Vacheron Constantin tradition

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www.vacheron-constantin.com

Unique or custom-builttimepieces made to order

An exclusive service based

on the unique expertise developedby the Manufacture since 1755

A specially assigned teamof master watchmakers

and exceptional craftsmen.


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A Vacheron Constantin

tradition

Ever since its creation in 1755, Vacheron Constantins special vocation hasbeen to produce custom-built watches, with its master watchmakers lavishingcountless hours on determining the exact appearance of a model and onchoosing its functions and its components. Extreme complexity or a poeticexpression of time, guilloch or enameled dial, Roman or Arabic numerals,seconds in the center or perpetual calendar anything is possible and no painsare spared to give a watch the character that will forever reflect the wishes ofits owner.

Collectors of Vacheron Constantin watches are perfectly aware of this. Thusin the 1860s Tsar Alexander II and the Tsarina ordered a sumptuoustimepiece for their son, the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich. At the start ofthe 20th century Sir Bhupindra Singh, the Maharajah of Patiala, was oneof the illustrious patrons of special watch orders. Both the well-known New Yorkbanker Henry Graves Jr. and his compatriot, the famous early 20th-centuryautomobile manufacturer James Ward Packard, were also proud owners ofunique timepieces created by Vacheron Constantin.

Today Vacheron Constantins Atelier Cabinotiers Special Order serviceperpetuates this tradition based on the free exchange of ideas and creativity.

Ever since its creation in 1755,

Vacheron Constantins specialvocation has been to producecustom-built watches


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Vacheron Constantins Atelier Cabinotiers Special Order service revivesthe spirit of 18th-century Geneva. At this period prestigious dignitaries fromthe various European courts came to order directly from the Cabinotiers, thewatchmaking craftsman who had made the citys reputation. To take advantagefor as long as possible of the best midday light, these craftsmen preferred tolocate their workshops on the top floors of the buildings. These workshops,often cramped and sometimes located in attics directly beneath the roof,illuminated by numerous windows, built a solid reputation for the quality of theirwork. They soon came to be called cabinets, and their occupants were knownas Cabinotiers.

Today the Atelier Cabinotiers brings together professional watchmakerswho combine the highest standards of excellence with a spirit of dedication.Together they strive to turn the wildest dreams into technical reality. VacheronConstantins designers and Research and Development department make theircontribution, before specially assigned teams take over the responsibility forthe development and pursuit of the projects concerned. A special companyrepresentative assures permanent contact between the latter and the purchaser.

Added to this team, there are the extraordinary artistic skills of the masterguillocheurs, enamellers, engravers and gem-setters, who are among the fewremaining craftsmen to still master these traditional arts, proudly continuing

age-old traditions.

From the hands of these artists come timepieces that are unique examples oftheir kind throughout the world, representing the pinnacle of Fine Watchmaking,and which will one day take their rightful place, as all the creations of theManufacture have done before them since 1755, in the heritage and archivesof Vacheron Constantin.

Atelier Cabinotiers bringstogether professionalwatchmakers who combine thehighest standards of excellencewith a spirit of dedication

The timeless spiritof the Cabinotiers


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This special order, named Philosophia* by its owner, is in itself a paradox. Itcombines brilliantly the concepts of Fine Watchmaking and approximate time.The original idea was based on the postulate that mankind does not need toconstantly know the exact time to the nearest minute.

The Philosophia* conveys all of these things at once. Based on a model fromthe Patrimony collection, it has only one hand in the center, the hour hand, witha 24-hour display. If however the owner wants a more precise idea of the timeat any given moment, he simply activates the on-off slide of the Philosophia*sminute repeater.

Another sophisticated touch in the Philosophia*: is an opening in the dial at 6oclock that allows us to admire a tourbillon making a complete rotation onceevery 60 seconds. The commissioner of the piece, who also likes astronomy,asked for a custom-built precision moon-phase indicator. On the back of thewatch, the power-reserve indicator bears a small plaque stamped with theintertwined constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Nearby, engraved inthe 18-carat pink gold of the custom-built case, the identifying phrase LesCabinotiers and the Atelier Cabinotiers coat of arms attest to the exceptionalorigin of this timepiece, which is also stamped with the prestigious Geneva Seal.

No fewer than 522 parts of the hand-wound mechanical movement make thePhilosophia* tick. Thanks to its spirit, its aesthetic appearance and its exclusivemechanism it is a unique model that is an extreme example of a custom-builttimepiece.

This special order,combines brilliantly the conceptsof Fine Watchmaking and

approximate time

Philosophia*:another way to tell the time

* Philosophia is the name given by the owner


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Vladimir*:the ultimate in complications

and traditional craftsmanship* Vladimir is the name given by the owner

Of Slavonic origin, this first name is derived from the ancient term Volodimir,which literally means domination by peace or peace to all. This superlativewatch is quite simply one of the most complicated timepieces in the world.That is what its owner wanted, and Vacheron Constantins Atelier Cabinotiersgathered the resources to meet this extremely ambitious challenge.

The hand-wound mechanical movement of this unique Vladimir* watch drivesno fewer than 17 complications. This exceptional movement, stamped with theprestigious Geneva Seal, has some 891 components, all hand-finished andhand-decorated in our workshops.

In order to meet the challenge that it had been set and to create this extremelycomplex and unique timepiece, the Atelier Cabinotiers Special Orderservice called on more than 20 experts and craftsmen. It is both a technical andaesthetic triumph that took four years to develop. It was a Herculean effort fora watch that is sure to join the legendary ranks of exceptional watchmaking.

superlative watch is quitesimply one of the mostcomplicated timepiecesin the world


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An exclusive service

The role of the Atelier Cabinotiers Special Order department is toperpetuate the unique expertise of our master watchmakers, who work inthe great Genevan tradition of the Cabinotiers watch workshops. The AtelierCabinotiers offers our clients a highly exclusive service: that of producing uniquetimepieces, entirely custom-made and created on an individual commissionbasis.

Our custom-made watches are surrounded by secrecy and confidentiality. Oftenembodying a dream or passion, they are an expression of aspiration, legendary

because they are spoken of more often than they are actually seen.

No collections of catalogues here, only a listening ear. It all starts with anarrative: the clients private story. A history fan might ask for the reproductionof a painting by one of the great masters in grand feu enamel on the dial;an aspiring Romeo might want his piece to chime once a year on his Julietsbirthday; or a grand complications enthusiast might dream of owning a ground-breaking mechanical masterpiece.

All requests, from the most simple to the most ambitious, are meticulouslyexamined by an ethical committee set up specifically to ensure that only projectsthat correspond perfectly with the values and traditions of Vacheron Constantinare approved; allowing the realization of a dream for the future owner.

a vacheron constantin tradition

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