Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication PhoenixSince the 18th century, Vacheron Constantin has perpetuated the tradition of the 'Cabinotiers', the name given to the master watchmakers who worked in workshops on the highest floors of Geneva's sun-drenched palaces. The skill of these skilled craftsmen was underpinned by profound scientific knowledge, ignited by a strong curiosity for new ideas and fuelled by the philosophy of the Enlightenment. Their deft fingers moulded exceptional timepieces of rare technical and aesthetic complexity, inspired by astronomy, science and the arts. The Geneva-based House continues to take up these challenges that constantly test the creativity and technical skills of the Les Cabinotiers department and ultimately result in unique models destined for customers and collectors or in one-off pieces made to order. Engineers, designers, watchmakers and master craftsmen share imagination, experience and passion to breathe life into this extremely refined art of watchmaking, as demonstrated by the new and unique Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Phoenix. The legend of the Phoenix, which originated in the Orient before reaching Asia, tells of how this bird managed to defeat death by setting itself on fire and being reborn from its ashes every 500 years. This symbol of immortality inspired the creators of the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Phoenix timepiece which, with its 15 complications, is a true challenge to time. Visible on both sides of the watch, a series of indications - including a perpetual calendar, an equation of time, sunrise and sunset, celestial chart, seasons, signs of the zodiac, age and phase of the moon, solstices, sidereal hours and minutes, and power reserve - lend it nobility and prestige. A minute repeater and a tourbillon complete this exceptional set of functions. The watchmakers at Les Cabinotiers have succeeded in integrating all these functions in the limited space of the case, miniaturising all the components as much as possible, without interfering with their reliability. The numerals and hands are clearly visible on the slate grey background of the two dials on either side of the watch, highlighting the pink gold of the case. The excellent legibility of this complex model is further accentuated by the arrangement of the other counters and the various hour displays. To animate the many functions of this extremely complicated watch, the master watchmakers at Vacheron Constantin chose the famous Calibre 2755. This hand-wound movement, with a 58-hour power reserve, is dedicated to the Manufacture's particularly sophisticated models and, in particular, those in the exceptional Grand Complication category to which this unique model belongs. A quintessence of the subtle balance between innovation and the transmission of ancestral skills, this exceptional model is also a tribute to two engraving techniques that only a few craftsmen are still able to master: bas-relief, used for the case middle, and burin engraving for the bezel and back. At least a decade of experience is required to perfect the art of sculpting gold to such a three-dimensional effect, which requires 300 hours of careful and patient work. Given the extreme attention to detail that has become Vacheron Constantin's signature, the wings of this legendary creature really do seem to unfold on the case middle, while the movement of the slender neck is transmitted, with grace and elegance, to the end of the beak.
Data sheet
Reference 9700C/003R-B187 - Geneva Seal
Movement
- Calibre 2755
- Developed and produced by Vacheron Constantin
- Mechanical hand-wound
- 33.9 mm diameter, 12.15 mm thickness
- Power reserve of approximately 58 hours
- 2.5Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour)
- 839 components
- 40 rubies
Directions
- Hours and minutes
- Small seconds at 6 o'clock on the tourbillon cage
15 Complications:
- Repeat minutes
- Tourbillon
- Perpetual calendar (date, day of week, month, leap year)
- Power reserve
- Equation of time
- Dawn hour
- Sunset Hour
- Sky chart
- Age and phases of the moon
- Sidereal hours and minutes
- Seasons, zodiac signs
- Ring torque indicator
Adjustments
- Hour and minute setting: winding crown (2 positions)
- Moon phase adjustment: small corrector button housed in the case - Perpetual calendar adjustment: two small corrector buttons housed in the case
- Sky chart adjustment: via the crown and a screwed-in button
Case
- Rose gold; with 'Phoenix' sculpture hand-engraved on the case middle
- bezel and back with hand-engraved ornamental motif
- 47 mm in diameter
- 19.10 mm thick
Dials
- Slate grey opalines
- Applied pink gold hour markers
- Pink gold hands (front and back)
Strap
- Dark brown Mississippiensis alligator skin. Hand-stitched, topstitched, large square scales. Rose gold folding clasp with hand-engraved ornamental motif - Half Maltese cross
- Prestige case with winding mechanism, macassar ebony
- The watch is delivered with an adjustment tool and a magnifying glass
