At the last Sihh, Vacheron Constantin enriched its exclusive "Mécaniques Sauvages" collection, unique models created by the Les Cabinotiers department. The new creations put tigers and pandas (not visible in the photo) centre stage, and portray all the power of majestic wildlife thanks to the Maison's mastery of watchmaking techniques and craftsmanship. In 18th-century Geneva, the different crafts related to watchmaking were practised by master craftsmen who practised their art in the luminous workshops known as cabinets, located on the highest floors of houses. Known as Les Cabinotiers and driven by the Enlightenment philosophy, these craftsmen were distinguished as much by their erudition as by the technical and aesthetic complexity of their timepieces inspired by science and art. Vacheron Constantin's Les Cabinotiers department carries on this tradition through unique timepieces that the Maison offers to its customers, as well as creations that they commission from it. The master watchmakers, engineers, designers and craftsmen explore the most advanced technologies by associating them with artistic crafts, while respecting the meticulous workmanship and traditional skills that are faithfully handed down within the Manufacture. The new Mécaniques Sauvages models are the latest interpretation of this approach. The off-centre hour and date dials, equipped with Calibre 2460 G4, leave ample space in the centre of the dial for tigers to dominate the scene thanks to the ramolayé relief technique and wood inlays. Both individually and in combination, engraving and inlaying bring these timepieces to life through an interplay of contrasts, colours and volumes that reproduce the movements and character of wild animals, the atmosphere that pervades their natural environment and the lush nature in which they live. These ancestral craft techniques require patience and meticulous care, as well as many years of experience. The Les Cabinotiers Imperial Tiger model enhances the combination of bas-relief engraving (for the tigers and rocks) with wood marquetry (for the background landscape and foliage). Engraving intensifies the rendering of the scene by accentuating the reliefs, finishes and matt surfaces. Ramolayé relief decoration or 'bas-relief' engraving consists of sculpting gold to create an impression of three-dimensionality. A kind of 'trompe l'oeil' effect makes the tigers appear to be in motion, walking through the jungle or ready to leap from high cliffs. With extreme precision, the master engraver plays with various surface finishes, expertly alternating satin-finishing, polishing, brushing and chiselling to create contrasts that breathe life into the animals, or using black oxidation to accentuate the stripes of the tiger's coat. This extreme attention to finishing is the signature of Vacheron Constantin. Reproducing tigers requires no less than 60 hours of work. The inlay technique is used to compose the motif using a multitude of small sheets of wood of various shapes and shades cut out by hand. More than 200 pieces were used to form the rock background of the imperial tigers. Between five and twenty types of wood were used for each dial, depending on the complexity of the decoration. The richness of the colour range accentuates the realism of the scene taking shape under the expert hands of the master craftsman, who creates each of these unique models with delicacy and sensitivity. With well-defined and accurate touches, guided by experience and intuition, the craftsman cuts each piece and positions it with great care, orienting the wood grain and aligning the fibres. The calibre 2460 G4 has chosen to tame time by distributing the hour, minute, day and date dials over four small windows arranged in the periphery of the dial, to leave space in the foreground for the free interpretations of the tigers. One of the challenges faced by the master watchmakers was to incorporate a time reading that was technically and aesthetically compatible with the dial design. The self-winding Calibre 2460 G4, entirely developed and manufactured by the Maison, allowed the dial motif to take centre stage, making way for a singular yet magnificent display of decorative arts. The time is read through four window displays: the hours between 11 and 12 o'clock, the minutes between 1 and 2 o'clock, the days between 7 and 8 o'clock and the date between 4 and 5 o'clock. These indications are provided by four discs: the first two driving and the last two jumping. Equipped with a 40-hour power reserve, Calibre 2460 G4 is housed in a 41-millimetre gold case. Decorated in line with the highest standards of watch finishing, it is amply visible through the transparent case back.
