Vacheron Constantin presents three new versions of the Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Flat, in a case 36.5 mm in diameter and 8.43 mm thick.
In the year of the 270th anniversary of its foundation (the House was in fact founded in 1755), Vacheron Constantin presents three new Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Flat. These timepieces represent the perfect synthesis of 18th century watchmaking tradition and contemporary design, and feature a case 36.5 mm in diameter by 8.43 mm thick.
After more than a decade dominated by large watches, the Haute Horlogerie market is thus rediscovering the allure of smaller proportions. The new Traditionnelle Ultra-Flat Perpetual Calendar responds to this evolution with a case measuring 36.5 mm in diameter, which offers an enviable balance between wrist presence and discretion. This size is just 0.5 mm larger than the historic Reference 43031 of 1983, proves ideal for all wrist types, transcending the traditional distinctions between men's and women's watches.
The Reference 43031, launched at the height of the quartz crisis, represented Vacheron Constantin's perpetual calendar par excellence for twenty years. These new Traditionnelle echo its proportions and rigorous aesthetics, demonstrating how the complex indications of a perpetual calendar can be displayed on a clean and elegant dial, without compromising balance and legibility.
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Flat: Manufacture Calibre
The in-house calibre 1120 QP is awarded the Geneva Hallmark.
The beating heart of these Traditionnelle Ultra-Flat Perpetual Calendar is the calibre 1120 QP (19,800 vibrations per hour, power reserve of approx. 40 hours), an in-house mechanical automatic movement encompassing 276 components in a mere 4.05 mm in thickness. This mechanical complication is an eloquent expression of Vacheron Constantin's technical mastery in the field of perpetual calendars and ultra-thin movements, areas in which the Maison has set several subtlety records since the 1930s.
The perpetual calendar is designed to automatically correct itself according to the irregularities of the Gregorian calendar, including leap years and months of different durations, without requiring manual adjustments until the year 2100. The calibre integrates the day of the week, date and 48-month leap year display (at 12 o'clock), as well as a refined moon phase and age of the moon complication (at 6 o'clock).
The three new models of the Traditionnelle Ultra-Flat Perpetual Calendar offer different colour interpretations of the same technical excellence and are water-resistant to a pressure of 3 atmospheres. The rose gold version expresses complete harmony, with facetted Dauphine hands and applied baton hour markers echoing the warm tone of the case, contrasted by the dark blue background of the moon phase display and the alligator strap, also in blue.
The white gold model offers a more discreet palette, also with pink gold hands and markers, accompanied by an original shade of light brown for the alligator strap. The third version, also in white gold, features a bezel set with 76 brilliant-cut diamonds (equal to 0.96 carats), with additional diamonds on the lugs and crown, creating a sparkle that echoes the silvery tone of the opaline dial.
The excellent mechanical quality of the calibre is confirmed by the meticulous hand finishing of each component. The mainplate has a perlage finish, while the bridges are decorated with côtes de Genève and handmade bevels. The bezels of the rubies and screws show circular satin-finishing, and the teeth of the gear wheels are polished. The oscillating weight, pierced in the shape of the Maltese cross, the Maison's logo, features a peripheral segment in 22-carat gold and is also decorated with côtes de Genève. Finally, all three models are certified by the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, a guarantee of excellence that attests to compliance with the strictest Geneva Haute Horlogerie standards.
PricesEuro 108,000 (white gold case with diamonds); Euro 103,000 (white or rose gold case).
