Grand Lady Kalla by Vacheron Constantin stands as the latest high jewellery creation from the maison, unveiled in three scintillating variations with interchangeability at their heart. This series celebrates the feminine bond between Vacheron Constantin and the world of high jewellery horology, marking a continuation of the legacy initiated by the legendary Kallista in 1979. For 2024, Grand Lady Kalla presents a programme combining precious stones (diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds) with the elegance of pearls and ornamental beads, its design reflecting both historic artistry and modern innovation. In examining this trio, the Emerald, the Ruby and the Sapphire, one encounters a feat of technical excellence and an aesthetic homage to Art Deco and passionate craftsmanship.
Each Grand Lady Kalla dial expresses a striking minimalism, encasing time within a rectangle of pure diamond fire. The dial itself is fully set with fourteen emerald-cut diamonds, a layout fostering architectural symmetry. Diamonds chosen for this setting possess clarity and substantial presence, their faceting devised to reinforce rectilinear appeal and amplify subtle flashes of light. The dial’s hands are rendered in solid white gold, maintaining a low profile, unobtrusive against the vibrant shimmer that surrounds.
On Ruby and Sapphire models, the case displays two emerald-cut stones of corresponding colour, either rubies or sapphires, framing the diamond dial and adding distinction through their hue. The Emerald model follows suit, with two emerald-cut emeralds flanking its diamond-set dial, all anchored within platinum. The interplay of diamonds and coloured stones establishes a motif evocative of Art Deco, yet thoroughly contemporary in execution.
The movement powering Grand Lady Kalla is Vacheron Constantin’s calibre 1212, a quartz movement chosen to guarantee precision and reliability without intruding upon the purity of design. Diameter measures just 11.3 millimetres and the movement stands 2.5 millimetres tall. These dimensions facilitate the case’s svelte profile. Housing eighty-five components and six jewels, the calibre operates at a frequency of 32.7Hz. While quartz architecture is, by necessity, discreet in its display of finish, it is Vacheron Constantin’s reputation which assures attention to detail. The movement is secured discreetly, hidden beneath seamless gem-setting, its setting crown entirely concealed to preserve the dial’s integrity. Both front and rear of the watch exhibit no compromise in construction, each element assembled in pursuit of the maison’s standards for miniature engineering and enduring durability.
Cases across the Grand Lady Kalla series are both visual centrepieces and technical achievements. Measuring 19.4 by 30.1 millimetres with a thickness of 8.3 millimetres, each is formed from noble materials. The Sapphire and Ruby versions present themselves in 18K white gold, while the Emerald takes platinum, a choice reflecting the relative rarity and delicacy of emeralds.
Every case is fully paved with ten emerald-cut diamonds and the two featured coloured stones, each element set using a claw mount delicately sculpted in the form of Maltese Cross branches. Where the claws join, the emblem is fully realised, a motif which both secures the stones and pays subtle tribute to house heritage.
The engineering underpinning the case structure is sophisticated: the interchangeable system allows the central watch unit and jewel piece to affix seamlessly to either the bracelet or the sautoir necklace, a mechanism hidden from view and requiring no tool for operation. Case backs and locking mechanisms are all fully embedded, such that only precious stones greet the eye.
Grand Lady Kalla delivers four wearing possibilities: wristwatch, bracelet, jewel piece, and necklace. Each model is an ensemble, a radiant dance between diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls, and ornamental beads. Sapphire is paired with blue chalcedony, Ruby with pink chalcedony, Emerald with chrysoprase, each set in configurations echoing both historic femininity and forward-thinking design.
Accompanied by a designer’s original gouache and a certificate of authenticity, the piece arrives in a presentation box, ready for its wearer to discover which interpretation best suit her moment. Vacheron Constantin’s mastery over both jewellery and timekeeping is evident in every detail: from the architectural gem-setting and secret Maltese Cross claws, to the modern movement concealed within, each element is a result of the maison’s enduring quest since 1755. Grand Lady Kalla embodies the spirit of “do better if possible, and that is always possible” – a philosophy reflected in both artistry and innovation, and one which will continue to inspire for decades yet to pass.
