Vacheron Constantin continues its ongoing collaboration with the Louvre, presenting an extraordinary quartet in the new Métiers d’Art Tribute to Great Civilisations II series. This new chapter stands as a sophisticated dialogue between horological artistry and ancient heritage, drawing inspiration from four masterpieces in the museum’s antiquities collection: the bust of Akhenaten, Lamassu of Sargon II, Athena de Velletri, and Tiber de L’Iseum Campense.
Exquisite Dials – Artistic Mastery
Each dial serves as a miniature exhibition of artisanal techniques, selected and engineered for both historical accuracy and visual impact. Vacheron Constantin’s experts sourced the same type and origin of stones referenced in the Louvre’s original works. Glyptics, a demanding stone-carving technique, defines the central appliques, whether Sinai limestone sandstone for Akhenaten, Italian sandstone for the Lamassu, or Paros marble for Athena and Tiber. The micro-mosaic and marquetry compositions invoke the decorative vocabulary of antiquity, with tesserae and veneers precisely cut and set by hand, often supported by fine gold threads.
The dials evolve beyond mere ornamentation. The bust of Akhenaten appears enigmatic in profile, crafted on limestone sandstone and framed by two distinctive friezes, a turquoise ring for the outer, a champlevé stone mosaic for the inner. The Lamassu dial integrates red agate and blue dumortierite in its base, drawing motifs from Assyrian palace art and finished with flinqué enamel. Athena de Velletri’s dial merges a marble figure with stone marquetry, onyx and mookaite recalling a Greek amphora battle scene, enhanced with miniature painting. The Tiber of L’Iseum Campense employs Paros marble for its glyptic central motif, while the surrounding micro-mosaic blends jasper, chrysocolla, and opaline, echoing Roman mosaics.
Calibre 2460 G4/2
The watches feature the celebrated in-house Calibre 2460 G4/2, designed to maximise the dial’s artistic space. This mechanical, self-winding movement comprises 237 components and 27 jewels. The hour, minute, day, and date indications display via peripheral discs, visible through four apertures placed around the dial, by forgoing hands, the movement liberates the entire surface for decorative art. Each disc’s colour harmonises with the dial it accompanies.
The movement beats at 4 Hz, providing a solid frequency of 28,800 vph, with a 40-hour power reserve achieved through bidirectional winding. The Hallmark of Geneva certifies each piece. The sapphire caseback reveals haute horlogerie finishing: bevelled bridges with Côtes de Genève, circular-grained mainplate, and precisely circled wheels. The oscillating weight, engraved in solid gold, displays the Louvre’s eastern façade, itself stamped from a hand-carved matrix, referencing the mastery of classical engraving.
Refined Specifications
Maison Vacheron Constantin sets each model in a solid gold case: Akhenaten and the Lamassu in 18K white gold, Athena and Tiber in pink gold. Measuring 42 mm in diameter and 12.9 mm thick, all cases are fitted with transparent sapphire crystal casebacks and withstand water pressures up to 3 bar. The dials reside atop gold bases, each carrying its own artistic treatment.
Straps follow the tradition of luxury with Mississippiensis alligator leather, matched by tone-on-tone, saddle-stitched finishing. Folding clasps in white gold display Vacheron’s Maltese cross, polished and shaped for a distinctive presence.
The Height of Artistic Collaboration
The Métiers d’Art Tribute to Great Civilisations II stands as a triumph of artistic and technical partnership. Vacheron Constantin’s approach places precision, artistry, and heritage at the forefront, while the Louvre’s curatorial expertise ensures every detail remains true to its ancient origins. With only fifteen numbered pieces per reference, exclusivity underlines their value.
Prices for these watches begin around €120,000, available exclusively through Vacheron Constantin Boutiques. The series appeals to collectors who seek horological innovation coupled with profound cultural resonance. In a world of fleeting fashions, these creations endure, offering a refined legacy of craftsmanship and aesthetic expression.
