Vacheron Constantin enriches its Overseas collection with a new technical and precious tourbillon model:
– A first in the Overseas collection: the combination of white gold and the collection’s signature blue dial, along with the setting of baguette-cut diamonds.
– Technical mastery to ensure the slimness of complication movements: a tourbillon powered by ultra-thin Manufacture Calibre 2160.
– A watch adorned with a total of 85 baguette-cut diamonds set on the bezel, index and pin buckle.
Is baguette-cut gemsetting part of the Vacheron Constantin world?
Baguette-cut diamonds first appeared on certain medieval and Renaissance jewels, but really came into their own at the beginning of the 20th century. They were particularly popular in the Art Deco style and were well suited to new techniques such as the invisible setting. Vacheron Constantin was quick to adopt baguette-cut diamonds in its creations, as seen in many of the Maison’s historical timepieces. Brilliant-cut and baguette-cut gems often alternate on the same timepiece, the latter disrupting the rhythm of the round, traditional gems, such as on the Traditionnelle tourbillon jewellery watch featuring precisely this combination of 559 round-cut and baguette-cut diamonds on a watch powered by the same Calibre 2160 as the new Overseas. On the other hand, the invisible-set Malte tourbillon regulator is magnificently adorned with 565 exclusively baguette-cut diamonds totalling 19 carats.
Why choose this new baguette cut for an Overseas watch?
Vacheron Constantin’s designers and gemsetters introduced this new cut to the Overseas collection because it is beautifully aligned with its sophisticated character. Compared with the 58-facet brilliant cut most widely used in the jewellery world, the baguette cut with its 25 facets features an edgier, more graphic look that emphasises the diamond’s purity rather than its brilliance. With its right angles, flat surface and sharp edges, the baguette cut reinforces the architectural design of Overseas.
What makes Vacheron Constantin’s Calibre 2160 so exceptional?
Calibre 2160, one of the thinnest tourbillon movements on the market at just 5.65 mm, is a genuine technical feat. For the Maison’s watchmakers who developed this calibre presented in 2018, the challenge was to integrate a tourbillon regulator into an ultra-thin self-winding movement. This type of construction entails twin difficulties. The presence of an oscillating weight and the integration of a tourbillon cage generally imply additional movement thickness. It was therefore necessary to work first on the architecture of the tourbillon itself and then to design a high-efficiency peripheral rotor winding system to achieve an 80-hour power reserve. The watchmakers at Vacheron Constantin were able to respond perfectly to these constraints with ultra-thin Calibre 2160, which is also aesthetically pleasing thanks to the meticulous attention lavished on the decoration.
For whom is this new Overseas tourbillon intended?
For all devotees of High Watchmaking who appreciate a precious touch. This timepiece represents a magnificent compromise between a technical watch with a sporty look and more formal models. For some time now, the ‘sporty-chic’ segment has been experiencing strong popularity, with the first 1970s models serving as the benchmark. This category of watches offers a host of possible interpretations, from technical to aesthetic, and jewellery! The Overseas tourbillon high jewellery meets all these expectations.