Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Ajourées for Only Watch 2015
Vacheron Constantin supports Only Watch 2015 charity auction with a unique Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Ajourées timepiece, beautified by an enamelled red ring.
Based on one of the stellar in house movements, Calibre 4400, this sculptural work with its airy, transparent and finely arched construction exalting the art of open-working vividly evokes the large European railway stations symbolising the golden age of the industrial revolution.
The engraver’s technique is reinvented to resemble that of the sculptor, revealing fascinating light effects conveyed through a three dimensional architecture enhanced by another artistic craft: that of Grand Feu enamelling.
While the first entirely open-worked Vacheron Constantin calibre appeared in 1924, the Manufacture was a pioneer in this field of stylistic research, since the first watch produced by Jean-Marc Vacheron in 1755 already featured an open-worked and engraved balance-cock.
Over the following years, the Manufacture relentlessly pursued this quest for mechanical transparency, as it produced movements comprising ever more finely fashioned components. After pocket-watches, it began producing open-worked movements for wristwatches as of the 1960s, constantly pushing the boundaries of its art by open-working such complicated calibres as minute repeaters, perpetual calendar and tourbillons – including in ultra-thin variations.
The new release by the Manufacture of a splendid mechanical work evokes the large glass domed roofs of historical railway stations, supported by Gothic-inspired ribbed vaults. This impressive artistry is expressed through stunning hand-engraved work resembling the technique of sculpture and orchestrated by a symphony of curves forming a three-dimensional architecture literally flooded with light.
Open-working a movement is a demanding art, since it involves hollowing out the mechanical parts as much as possible, while being careful not to impair the smooth running of the watch. Watchmakers generally start with a solid existing calibre on which they undertake a lengthy process involving conceptualisation, design and modelling, in order to weave the magic of open-working.
This unique piece Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Ajourées features the manually wound open-worked Calibre 4400SQ. It took several hundreds of hours to achieve the perfect balance between airy aesthetic appeal and optimal functionality.
The watchmakers and artisans of the Manufacture compounded the already impressive feat of removing almost half the material compared with the solid Calibre 4400 by addressing another challenge: that of transforming the new movement into an authentic three-dimensional architectural work expressing striking light and shadow effects. To achieve this, they have laid new milestones in the age-old art of hand engraving.
Rather than using a bocfil or tiny handsaw to cut out the smooth surface of the mainplate and bridges before drawing them out with a file and chamfering them, the engraving artisans have carefully chased the parts around their entire circumference so as to create a true sculpture with its own volume and depth.
Inspired by the ribbed vaults of late 19th century railway stations, they have meticulously applied their burins to creating delicate arches on the calibre in a fascinating architecture built around curves. These rounded shapes are a complete change from the straight lines of classic open-worked movements, and imply an even more complex process of chamfering and hand-drawing.
Amid a clever interlacing pattern of interior angles that only the human hand is capable of creating, the polished zones catch the light, while the matt finish of the hand-drawn surfaces further heighten the contrast with the radiance of the polished areas. The subtle alchemist’s blend of these hand-crafted finishes is further exalted by the relief effect of the engraved vaults in a process involving over three days of work for a single calibre and endowing it with unique character.
A contemporary reinterpretation of the ancestral art of hand engraving, the finely open worked mechanism of the Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Ajourées model is further ennobled by another artistic craft in which the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin has excelled since its origins: Grand Feu enamelling.
Once again demonstrating the full extent of their expertise, the in-house enamelling artisans have created a ring topping the calibre by dint of meticulous work calling for extreme virtuosity, since the circular shape of the ring to be enamelled implies substantial risks of distortion. This perilous exercise thus brilliantly performed was compounded by a further difficulty: that of achieving one of the shades most difficult to create with Grand Feu enamel: a deep red paying tribute to the Principality of Monaco.
To render the vivid beauty of this red hue, the master enamellist had to create a perfectly smooth and uniform surface so as to avoid the appearance of any undesirable bubbles during the successive firings of the enamel.
The Grand Feu enamelled ring is accentuated by Roman numerals evoking those of the central clocks in the large railway stations of late 19th century Europe, thereby forming a visible connection with the architectural motifs engraved on the calibre.
Furthermore, the open worked ONLY WATCH logo on the ring at 3 o’clock celebrates this charity event organized by the MONACO YACHT SHOW, PHILLIPS’ watch department and the MONACO ASSOCIATION AGAINST MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.
Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the Calibre 4400SQ displays remarkable precision and offers an impressive 65-hour power reserve that is extremely user-friendly for a hand-wound calibre. Nonetheless, the mechanical aspects alone are not the only features to meet the highest standards of Fine Watchmaking, since the entire model is certified by the Hallmark of Geneva.
Technical details
Model: Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Ajourées, Unique Piece for Only Watch 2015, Reference 82020/000G-B143
Certification
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Movement
Caliber 4400SQ
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual-winding
28.60 mm (12 ’’’ ½) diameter
2.80 mm thick
Approximately 65 hours power reserve
4Hz (28’800 vibrations/hour)
127 components
21 jewels
Hand-engraved open-worked caliber on front and back
Indications
Hours, minutes
Case
18K white gold
40 mm diameter, 7.50 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 meters)
Dial
Red Grand Feu opaque enamelled external ring
Open-worked Roman numerals on an 18K gold ring
“ONLY WATCH” open-worked on the 18K gold ring, at 3 o’clock
Strap
Black Mississippiensis alligator leather strap with alligator leather inner shell, stitched-tip, large square scales
Clasp
18K white gold buckle
Half Maltese cross-shaped
Accessory
Delivered with a magnifying glass
Edition
Unique piece for ONLY WATCH “2015” and “N°1/1” engraved on the back of the timepiece
