Taking aesthetic and creative inspiration from its iconic calendar watches from 1940s, Vacheron Constantin presents two new Historiques Triple Calendrier models featuring a complete calendar.
With their calendar function, round case with triple gadroons, two-tone dial, “claw-type” lugs and mechanical manual-winding movement, the new Historiques Triple calendrier 1942 and the Triple calendrier 1948 are reviving a typical Vacheron Constantin complication and style from this era.
Vacheron Constantin is reinterpreting two calendar watches from 1942 and 1948, which highlight its expertise in the field of “useful” complications and the associated characteristic design. This results in design codes reflecting those of the original models, but with a contemporary twist.
A steel triple calendar timepiece and another 18K 4N pink gold triple calendar with moon phase version are now back in the spotlight. The 40 mm-diameter case crafted in the Vacheron Constantin style features a number of character traits typical of the era, such as the distinctive “triple gadroon” caseband bearing “claw-type” lugs.
Topped by a box-type glass of which the slightly thicker nature enables the use of an extremely slender bezel, the case is water-resistant to 30 metres.
Each timepiece reveals through the caseback the Fine Watchmaking finishing of the new complete calendar calibre – interpreted as reference 4400 QC and 4400 QCL for the moon-phase version (L for Lune, meaning moon in French).
Beating at a frequency of 4 Hz, this mechanical manual-winding movement, entirely developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin, preserves the original spirit of the mid-20th century calendars, while providing a comfortable 65-hour power reserve thanks to its imposing barrel.
Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942
The first model, made of steel, is inspired by reference 4240, of which the first executions in yellow gold, pink gold or steel were introduced in 1942.
In keeping with the original, this understated and elegant model drives the hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock, along with hand-type date and day and month by aperture.
The calendar indications appear in a choice of burgundy or dark blue, on a two-tone silvered dial typical of the era. The sunburst satin-finished centre and the outer zone punctuated by Arabic numerals clearly enhance the legibility of the respective functions and accentuate its retro-chic elegance.
Technical details
Model: Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942, References 3110V/000A-B425 and 3110V/000A-B426
Certification
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepieces
Movement
Calibre 4400 QC
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual-winding
29 mm (12’’’1/2) diameter
4.6 mm thick
Approximately 65 hours of power reserve
4Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
225 components
21 jewels
Indications
Hours, minutes
Small seconds at 6 o’clock
Complete calendar (day of the week and month by aperture, date by hand)
Case
Stainless Steel
40 mm diameter, 10.35 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)
Dial
Silvered, sunburst satin-finished
Black painted Arabic numerals
Burgundy/Blue painted date-track
Strap
Brown/dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle
Steel
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1948
Like its vintage predecessor, the Historiques Triple calendrier 1948 is crafted in 18K 4N pink gold, a tone that is closer to the original version and endows it with an extremely elegant style.
Issued in two limited series of 200 pieces each, it revives the reference 4240L presented in 1948: a triple calendar enriched with a sophisticated astronomical complication – the high-precision lunar cycle (hence the L in its name) – along with small seconds at 6 o’clock. Its contemporary version highlights an array of refined and distinctive assets.
The dial features a silvered opaline centre with a sunburst satin-finished external zone. This subtly nuanced display is interspersed with applied Roman numerals and triangle-type hour-markers swept over by slim baton-type hands. Its calendar functions and its moon disc appear in a choice of burgundy or dark blue, teamed with a brown or dark blue leather strap secured by a pin buckle.
Technical details
Model: Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1948, References 3100V/000R-B359 and 3100V/000R-B422
Certification
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepieces
Movement
Calibre 4400 QCL
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual-winding
29 mm (12’’’) diameter
4.6 mm thick
Approximately 65 hours of power reserve
4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
253 components
21 jewels
Indications
Hours, minutes
Complete calendar (day of the week, month and date indicated by hand)
Precision moon phases
Case
18K 4N Pink gold
40 mm diameter, 10.35 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)
Dial
Silvered opaline with satin-finished external zone
18K 4N gold applied hour-markers
Red/Blue painted date-track
Strap
Brown/dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle
18K 4N Pink gold
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Edition
Limited edition of 200 individually numbered pieces
“N°X/200” engraved on caseback
