Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers “Mécaniques Sauvages”
Prestigious Swiss luxury watch manufacture Vacheron Constantin has unveiled Les Cabinotiers “Mécaniques Sauvages”, a new series comprised of five exclusive one-of-a-kind models created by its Les Cabinotiers department.
The majestic wild animals adorning the dials and cases of these mechanical watches reflects the stunning work involved in associating the watchmaking expertise of Grand Complications with the mastery of Artistic Crafts. The strength of a bird of prey or a reptile, and the panache of a feline, convey the values of the Maison: tradition and innovation, craftsmanship, hand finishing, extreme care for details, as well as elegance.
Les Cabinotiers stands for one-of-a-kind bespoke technical, aesthetic and artistic challenges. Across three centuries, Vacheron Constantin has been perpetuating the tradition of “Les Cabinotiers”, the name given to the prestigious and cultivated watchmakers who exercised their art in light-filled workshops located on the top floors of Geneva buildings. Exceptional bespoke timepieces were devised at the time, brimming with a rare degree of technical and aesthetic complexity, inspired by astronomy, science and art.
Today, Vacheron Constantin continues to take up these highly technical and incredibly creative challenges through offering its customers one-of-a-kind models, as well as specially commissioned bespoke watches. Engineers, designers, master watchmakers and artisans combine their imagination, their expertise and their passion in giving life to this embodiment of horological expertise and extreme refinement.
Humming to the beat of a minute repeater or an armillary tourbillon, and embellished with enamelling and engraving, the timepieces from the “Mécaniques Sauvages” line spring to vibrant life, gaze sharpened and instinct heightened, ready to leap into action:-
Les Cabinotiers Mécaniques Sauvages 2755 Eagle
Horological expertise takes the form of seven complications, including a rare type of minute repeater equipped with a centripetal system enabling both effective sound diffusion and a 55-hour power reserve.
Intaglio fine line and pounced ornament engraving techniques bring depth and light to this creation. Mastering these techniques requires at least ten years of experience. They vividly highlight the determination, courage and strength of the eagle, whose visual acuity is reproduced in its piercing gaze.
Technical details
Les Cabinotiers Calibre 2755 Eagle
Reference 6510C/000R-B418
Hallmark of Geneva
Movement
Calibre 2755 – Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual-winding
33.9 mm diameter, 7.9 mm thick
Approximately 48 hours of power reserve
2.5Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
602 components
40 jewels
Indications
Hours, minutes
Small second at 6 o’clock on tourbillon carriage
Complications:
- Minute repeater
- Tourbillon
- Perpetual calendar (date, day of the week, month, leap year)
- Power reserve
Setting
Hours and minutes adjustment: winding crown (2 positions)
Perpetual calendar adjustment: two correction push-pieces on the case
Case
18K 5N pink gold with case-band hand-engraved with “Eagle” sculpture
45 mm diameter, 13.54 mm thick
Dial
Blue guilloché dial
18K 5N pink gold applied hour-markers
18K 5N pink gold hands
Strap
Dark brown Mississippiensis alligator leather, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle
18K 5N pink gold folding clasp
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
BOX
Prestige winder box made of Makassar ebony wood
Accessories
Delivered with a corrector pen, a magnifying glass
Unique timepiece
« Les Cabinotiers », « Pièce unique », « AC » hallmark engraved on caseback14
Les Cabinotiers Mécaniques Sauvages Armillary Tourbillon Snake
Six patents have been filed for this exceptional timepiece equipped with a double retrograde armillary tourbillon, derived from the Reference 57260 watch with its 57 complications. High-tech materials such as silicon for the pallet-lever and escape-wheel, as well as aluminium for the tourbillon carriage, further enhance the precision and durability of this timepiece and lend a light touch. The patience of the engraving artisans and their love of fine workmanship are clearly apparent in the engraving work on the snake surrounding the caseband.
The Maison’s signature hand finishes have served to craft the model, highlighting the matt and brilliant surfaces punctuating the dial, giving life to the scales of the animal. The art of suggestion is extremely subtle, since the precision of the visible portion enables the observer to imagine the reptile in its entirety.
Technical details
Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon Snake
Reference 9810C/000R-B369
Hallmark of Geneva
Movement
CALIBRE 1990
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual-winding
35.5 mm diameter, 12.15 mm thick
Approximately 65 hours of power reserve
2.5Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
299 components
45 jewels
Indications
Retrograde hours and minutes
Armillary Tourbillon
Setting
Hours and minutes adjustment: winding crown (2 positions)
Case
18K 5N pink gold with case-band hand-engraved with “Snake” sculpture
45 mm diameter, 20.12 mm thick
Dial
Slate-grey dial
18K 4N pink gold applied hour-markers
Titanium hands
Strap
Dark brown Mississippiensis alligator leather, hand-stitched, saddle-fnish, large square scales
Buckle: 18K 5N pink gold buckle; Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Box
Luxury box made of Makassar ebony wood
Unique timepiece
« Les Cabinotiers », « Pièce unique », « AC » hallmark engraved on caseback
Les Cabinotiers Mécaniques Sauvages 14-Day Tourbillon Lion
In this majestic model, the harmonious centrally aligned dial composition echoes the serenity radiating from the lion calmly surveying his surroundings. The fine strokes enable a realistic portrayal of the scene. The horological power of this model – featuring a Maltese cross-shaped tourbillon as well as a 14-day power reserve – evokes that of the noble beast it depicts, by conveying a sense of both strength and endurance.
This technical combination is matched by a particularly tricky combination of skills: the case is engraved, while the dial is coated with grisaille enamel.
This technique consists in coating the gold plate with a uniform dark brown layer and, after firing in the kiln, in applying an extremely rare type of white Grand Feu enamel known as “Blanc de Limoges”, in order to endow the material with subtle shades of grey, brown and white, as well as creating shading effects. The spectacular work of the master enameller is a fascinating invitation to contemplate this masterly animal.
Technical details
Les Cabinotiers 14-Day Tourbillon Lion
Reference 6000C/000R-B517
Hallmark of Geneva
Movement
CALIBRE 2260
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, manual-winding
29.1 mm diameter, 6.8 mm thick
Approximately 336 hours of power reserve
2.5Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
231 components
31 jewels
Indications
Hours, minutes
Small second at 6 o’clock on tourbillon carriage
Tourbillon
Power reserve
Setting
Hours and minutes adjustment: winding crown (2 positions)
Case
18K 5N pink gold case hand-engraved with an ornamental pattern on case band and bezel
42 mm diameter, 12.97 mm thick
Dial
18K gold covered with “Grand Feu” translucent and grisaille enamelling representing a “Lion”
18K 5N pink gold hands
Strap
Dark brown Mississippiensis alligator leather, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle: 18K 5N pink gold buckle hand-engraved with an ornamental pattern; Half Maltese cross-shaped
Box
Luxury box made of Makassar ebony wood
Accessories
Delivered with a magnifying glass
Unique timepiece
« Les Cabinotiers », « Pièce unique », « AC » hallmark engraved on caseback
Les Cabinotiers Mécaniques Sauvages Mysterious Animals Tiger
This exotic and inventive expression of time is equipped with a 2460 G4 calibre driving four displays appearing through four apertures. The hours, minutes, day and date are arranged around the dial periphery so as to give pride of place to Artistic Crafts. Jungle animals lend themselves to this daring composition, with a tiger emerging from a bamboo forest and appearing at the centre of the dial that is entirely hand-engraved with an infinite sense of detail.
The ancestral technique of fine line engraving requires at least five years of experience to master its incredible finesse, with this intaglio-type sculpting of the material highlighting every strikingly realistic detail. The animal merges naturally into the surrounding plant life of the jungle decor.
Technical details
Les Cabinotiers Mysterious Animals Tiger
Reference 86073/000P-B469
Hallmark of Geneva
Movement
CALIBRE 2460 G4
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, automatic-winding
31 mm diameter, 6.05 mm thick
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve
4Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
237 components
27 jewels
Indications
Hours, minutes, day of the week (in English) and date in apertures
Setting
Hours, minutes, day and date adjustment: correction push-piece on the case
Case
950 platinum case
40 mm diameter, 12.4 mm thick
Dial
18K yellow gold hand-engraved “bamboos” and 18K white gold hand-engraved “Tiger”
Strap
Black Mississippiensis alligator leather, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle: 950 platinum buckle; Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Box
Luxury box made of Makassar ebony wood
Accessories
Delivered with a corrector pen and a magnifying glass
Unique timepiece
« Les Cabinotiers », « Pièce unique », « AC » hallmark engraved on caseback
Les Cabinotiers Mécaniques Sauvages Grisaille Falcon
The power and grace of the falcon, king of birds, inspired the decoration in Grand Feu grisaille enamel “Blanc de Limoges” adorning the dials of this extraordinary model. Expertise and rigorous discipline are once again the watchwords in mastering this art, since firing between 800° and 900°C proves extremely delicate given the risk of burning the dial. The deft touch of the master enameller endows this animal with visually striking bearing, posture and expression. The effect is even more apparent on these more sharply defined black and white dials crafted using his expertise.
Technical details
Les Cabinotiers Grisaille Falcon
Reference 86090/000G-B540
Hallmark of Geneva
Movement
CALIBRE 2460 SC
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, automatic-winding
26.2 mm diameter, 3.6 mm thick
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve
4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
182 components
27 jewels
Indications
Hours, minutes, central second
Setting
Hours and minutes adjustment: winding crown (2 positions)
Case
18K white gold
40 mm diameter, 9.2 mm thick
Dial
18K gold covered with “Grand Feu” translucent and grisaille enamelling representing a “Falcon”
18K white gold hands
Strap
Dark brown Mississippiensis alligator leather, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle: 18K white gold buckle; Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Box
Luxury box made of Makassar ebony wood
Unique timepiece
« Les Cabinotiers », « Pièce unique », « AC » hallmark engraved on caseback
