The new Vacheron Constantin Égérie Creative collection takes inspiration from the delicacy of Burano lace. This sparkling feminine timepiece brings together four artistic crafts handed down and perpetuated within the Maison for 267 years: tapisserie, engraving, enamelling and gemsetting.
Égérie Collection
Unveiled in 2020, the Égérie collection is designed as an ode to femininity mingling Haute Couture and Haute Horlogerie. It draws on the decorative craftsmanship that has been an integral part of the Manufacture since the early 19th century.
Vacheron Constantin has always shown great sensitivity towards its feminine clientele. From the first pocket watches to the new Égérie Creative Edition watch, its creations are distinguished by the fact that they are designed specifically for women rather than being based on men’s models.
Hunter-type cases and a variety of wristwatches thus illustrate the creativity of the Maison. The Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods gave rise to pieces as elaborate as lacework, cases adorned with applied floral motifs or cameos featuring mythological figures, along with skeleton watches.
Vacheron Constantin Égérie Creative Edition
The Égérie Creative Edition timepiece echoes the silhouettes of the 21st century. Its asymmetrical features including the off-centre moon-phase display and the case’s integrated crown set with a rose-cut diamond between 1 and 2 o’clock accentuate the delicacy of the “embroidered” dial swept over by three graceful hands specially designed for the watch.
Daintily engraved like Burano lace, the dial of the Égérie Creative Edition watch involved superimposing five elements involving fascinating expertise.
Inherited from an ancient decorative technique and still executed by the master guillocheur on a machine dating from the early 20th century, the pleated tapisserie motif is produced on a silver base to further enhance the black enamel.
The art of the master enameller is also illustrated in the moon-phase window, with the mother-of-pearl night star appearing beneath a plique-à-jour enamel cloud, reduced to just 0.27 mm thick for the first time in the history of the Maison.
The extreme fineness of the white gold lace threads is such that it is physically impossible to hold the applique between the fingers without bending it.
The master engraver and then the master gemsetter therefore deployed the full measure of their expertise: one to create flowers and flat areas, as well as to express personal creativity on areas left free for personal choice; and the other to set the 250 brilliant-cut diamonds adorning the motif and the 292 others lighting up the case and the crown.
The watch comes with a black satin-effect calfskin strap featuring a buckle set with 21 diamonds and which can be switched out at the touch of a button for an alternative second strap in black Missisippiensis alligator leather.
Technical details
Model: Vacheron Constantin Égérie Creative Edition
Reference 8006F/000G-B942
Movement
Calibre 1088 L
Manufacture calibre
Mechanical, self-winding
30 mm (9’’’) diameter, 5.03 mm thick
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve
4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
164 components
26 jewels
Indications
Hours, minutes, centre seconds
Moon phases
Case
18K white gold
37 mm diameter, 10.53 mm thick
Set with 292 round-cut diamonds Crown set with a rose-cut diamond
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)
Dial
18K white gold with black translucide enamel, “pleats” pattern made using the tapisserie technique
Inspired by Burano lace, set with 250 round-cut diamonds and hand-engraved patterns, mother-of-pearl moons behind a plique-à- jour enamel cloud
Straps
Delivered with two black self-interchangeable straps: satin-effect calfskin leather and shiny Mississipiensis alligator, both with calf lining
Each strap equipped with an 18K white gold pin buckle, set with 21 round-cut diamonds
Total diamond-setting
585 diamonds, for a total weight of approx. 4.46 carats (guaranteed minimum carats)
Availability
Piece only available through the Vacheron Constantin Boutiques
