SIHH 2014: Vacheron Constantin - Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillon Openworked

A showcase of great skills and mastery in the watchmaking art, the new Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillon Openworked (ref. 89010/000P-9935), introduced today at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, combines the tourbillon complication with the art of openworking As if it was not enough Vacheron Constantin decided to rise the challenge and endow this exclusive timepiece with an impressive 14-day power reserve.

A showcase of great skills and mastery in the watchmaking art, the new Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillon Openworked (ref. 89010/000P-9935), introduced today at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, combines the tourbillon complication with the art of openworking. As if it was not enough Vacheron Constantin decided to rise the challenge and endow this exclusive timepiece with an impressive 14-day power reserve.

Combining a tourbillon with such an impressive power reserve calls for a specific construction. The Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day tourbillon openworked comprises four barrels stacked in pairs in the upper part of the movement, making it more crowded than the lower part. Vacheron Constantin tamed these differences in volume by structuring its Calibre 2260 SQP in layers, so creating a depth effect that the Manufacture has accentuated through an engraving motif specially designed to exalt the three-dimensional effect.

Compared with the solid base movement, a single 2260 SQ calibre requires 10 additional hours of chamfering and hand-drawing, as well as 40 extra hours of engraving.

Assembling and adjusting an openworked calibre is another particularly complex task, since the loss of material resulting from the openworking inevitably leads to certain distortions of the parts. For the watchmaker, this means retouching them again and again until their impeccable interaction is guaranteed. Throughout this lengthy process, he makes sure that no dust settles in the hollowed-out surfaces, and also carefully complies with the extremely stringent standards imposed by the Hallmark of Geneva.

The hand-wound Calibre 2260 SQ beats at 18,000 vibrations per hours (2.5Hz) and it is housed within a precious round platinum case with a diameter of 42 mm. The overall thickness is 12.22 mm. 

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillon Openworked model features an elegant slate-grey ring around its inner rim, graced with white gold hour-markers. The tourbillon carriage at 6 o’clock spins over a Maltese Cross, sweeping the small seconds hand in its wake. 

This masterpiece is completed by a black Mississippiensis alligator leather strap with a triple-blade folding clasp in platinum.