Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art: Three Ten-Piece Limited Edition Watches

Among many novelties, three of them from Vacheron Constantin are extremely limited. The Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art line is a tribute to some of the World’s most famous explorers, and, as one would expect from this holiest of brands, each one of these pieces has been caressed into being by the hands of a trained artisan. It’s hard to associate work like this with the majority of the industry. This is real art. And while it is, like the kind of art we’d expect to see hanging on the walls of galleries around the world, divisive, no one could realistically disparage the effort and skill put into these models’ creation. 

To commemorate the greatest Portuguese explorers of the 15th century, Vacheron Constantin has released a limited collection of three watches. Of course, what strikes me the most about the Métiers d’Art are the extremely refined dials. The inspiration behind these models is a map from the 1519 Miller Atlas. And as you can imagine, to replicate the map, Vacheron Constantin could do only one thing — turn to Grand Feu enamellers for help. 

I can’t imagine a better technique for creating such small and delicate motifs than enameling. For those who wonder how it works, I hasten to answer: enamel briquettes — a blend of crystal and metal oxides — are crushed into powder and moistened to create a kind of paint. Later an artisan applies the desired motifs on the dial. It takes Vacheron Constantin one full month of work to get the effect and 11 stages of firing at a temperature of between 800 and 900°C.

Métiers d’Art Tribute To World’s Explorers

As I mentioned before, in this collection you can find three different timepieces inspired by the Portuguese explorers; Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, and Pedro Álvares Cabral. Each watch has a unique dial. Not only the miniaturization of the dial is surprising, but also the off-center display of the hours and minutes. The 41mm Métiers d’Art comes in pink gold. The case is very minimalistic and slim, the same goes for the strap. The three Métiers d’Art watches will be produced in 10 pieces each. Strangely I like this line. The excellent craftsmanship is worth admiring.

Caliber 1120 AT 

Vacheron Constantin’s signature caliber 1120 AT powers the watch. It has a 40-hour power reserve and measures 32.80mm by 5.45mm. Curiously, the 1120 AT has an operating frequency of 19,800vph. You certainly don’t see that every day! Additionally, a truly stunning rotor made of 22K gold and adorned with a tapisserie decor makes for a charming view. 

For more information about the Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art, visit the Vacheron Constantin website. Also, don’t forget to let us know what you love (or don’t love) about this refined design!