Vacheron Constantin has enriched its Collection Excellence Platine with yet another fine limited edition timekeeper. Newly released Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon will be reserved for only the most dedicated and the wealthiest of watch aficionados, since it has the steep price of $323,500. However, this price is quite expected for a timepiece that has platinum as the material of choice for its components. Furthermore, it is equipped with a manually-wound tourbillon movement that stores a fantastic amount of power reserve which can last up to 14 days, as its name suggests. The level of hand decorations and the overall quality of the piece are to say the least impressive, which is why the entire watch holds the Geneva seal of quality.
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon Watch Case
The Purity of 95 Percent
Stemming from the Collection Excellence Platine first introduced in 2006, Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon is the latest of high-end pieces that are tributes to symbiosis of intricate mechanics and platinum. The choice of this specific material is caused with its exceptional qualities. Unlike for example 18 K gold which features the purity of 75 percent, platinum 950 used in the series is 95 percent pure. This scarce material has superior resistance when compared to other metals due to its density and weight. Uncommonly, not only that the new watch has its housing made from platinum, but also includes its dial, buckle and even its strap thread in the metal.
The case of Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon has a reasonably sized case with the diameter of 42 mm and the height of 12.2 mm. Its rear side is transparent and from sapphire (as the crystal is on the front), while the construction allows the basic water resistance to 30 meters below the surface. As for the dial which is likewise made form platinum 950 as the inscription on it confirms, it features a sand-blasted finish. The indications on it are painted and black, while hour and minute hands are positioned to be slightly off-centered, the power reserve is on the top, whereas the tourbillon cage rests at the bottom.
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon Watch Back
Once again, platinum is used in combination with silk as a hand-stitched thread on its dark blue Mississippiensis leather strap with large scales which is beautified with saddle finish. The final platinum component is a triple blade clasp which has a shape of a half of a Maltese cross.
Manufacture Calibre 2260
Every piece in the Collection Excellence Platine combines the noble material with exquisite mechanical properties which is once again visible in the latest of the pieces from the series. The latest example of said mechanical excellence is featured Calibre 2260 movement. Operating at the rate of 2.5 Hz, the movement has the width of 12 ¾ lignes (29.1 mm) and the height of 6.8 mm.
Calibre 2260-1
The main qualities of Calibre 2260 are hinted in the name of the piece. The first of them is a 60-second tourbillon complication (which also serves as seconds indication) with a very interesting looking carriage made in the shape of a Maltese cross. Additionally, it displays lovely hand-bevelled interior angles. This is why just the tourbillon bar requires 11 hours of skilled craftsmanship to be beautified in the desirable manner.
Calibre 2260-2
Furthermore, the hand-wound movement with 231 components and 31 jewels which features two large bridges has another amazing trait in the technical sense. It is its prolonged power reserve of no less than 14 days, which was achieved with the introduction of four barrels placed in pairs and interconnected to discharge simultaneously in the rate that is four times slower than it would be for a single barrel. To allow even more precise display of the remaining power storage, a dragging hand on the power reserve shows information on a 280 degrees scale which has each of its 14 components divided to two 12-hour increments.
The caliber marked with the structure that features two large bridges is like its Maltese cross tourbillon ornamented with hand-performed finishes. Among these there are Cotes de Geneve motif, hand-chamfered edges and polished screw heads. Naturally, the new Vacheron Constantin piece comes in a limited edition of 50 pieces, each of them individually numbered to indicate place in the restricted series. As the most obvious proof of the level of quality of the piece with the reference number 89000/000P-9843, lays the Hallmark of Geneva, reserved only for the pieces made in accordance with the highest of standards.
