In the wake of the most complicated watch ever made, the Ref. 57260 with 57 complications, Vacher on Constant in unveils the Maître Cabino tier retro grade armillary tour billon model. This timepiece bearing the Hallmark of Geneva was produced by the three master watchmaker who created Ref. 57260, and they incorporated two of the complicated features of the super watch: the armillary tour billon and the double retrograde indication. Its contemporary styling opens the remarkable structure of the calibre 1990 movement to view. The high-precision manually wound movement is housed in a 45 .7mm case in white gold. Four patent applications have been filed for this unique model.
Inspired by the Reference 57260
On September 17,2015, Vacheron Constantin unveiled a watch with 57 complications — the most complicated watch ever made. This mechanical wonder, devised by three master watchmakers from the company’s Atelier Casino tiers workshops, took eight years to develop and was presented to mark Vacheron Constantin’s 260th anniversary. The one-off piece was made to a special commission,using the latest technology to preserve the traditional watchmaking principles certified by the Hallmark of Geneva. The research and skill mobilised to create the super watch remained a source of inspiration as well as a development resource for its three watchmakers , who were at the same time working to highlight some of its complications separately.
The Maître Casino tier retrogrades armillary tourbillon model list he first Borno this project.It’s a remakeoftwooftheRef. 57260’s complications, the double retrograde indications, and the armillary tourbillon, in a contemporary guise. The retrograde function governs the hours and minutes while the tourbillon revolves on two axes and has a spherical balance-spring. The movement coated with NAC(a special metal alloy) is also revealed through lateral windows in its imposing case. This timepiece forms part of the select Maître Cabino tier collection, which showcases Vacheron Constant in’s horological achievements, customised work and overall excellence.
Double retrograde system
The manually wound calibre 1990 movement developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantinfeaturesretrogradehours and minutes indications with instant fly back. The double indications areas technically fascinating as they are visually mesmerising. The hands flick back Tozer oats cha speed that the special attention is needed to ensure a precise indication and such light weight and resistant materials as the titanium used in the hands.
Armillary tourbillon
The lighting reaction of the retrograde hands contrasts with the more stately pace of the armillary tourbillon with a spherical balance spring. The elegantly structured tourbillon operates as a sphere perpetually rotating on two axes under a sapphire crystal dome at9o’clock.It’s called an armillary tourbillon because it is based on an armillary sphere liketh aeon incorporated in an astronomic lock made by the French clockmaker, Antide Janvier, in the 18thcentury.The tourbillon is a visual evocation of the rings and hoops of the ancient Modelo the celestial sphere. The spherical balance spring, which was first developed by Jacques- Frédéric Houriet in 1814 ,is particularly rare into day’s watches. The shape ensures the concentric development of the spring and consequently the isochronism of the balance wheel. The tourbillon carriage, made of lightweight aluminium alloy, incorporates Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese Cross emblem, which forms up every 15 seconds as the tourbillon rotates. This ongoing spectacle may be admired every 30 seconds through as sapphire crystal opening on the side of the case.
High-precision movement
As fascinating Siti for its action and construction, the armillary tourbillon achieved remarkable timekeeping precision. It is fitted with a new type of escapement, developed and made by Vacheron Constant in that has the escape wheel and lever in silicon with diamond pallet stones for resistance to wear and long life. The escapement, made as light weight as possible by the use of high-tech materials, contributes significantly to the performance of this watch, which greatly exceeds the requirement soft he Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute(COSC). This level of precision small the most noteworthy considering a large amount of energy absorbed by the double retrograde indications.
Contemporary styling and finish
Another feature that makes the Maître Cabinotier retrograde armillary tourbillon watch originals the modern styling applied to the architecture and finish of the movement. The calibre 1990 is electro-plated with an NAC treatment in a dark anthracite colour creating the mirror-polished effect. On the dial side, the movement displays its modern architecture with sharply cut bridges tempered by a sunburst satin finishes hand Geneva stripes. The back presents a more conventional look, finished with Geneva stripes making an elegant counterpoint to the contemporary face of this unparalleled watch in the Vacheron Constant in the product range. As an additional token of excellence, the painstaking work of chamfering all the edges took more than 130 hours. The indications show on two dials that partially cover the base plates as to reveal the outlines and contemporary finish of the movement. On the right, their two grade minutes and hours hands describe a semi-circle over a sunburst satin finish punctuated by applied white- gold hour markers and a black minutes scale. Placed symmetrically, the tourbillon carriage carries the seconds pointer around a scale on a silvered disc. The Poinçonde Genève hallmark is exceptionally also engraved on the dial side above the inscription “Armillary Tourbillon” to certify the supreme quality of this timepiece.
