Category: Vacheron Constantin Replica

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Vacheron Constantin Replica

Well travelled : Replica Vacheron Constantin’s Patrimony Traditionelle WorldTime

VCPatrimonyTraditionelleWorldTime1

With SIHH 2015 almost upon us and the ever present push to focus on the next new thing, it is important sometimes to sit back and be reminded of replica watches that may have been launched a few years ago (2011, to be precise) but which are still an active and present part of a brand’s collection.

When Vacheron Constantin introduced its Patrimony Traditionnelle WorldTime it was the first mechanical replica watch that told the time in all 37 timezones; that is, you can simultaneously read the time in all regions, along with a day/ night indication courtesy of the shading on the map. Moreover, it was also notable on its release for the fact that there is only one crown for making all adjustments.

In the intervening years this replica watch has proven to be not just popular but also one of Vacheron Constantin’s most identifiable pieces. The display consists of three dials: a sapphire dial with the rotating day/night indication shading (6pm-6am being the darkened area), a metal dial with a Lambert projection map, and a metal chapter ring. To use it, you choose the reference point and put it at the black triangle at 6 o’clock. The time at the reference point can then be read either via the traditional hour or by the 24-hour disc, and the other time zones via the disc. The cities in black text are the full time zones, whilst the cities in red text are half or quarter-hour zones.

Johann Heinrich Lambert was a German/French mathematician and scientist who in 1772 released his Conformal Conic (LCC) projection in his publication Anmerkungen und Zusätze zur Entwerfung der Land- und Himmelscharten.. Today the Lambert Conformal Conic projection has become a standard projection for mapping large areas (small scale) in the mid-latitudes – such as USA, Europe and Australia.

What the LCC does is to set a cone over the Earth’s sphere and project the surface onto the cone, which is then ‘unrolled’ and scaled, with scale decreasing between the two parallels and increasing outside them. You can read more about it here.

Running this small horological masterpiece is the Vacheron Constantin in-house designed/ developed/ manufactured Calibre 2460WT automatic movement with a gold oscillating weight, 28,800 VPH and a forty-hour power reserve. At a hefty 36.60mm, this means that the replica watch itself is 42.5mm, a size which is really quite moderate by contemporary standards.

This original World Time was in 18k pink gold but as mentioned recently, the Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time is now available in platinum, as part of Vacheron’s ‘Collection Excellence Platine’. Launched at Replica Watches & Wonders 2014, this will no doubt be welcome news for the white metal lovers.

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Vacheron Constantin Replica

PHOTOS : Replica Vacheron Constantin’s FabuleuxOrnements

VCMetiersdArtFabuleuxOrnementsIndianMS3

Earlier this year I featured wonderful replica Vacheron Constantin’s Fabuleux Ornements collection which debuted at SIHH 2014. Recently I had the opportunity, with thanks to Vacheron Constantin Australia, of looking at these stunning replica watches at greater leisure here in Sydney, and so I bring to you some more photos of these works of art. For more information on them, click on the link above.

CHINESE EMBROIDERY GLYPTICS

OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE

A movement shot.

INDIAN MANUSCRIPT

Last but not least, French Lace, a piece for which, seeing it again (and yes, under a loupe), I developed a new appreciation.

These are some of my favourite 2014 releases, and if you look at them under a loupe (I used a Loupe System), it brings a whole new level of realisation of the immense skill and artistry involved in the handwork that has gone into each replica watch. The angles on the Ottoman piece, when seen close up, are astonishing. These are deeply elegant replica watches but more importantly, they are realisations of often unheralded artisans. If you get the opportunity to look at these limited edition pieces, grab it.

Unfortunately, they are not available in Australia, but are POA in Vacheron Constantin boutiques worldwide.

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Vacheron Constantin Replica

Replica Vacheron Constantin Malte TourbillonOpenworked

VCMalteOpenworkTourbillonPlat5

Recently, Horologium blogged about the fake Vacheron Constantin Malte Tourbillon Openworked, one of the pieces launched at SIHH 2014. The photos used in that post were part of many that were taken of Vacheron’s releases during the rather frantic ten or fifteen minutes following a press sesion. As such, they perhaps had the frisson of being immediate, but suffered from the lighting and timing conditions at the time.

Recently, with thanks to Vacheron Constantin Australia, I had the opportunity to revisit some of this year’s releases in slightly more relaxing surrounds, albeit with a distracting view of Sydney Harbour from the Royal Suite at the Shangri La competing for attention, so today’s post consists of some more detailed photos of this new replica watch, and another chance to see the incredible openworking.

To read more about this platinum piece, with its incredible skeletonised movement, read my original post here. The Australian RRP is $319,900.

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Vacheron Constantin Replica

Replica Vacheron Constantin introduces 4 limited editions for Moscow Boutique Opening

Vacheron Constantin has just opened a new boutique in Moscow. As the brand traditionally does when opening a new flagship store, new limited editions are being introduced. They did it for the Parisian boutique with a series of very nice pink gold and guilloche-dial replica watches and with the very stylish 1972 Prestige. For their new Russian store, VC is coming with black dials for 4 of their most iconic models.

The recently opened boutique (20 June 2014) is located in the Russian capital city and offers 352 square meters in which to discover and enjoy the whole collection of Vacheron Constantin in a very pleasant setting; the space is beautifully appointed in every detail, as is every VC boutique – we can attest to the boutiques’ atmosphere, especially having been recently inside the Parisian boutique to have some hands-on time with a stunning vintage chronograph.

Vacheron Constatin moscow 6
Ribbon Cutting in Front of the Moscow Boutique

Vacheron Constantin now delights us with 4 limited editions of existing replica watches, presented in white metals with a black dial – a colour combination quite unusual for Vacheron Constantin dress replica watches, which we are used to seeing in pink or yellow gold with bright dials.

The first model we’ll look at is a mighty Traditionnelle Calibre 2253. This Grande Complication replica watch is equipped with no less than a tourbillon, a 14-day power reserve, a perpetual calendar, an equation of time as well as sunrise and sunset times for the city of Moscow. It comes in a 44mm platinum case with an onyx black dial. The movement is adorned with the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva (Poinçon de Genève), which is an independent and sovereign guarantee of workmanship. The Calibre 2253 represents the highest level of precision, complexity and finishing of Vacheron Constantin (and of all the replica watch industry). Only one very lucky owner will be able to enjoy this beauty as it’s a unique edition.

Vacheron Constatin moscow 5

The second replica watch being presented is a 30-piece limited edition of the very elegant Patrimony Perpetual Calendar. This replica watch comes in an 18K white gold 41mm case with a black opaline domed dial. It features the automatic Calibre 1120QP, a movement known to be very well finished (Hallmark of Geneva) but also very thin, as it measures only 4mm deep. The replica watch itself is only 8.90mm thick.

Vacheron Constatin moscow 3

The opening of the Moscow Boutique also brings back to us the very nice and modern Patrimony Retrograde day and date in a 20-piece limited edition; this one comes with an 18K white gold case and a black opaline dial. The Patrimony Retrograde has something special in its layout, with 2 retrograde indications – one in the centre for the date and one at 6 for the day. This replica watch represents the contemporary and less conservative side of Vacheron Constantin.

Vacheron Constatin moscow 4

The last edition brought forth is a 30-piece edition of the Traditionnelle that comes here with a very nice hand-guilloché slate-grey dial in a 41mm 18K white gold case. The very fine geometric pattern of the dial is inspired by the façade of Moscow’s main attraction, the Kremlin (house of the Russian Government). The Traditionnelle features the extra-thin (2.45mm thick) self-winding Calibre 1120 (for connoisseurs: that’s the non-date version of calibre 2121, as used in the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.)

Vacheron Constatin moscow 2

Last but not least, all of the replica watches are delivered with a pair of cufflinks in 18K white gold matching the dial of the timepiece. These limited editions and the opening of the new Russian Boutique could be a good reason to have a nice summer trip to Moscow, don’t you think?

More info on Vacheron-Constantin.com

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HANDS-ON :Replica Vacheron Constantin Malte TourbillonOpenworked

VCMalteOpenworkTourbillonPlat3

Earlier this year we covered the new Métiers d’Art Fabuleux Ornements replica watches from Vacheron Constantin, featuring some of Vacheron’s delicate open-working skills. Aside from these, there was a general theme focusing on new open-work replica watches at SIHH 2014, and one of the skeletonised centrepieces was the Malte Tourbillon Openworked.

This is not the first openworked Malte Tourbillon, but the tonneau-shaped Cal. 2790 SQ (‘SQ’ for ‘squelette’ i.e. skeletonised) is new, with tourbillon, power reserve and date functions. The Cal. 2790 SQ measures 27.37mm x 29.30mm x 6.10mm and is in a Platinum 950 case measuring 38mm x 48.24mm x 12.73mm. It has a 45 hour power reserve.

Not only is the movement skeletonised, but it also features a significant amount of engraving – if you look carefully you will see that there are lots of triangles and rectangles, as well as ‘Vacheron Constantin’, and both a small Vacheron Maltese Cross and the shaping of the tourbillon cage as the same cross. The hand-engraving work for each replica watch takes almost a week to complete.

A rather modern feature of the skeleton Malte Tourbillon is the sapphire dial, onto which the date, power reserve and sub-seconds are printed – the date is at two o’clock and the power reserve display, at ten o’clock. You might not see them all them at first glance, especially the power reserve indicator, but if you look at the dial more closely, or at an agle,  you will be able to see it.

I acknowledge that skeletonised replica watches are not to everyone’s taste, especially for those who want a quickly legible dial on which they can see the time at a glance out of the corner of their eye. For them, and for those who prefer simple clean dials, this, and any other openwork piece, will not be for them. The Malte cases have a strong presence, and so it is with this replica watch.  If you are familiar with the line, then you will already know how it feels on the wrist, but if not, it’s large but sits slim and low.

Regardless of whether skeletonisation is your ‘thing’ or not, there is no denying the immense skill that goes into the beautifully detailed skeletonising of a movement, so even if this is not the luxury replica watch for you, you might find it interesting to read more about how Vacheron approach this art here on their website .

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Vacheron Constantin Replica

Retrograde Dreams For An Elegant And Very Wearable Timepiece

Recently, I blogged about a replica watch that didn’t quite match expectations in the translation from photo to the physical replica watch. As a counterpoint, I thought that I’d blog about a replica watch that I fell in love with in photos, and which has happily shown itself to be every bit as desirable and beautiful in the metal – Vacheron Constantin’s Patrimony Contemporaine Bi-retrograde (Reference: 86020/000R-9239).

Yes I know that it’s not a new replica watch, but it’s still in production, and it’s on my ‘dream list’.

The Contemporaine line probably lends itself to appealing more to conservative or traditional tastes, generally speaking, so in a way a retrograde design is almost borderline adventurous. The Bi-retrograde model comes in rose gold and platinum versions. As someone who prefers white metals, the latter would probably be my first choice, but this RG one is still quite stunning, and I’d wear it in a heartbeat. It has a simple, slender round case, gold triangular hour markers, gold dots to mark minutes; and a dial that is slightly curved. The retrograde date display is in the top half of the dial, the day of the week display in the bottom half, both tracing an arc of nearly 180 degrees.

If you turn it over, there’s a sapphire open caseback which reveals Vacheron’s Ref.2460 movement, which they regards as a descendant of their well-known and well regarded automatic Cal.1120 that they introduced in the 1960s. Calibre 1120 itself is a version of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Calibre 920. The movement is 5.40mm thick with 283 parts, 27 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 VPH and an approximately 40 hour power reserve.

The functions are few – hours, minutes, retrograde calendar, day of the week. The retrograde hands, with white triangular tips, flick back to their starting positions in less than 1/10 of a second.

With a case size of 42.5mm and a thickness of 10.10mm, it’s an elegant and very wearable replica timepiece that looks large but sits very comfortably, and smaller than you’d think. I love retrogrades, and particularly like the symmetry and balance of the Patrimony’s dial. The silvered opaline finish gives the dial an additional bit of tonal softness. I know that it’s still relatively early days yet, but I’ll hazard a guess that this becomes a long term classic for Vacheron.

There’s a special buzz when you try on a replica watch that you fell in love with in a photo and realise that yes, it really is that nice. Now, just let me get back to my horological ‘dream list’ …

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Replica Vacheron Constantin RoyalChronometer

HISTORY

The term ‘chronometer’ was coined by English replica watchmaker and writer Jeremy Thacker in 1714 in his pamphlet ‘The Longitudes Examin’d’ for clocks used to calculate longitude on marine voyages.  He invented a marine chronometer, a clock encased within a vacuum chamber that protected the movement from the inevitable effects of humidity and atmospheric pressure.


Thacker’s Chronometer

Unfortunately, it was a failure as a chronometer.

Accurate to six seconds a day, it fell somewhat short of the three seconds a day required to win the £20,000 first offered by the English Board of Longitude in the same year (1714) to anyone who could solve the problem of establishing the longitude of a ship at sea.

Thacker was thus condemned to the historical shadows of John Harrison, who also managed to score a ranking of 39 in the BBC’s 2002 poll of ‘100 Greatest Britons’ for his achievements, something which I am sure, had he been able to discover this from an alternate universe in which he was still alive in 2002, would have mollified him somewhat for his lifetime’s worth of horological trials.

Clockmaker John Harrison (24 March 1693 – 24 March 1776) presented his first attempt at a marine chronometer in 1730. It was his H5 ‘pocket’ chronometer, produced in 1772, and accurate to one-third of a second per day, which solved the problem of establishing the longitude of a ship at sea, thus revolutionising and extending the possibility of safe long distance sea travel, and earning him the title of ‘The Father of Longitude’.By the time of the H5’s public unveiling, he had been working on the chronometer problem since 1730.

Harrison’s Chronometer H5

(Collection of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers)

In 1773, Harrison received £8,750 from Parliament for his achievements, after the direct intervention of George III.  He appealed directly to the King, and in 1772 Harrison’s son William was summoned to an audience with the King. George III is reported to have said: “By God, Harrison, I will see you righted!”.

Until the advent and implementation of global satellite navigation, an accurate chronometer was essential for marine and air navigation.

VACHERON CONSTANTIN ROYAL CHRONOMETER

Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) defines a chronometer as “a high-precision replica watch capable of displaying the seconds and housing a movement that has been tested over several days, in different positions and at different temperatures, by an official neutral body (COSC).”

Since 1973 the term ‘chronometer’ has designated a replica watch having successfully passed the COSC trials.

Launched in 1907, Vacheron Constantin’s Chronomètre Royal has most notably been recognised in recent years through VC’s celebration, in 2007, of its centenary with the Chronomètre Royal 1907.

For a comprehensive history of Vacheron’s Chronomètres, see Alex Ghotbi’s brilliant post at The Hour Lounge.

The example below dates from the 1960s.  In 1962 VC’s manual calibres 1007 and 1008 were replaced by calibre 1072, making it Vacheron Constantin’s first automatic calibre with COSC certification.

Cal 1070: automatic with small seconds, no date
Cal 1071: automatic with central seconds
Cal 1072: as cal 1071 but with date
Cal 1072/1: as 1072 but with Gyromax.

 Vacheron Constantin “Royal Chronometer”
SPECIFICATIONS :

Caliber : 1702
Jewels : 29
Metal : 0.750 18ct WG
Case :  Two-body, solid, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, horn lugs, caseback engraved with the Maltese cross and “Chronomètre Royal”.
Dial : Original silver dial with diamond set in Maltese Cross
Diameter : 35mm
Thickness : 12mm

Although 35mm is small by today’s standards, where a minimum of 40mm seems  almost de rigueur, the Ref. 6694 does not seem particularly small when worn.

The idea behind the Chronomètre was that of a legible precision instrument robust enough for everyday use. With its distinctive case design clearly indicating its 1960s origins, this uncommon replica watch is a deceptively elegant functional piece, with a wink to frivolity courtesy of the discreet diamond in the Maltese Cross.

When I first saw this replica watch (which has some signs of age discolourisation on the dial) I admit that it didn’t grab my attention in quite the way that it grabbed its owner’s, but as I spent some more time looking at it, in reading about the history, and in looking back at the photos, I was struck foremost by how much I missed in terms of appreciating the design of the case and secondly, of its historical interest as a timepiece. I suspect I’d like it a bit more if it didn’t have the diamond, which I find a bit incongruous.

Like it though I may, if presented with the choice of two chronometers, this Ref. 6694 and a Chronomètre Royal 1907, I have to confess that I’d chose the latter in a heartbeat, I can’t resist a beautiful ‘red 12’!

A final thought – over a million official chronometer certificates are delivered each year, representing only 3% of the Swiss replica watch production.