Vacheron Constantin rings in the lunar new year and the season of love

The Zodiac Connection

With Vacheron Constantin’s long association with China – its presence in the country dates back to 1845 – it’s only natural that the luxury Swiss watch brand would commemorate that relationship with a special edition watch that depicts the Chinese zodiac animal of each year.

For the Year of the Dragon, which is just a month away, Vacheron Constantin has unveiled its  Metiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon, a collection that captures the attributes synonymous with this mythical, majestic five-clawed creature: nobility, strength, good luck and success.

Also, as part of a series reflecting the brand’s spirit of openness to discover the world and its wonders, Vacheron Constantin has rolled out in time for the lunar new year the Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery – Dragon. This unique timepiece is an exquisite testament of the brand’s passion for Chinese traditions and design.

The Metiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon is available in two 25-piece limited editions, one in a 950 platinum case (price on request) and one in an 18K 5N pink gold case (S$174,000). Both display the dragon unfurling its mystical aura while grasping a pearl, a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. It’s a meticulously crafted artwork calling upon two rare skills – engraving and enamelling – to produce an incredibly realistic depiction of this fabled beast, right down to its claws and some 300 painstakingly rendered scales.

In the platinum model, the dragon appears on a deep blue Grand Feu enamel dial, matching the watch’s blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap. Similarly, the pink gold watch’s brown Grand Feu enamel dial is coordinated with a brown Mississippiensis alligator strap.

Time on both the hands-free watches is indicated on the dial in four apertures opening onto the trailing hours and minutes, as well as the jumping day-date windows. The watches are powered by a beautifully finished in-house self-winding movement, which is visible through the sapphire crystal at the back of the 40 mm wide case. 

In turn, the Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery – Dragon flaunts a green grisaille enamel dial, a first for Vacheron Constantin and an original backdrop for showcasing the dragon accompanied by its pearl. The green colour reinforces the mythical appearance of the dragon. (“Grisaille” is an enamelling technique dating back to the 16th century. It enhances the dial and highlights the dragon.)

Another first for this one-of-a-kind creation is the combination of grisaille enamel and gem-setting. The 40 mm 18K white gold case sparkles with 146 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, middle and lugs. A reverse-set brilliant-cut diamond adorns the crown.

The dark green alligator strap that goes with the timepiece is also fitted with a white gold pink buckle decked with 16 baguette-cut diamonds.

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The Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery – Dragon (price on request) also stands out with its slimness. Measuring just 8.9 mm thick, the case of this slender timepiece houses a luxuriously decorated and finished automatic movement, Calibre 1120, which is legendary and distinguished by its 2.45 mm ultra-thinness. 

Paired for love on Valentine’s Day

It takes two to love, which is why Vacheron Constantin has watch collections dedicated specifically to him and her. 

Two of them are the latest additions to Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionnelle line, which is a showcase of the brand’s watchmaking legacy. “These are models steeped in history and tradition, endowed with specific stylistic codes that speak of a timeless aesthetic,” says Vacheron Constantin’s Style and Heritage Director Christian Selmoni.

These two Traditionnelle Manual-Winding pieces stand out in a majestic green sunburst dial matched with a deep green Mississippiensis alligator strap. Green is a new colour for the Traditionnelle and reflects Vacheron Constantin’s contemporary approach to classic design. 

Both the watches are encased in 18K 5N pink gold: one features a 38 mm wide case and the other a 33 mm case decked with 54 round-cut diamonds on the bezel. The classic look of the timepieces is instantly recognisable by the slim stepped case middle as well as the railway-type minutes track encircling the dial, swept over by Dauphine-style hands.

The hand-winding in-house movements that keep the watches ticking have a power reserve of 65 hours for the larger model and 42 hours for the smaller one. Price: S$34,100 (38 mm), S$42,600 (33 mm)

The trend of small-sized watches is not lost on Vacheron Constantin. It has rolled out four new references in its sporty Overseas line, in 34.5 mm and 35 mm. These Overseas Self-Winding watches come in steel and 18K 5N pink gold, gem-set and non-set models, with a sunburst blue or pink lacquered dial.

Compared to previous larger models in the collection, the new watches are slimmer and fit more snugly on the wrist. The hours and minutes indications as well as the central seconds and date window are displayed like those of the earlier timepieces, in the same pattern that maintain the harmony of the dial. The minute track on the rim has a velvety finish, creating harmonious light effects with the sunburst satin-brushed decoration on the lacquered dial.

The two models in pink gold and the non-set steel timepiece feature the collection’s iconic blue dial, while the dial of the steel watch set with 90 diamonds has a delicate shade of pink. The hours and minutes hands are coated with Super-LumiNova to ensure legibility in the dark.

All four watches run on a self-winding movement packed with 40 hours’ power reserve. The movement is fitted with a stop-seconds mechanism which provides precise adjustment of the timekeeping functions.

Equipped with a strap interchangeability system, the timepieces may be worn with an integrated metal bracelet (pink gold or steel depending on the case), or a rubber or calfskin strap.

Price: S$84,000 (35 mm pink gold with diamonds), S$74,500 (34.5 mm pink gold), S$43,900 (35 mm steel with diamonds), S$33,300 (34.5 mm steel).