Vacheron Constantin has announced the first skeletonised watch with a tourbillon in its Overseas collection.
Although Overseas is known as Vacheron’s “sports” line, as with everything produced by one of the oldest watch manufacturers in the world, as well as one of the most exclusive, all things are relative.
The new watch comes in two versions, one in 18k pink gold and one in Grade 5 Titanium. The latter is the first Vacheron Constantin watch to be completely made out of the metal, including the bezel and the crown.
The watch's 186-component movement has been slimmed down and made lighter, to accommodate the tourbillon carriage at 6 o’clock. The baseplate and the bridges have been specially treated to give them an anthracite grey tint, while fine guilloché engraving work has been carried out on the dial. The hour-markers are in rhodium-plated 18K pink gold or 18K white gold, depending on the model.
There’s even a miniature enamel painting depicting a ship “tossed around by a stormy sea streaked with lightening” in there somewhere.
The brand says every component has been reworked and finished by hand, as is typical of Vacheron's portfolio and its exacting über-luxury standards.
The case is 42.5mm and the watch has a power reserve of around 80 hours.
More another beguiling work of extreme artisanship than something you might kick a football around wearing, it does come with two strap options, one leather – and one rubber.
Which is possibly as “sports” as you’d like to get with it.
£160,000 for the pink gold version; £137,000 for the titanium. vacheron-constantin.com
