Watch of the Week: Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Complete Calendar Openface

Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionelle Complete Calendar gets a contemporary revamp that aligns with the luxury Swiss watch manufacturer’s 18th century watchmaking tradition.

Photo Credit: Vacheron Constantin

Evidence of the Traditionelle Complete Calendar Openface’s classical inspiration lies in its round case which features a fluted back, its railway minute-track, as well as its Dauphine-type hands. That said, the model also adopts an avant-garde profile.

Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionelle collection honors the spirit of Geneva’s watchmakers during the Age of Enlightenment. Two bold new models with a highly sophisticated style and a complete calendar make their way into the esteemed collection. Framed by a 41 mm case in 18K white gold or 18K 5N pink gold, they appear in an openface version with a sapphire dial. This transparency brings out the details of Caliber 2460 QCL/2, which adopts a contrasting anthracite grey color achieved by NAC galvanic treatment. Reminiscent of the Traditionelle Twin Beat perpetual calendar model presented in 2019, this new interpretation combines contemporary style and watchmaking heritage.

Photo Credit: Vacheron Constantin

The characteristic features of the Traditionelle collection embed these two models firmly in the watchmaking heritage of the Maison. The mechanical power is highlighted by the opening onto the movement structure. Surrounded by a slate grey opaline flange on which a central hand points to the date, the upper part of the sapphire crystal dial features a likewise slate grey guilloché segment as well as applied gold hour-markers. The moon-phase disc has two realistic transferred depictions of Earth’s satellite and is covered by a translucent sapphire mask. This airy construction provides a chance to admire the various movement components, including the bridges and mainplate featuring an original vertical upright finish on the front.

Photo Credit: Vacheron Constantin

At the heart of these two new timepieces is Caliber 2460 QCL/2 with its 312 components. This caliber is a direct evolution of the first self-winding movement designed by Vacheron Constantin, the 2450. Equipped with a stop-seconds mechanism, it beats at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and is endowed with a 40-hour power reserve. In addition to its triple calendar indications, it provides a precision moon phase display requiring only one correction every 122 years. The caseback reveals all the finishes one would expect from an Haute Horlogerie movement, with a circular-grained mainplate, chamfered bridges and Côtes de Genève motif. These two models are water-resistant to 30 meters and are fitted with a calfskin-lined grey alligator strap secured by a pink or white gold pin buckle.

Photo Credit: Vacheron Constantin