Vacheron Constantin – SIHH04

The highlight of VC’s announcement this year was their tribute to famous explorers. Two explorers were honored this year – Fernand de Megallan and Zheng He, and is part of a series intended for 8.

 

The dial is an extraordinary rendering of the land and sea which were explored by these famous gentlemen in fine enamel work. Housed in the Patrimony case, the enamel dial is made of two pieces, showing a map continuing from one level to the next, requiring additional precision in the firing of the enamel.  This is particularly difficult execution is magnificient, and very beautiful.

 

Shown left is the Zheng Ho, limited to 240 pieces. The Megallan is also limited to 240 pieces, as will the other 6 explorer Patrimonys to be released in the future.

The movement is a special execution of a tried and tested VC self winding movement.

 

Dubbed the VC caliber 1126AT, the movement features an hour wheel which has 3 arms, each fitted with a satellite carrying 4 numerals, whose position is controlled by a cam shaped like a Maltese cross. This wheel rotates, so as to position in turn, each of the satellites bearing the appropriate hour figure at the gap between the two parts of the dial. After the Malteze cross cam has positioned the satellite to insert the correct hour figure in the dial gap, the hour wheel drives clockwise during the course of the hour, causing the hour marker to glide across the minute markers so marked on the lower dial.

 

Technical specs:

 

Movement                      caliber 1126AT, selfwinding, with auxiliary mechanism controlling a cyclical display of mobile hour figures over a 120° strip of dial

Movement thickness            7,20 mm

Movement diameter             26.00 mm, or 11 1/2 lines

Movement jewelling            36

Frequency                     28 800 b.p.h.

Power reserve                 40 hours

Case                          18K yellow gold, Ø 39 mm

Water resistance              to 30 m (~ 100 feet)

Dial                          two-part 22K gold, with full-fired decorative enamelling entirely executed by hand in the traditional fashion    

 

Megallen on the left, Zheng Ho on the right.

 

 

 

Malte Chronograph

 

Also new this year was beautiful new chronograph in Malte case. Based on the handwound calibre 1141, which seems to be based on the column wheel Lemania base, the movement is beautifully finished.

 

The dial is in a pale silver finish, center engine-turned by hand. This special engine-turning method allows a very beautiful pattern to be traced, and gives the dial a paper-like texture.

 

 

 

Patrimony Grande Taille

 

This year also saw the enlarging of the cases in VC. The 1972 now assumes a case dimension of 40mm. Beating inside the very classic and traditional case is the calber 1400 hand wound movement.

 

 

© Copyright Peter Chong 2004