Vacheron Constantin

In writing about the Historiques Ultra-fine 1968 and in thinking about the idea of an ultra thin movement being its own complication, I concluded that there is an inherent desirability to the caliber 1120 and thus the watches in which Vacheron Constantin historically and currently employs it. As a collector of Vacheron Constantin watches I have paid just as much attention to the movements inside the watches I pursue as I do to the cases, dials, and their respective conditions, and some of my favorites have been powered by the 1120. This movement has proven itself for over 40 years of service, is extremely attractive, and is exclusive, as only Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin have access to the ebauche.


 
Being thin, this caliber is well suited for skeletonization, and no one makes a finer openworked watch than Vacheron Constantin. In this photo, the caliber 1120 is in the watch on the right of this pair of diamond set Patrimony Traditionnelle watches:


 
Being thin also makes the movement an attractive base for driving complications. In the past, the 1120 has been the base of the Mercator, one of Vacheron Constantin's most iconic watches of the past twenty years:





as well as the Heure Sautante and Saltarello, a pair of elegant and minimalistic Jump Hour watches.


 
In 1986 Vacheron Constantin introduced its first perpetual calendar wristwatch and this basic movement is still used today. I was the lucky owner of an early skeletonized example:


Vacheron Constantin has updated that design for use in both the Patrimony Traditionnelle QP openworked watch:



and for the Patrimony Contemporaine QP, just introduced at SIHH, which I find to be supremely elegant:

 
Harking back to the early days of the caliber 1120, it is used in the Historiques Ultra-fine 1968:


 
The most recent design to use the caliber 1120 is the limited edition Excellence Platine Patirmony Contemporatine, featuring a 42 mm platinum case and a sand-blasted platinum dial.


 

There are many references from Vacheron Constantin that use the caliber 1120 that were not part of this survey, including many simple vintage dress watches that can be had for a very reasonable financial outlay. If have a favorite watch with this caliber, please share it in this thread.

As I said at the beginning, one could build a great collection of watches based on just this caliber. If you could only have one 1120-watch in your collection, which model would you choose? And could you or would you really keep yourself to having just one watch with this movement?

 
Bill
 

This is a very tough question, Bill...

Between the QP Skeleton and the Mercator, I'm waving... Both?

Great article, Bill.

Now, I have to hunt my first VC...

Best,

Nicolas.

it's hard to stop at just one when it comes to Vacheron Constantin!

Bill

and so this is my little beauty with cal 1120.  It is a ref. 7592 from 1978.  It is 33.5mm in diameter - which is fine for my skinny wrist.










My collection centers around some of the best, most noteworthy, VC movements.  So cal 1120 had to be a part of it.  But I do think it is important for it to have a Gyromax balance because I believe that the movement was originally designed with one.

While I do love the Huere Sautante and Mercator designs, I don't expect to get another watch with the same movement.  Limited budget and too many beautiful choices from VC that are higher on my list (including cal 1003/3).
 
BR, Dan

 

This message has been edited by dshao1 on 2011-09-30 03:37:52

Your 1120 watch is lovely.

BIll

but for my better half! Did you get a chance to see the newest offering?

ref 81530 this week. It is gorgeous! There is also a new ladies Malte model with caliber 1400 that I like.

Bill

Though I would want mine to be all stainless steel!

Bill

Thank you for this survey.  You know how unoriginal I am in my admiration for this movement.  I feel fortunate to have its sister 2121 in my Royal Oak, and my experience with the caliber is outstanding.  I would love to have another piece in my collection equipped with the VC cal.1120 or AP cal. 2120/2121. 

I did not realize how widely the 1120 had been used among the many VC watches over the years (e.g., the Mercator, Saltarello and others).  I love its use in the Historiques 1968 -- what is so lovely is the use of an "historiques" caliber in this watch from the Historiques line.  It is wonderful that this caliber is still in use after more than 40 years.  So, since VC debuted the cal 1120 in 1968, was that caliber used in the reference 7614 on which the Historiques 1968 is based?  Or did VC make the decision to base the current model on a historical reference ans d use the famous caliber from the same year?  I re-read your recent post on the 1968 but I am unclear about the caliber used in that reference from 1968.

That 1968 looks damn fine on your wrist, by the way.

Well, I will have good dreams tonight, no doubt.

Best always,

respo

Sorry for the lack of clarity in my article.

Bill

At least as far as I am concerned.  It is amazing to me that a model in the Historiques line uses the same caliber as in the original reference.  Wonderful!

Thanks for clarifying, Bill

No message body This message has been edited by peregrino on 2011-09-30 15:01:10

nt

No message body This message has been edited by peregrino on 2011-10-01 01:46:25

I certainly admire the pride, even smugness, that JLC fans have for their reputation as the watchmaker's watchmaker.  However, the development of the caliber 1120 ultra-thin movement didn't spring independently from JLC, nor did they develop the movement then shop it around to other brands. 

You may recall that in 1938 V&C and JLC merged and for almost fifty years shared movement development facilities through their SAPIC holding company.  Under the leadership of ex-JLC marketiing director Georges Ketterer, V&C exploited this resource to develop both the caliber 1003 and 1120 through SAPIC, which Audemars Piguet also aquired through their 40% ownership of JLC.  Jaeger-LeCoultre was, in this case, a sub-contractor. 

The one element that characterizes the Swiss watch industry best IMHO are the "wheels within wheels", just like a gear train!  The Ketterer family were major shareholders in both JLC and VC until the Yamani sale in 1986.  AP only divested their share of JLC to Richemont in 2000.  Today it is entirely legitimate to compare these brands as rivals but I find it ironic to transpose this competition into the past when they were, in fact, brothers

I always enjoy your history lessons, Dean.

I still wonder about the arrangement that brought PP briefly into the project.  Was it in exchange for their patent rights to the Gyromax balance?

No message body

The everlasting discussion about what qualifies as an inhouse movement, or not, is always interesting, especially today as it is even more important when it comes to the buyers perception of the brand and its competence, technically speaking. I am certainly not a certified watchmovement historian so I prefer to quote (regarding the above mentioned movement);

I am not aware of any car manufacturer that is vertically integrated but it is an interesting parallelism.

most appreciated all around.

Have you ventured into this caliber with a VC watch (yet)?

Bill

e

my friend

Hope all is fine with you.

Oliver

Thanks for another great read, Bill.

I even owned a vintage Jumbo at one point.

I'm still enthralled with the black dial Boutique 81180 like you have. But that is a different caliber...

Bill

nt