Vacheron Constantin

I did not travel to Geneva this year to witness the introduction of Vacheron Constantin’s 2013 novelties, instead waiting  for the novelties to come to me (or at least to enter the country on the carnet case). I traveled down to NY in late April to lunch with some fellow PuristS and collectors before heading up to the boutique to experience in person a selection of the novelties with Hyla Bauer, Vacheron Constantin’s Public Relations Manager.

While the focus of Vacheron Constantin’s 2013 collection is dedicated to women, with gorgeous pieces in the Malte, Patrimony Contemporaine, Patrimony Traditionnelle, and the Metier d'Art Florilege collections, there were a few men's pieces announced that are obviously much more to my taste. The three watches that have captured attention are the 1972 Prestige de la France, the Patrimony Contemporaine Pocket watch in rose gold, and the Patrimony Traditionnelle in platinum with gray dial.

While the 1972 Prestige and Patrimony Pocket Watch are rather specialized products which will be produced in limited numbers, the Patrimony Traditionnelle is a variation on a current classic, introduced in rose gold in 2009, and in white gold the following year, and which sells very well for the brand.

The case is 38 mm in diameter and retains all the design motifs of the Traditionnelle family: the lateral line along the sides of the polished case which continues on to the sculpted lug; knurled case back; Dauphine hands with half polished, half frosted finish; and railroad track minutes along the outer ring of the dial in a different hue from the main dial.


For the past few years Vacheron Constantin has been outfitting gray dials with platinum cased watches, giving them a separate and distinct characteristic from the silver dials that are partnered with white gold watches, something that only aficionados would recognize.


It is a subtle display of high luxury, appealing to those who wish to remain discreet while also being a versatile and fashionable choice for wear.

With this platinum watch, both the movement and the case will be engraved with the Geneva Hallmark, signifying the updated, more stringent requirements that a watch must fulfill to obtain the seal. The beautifully designed and finished Vacheron Constantin calibre 4400, now in production for five years, has also proven to be a reliable workhorse for the brand.


With a retail value of $34,000, I also like the fact that the platinum Patrimony Traditionnelle is the list expensive of the three gentlemen’s novelties this year. I have two questions for the forum:

What’s not to like?

Which one of you is going to be the first to get it?


Bill
VC Forum Moderator

 

just perfection to my eyes. Definitely on top of my 2013 wish list

Cheers and thank you Bill.

Francois

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In fact,I would also love to see a gray strap on the piece as well!

It has, in fact, distrubed his entire day!

Arrrgggghhhh!

 

Kind regards,

respo

it might be agonizing for you, but it sure is fun for the outside observer!

Bill

And if they all get together in reality you know you have a PuristS gathering.

Bill

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No question!  That is my favorite 2013 release, as well.  No question in my mind at all.

Thank you for taking and posting that photo of the two gray dials together.  That is the family portrait I have been hoping to see.  And now that I have seen it, I am not sure it has helped the situation.  :-/   It has certainly added fuel to a fire that was already burning strong.

The Traditionnelle and the Contemporaine have such different personalities even while the dials share the same striking color.  I adore them both.

I wonder how the gray dials will do for VC.  I recall the gray dial Patrimony Contemporaine being greeted with great enthusiasm in 2010 when it was launched, and likewise I am feeling that same kind of love among collectors and Vacheronistas for the gray dial PT.  But I cannot recall a single owner sharing his gray PC on the forums yet. I think that these models are not out of line in pricing for platinum watches at this level of finishing.  They are certainly priced at a premium compared to their gold brethren in the Patrimony lines, but these are platinum, so that is to be expected.  I don't think VC charges a premium for the gray dial v. the silver/white dial in platinum case.  Perhaps it is a matter of the gray dial appealing to a much more limited audience.  Or perhaps, as you suggested, these are watches for those who wish to remain discrete even while wearing a sophisticated, luxurious watch like these. In any case, I have a sense that these gray dial platinum models are and will remain quite rare.  I am guessing that the production numbers on these will be low.

Well, I am just rambling to distract myself from the sad, sad truth that I want one of these -- BADLY!

Thanks (I guess) for posting these photos.  You are an evil man, Bill.  ;-)

All best,

respo

 

and I think it true here as well. Were I to recommend a nice watch for someone who isn't a collector, I would steer them to a silver dialed timepiece. I think gray dials are for collectors who might be looking for something different than the silver dial standard. That is to say, it is perfect for someone like you.

Bill

...Jut one question, what is the current USD retail for the Traditionelle in PG (the version I have)?

have a retail value of $19,900.

Bill

What's not to like...

Rose, white, or platinum. Something for everyone. I'd still choose the 1921 over it.

Bill

It has a much longer list of attributes.  And retail in gold is so much higher.   So, a little unfair. But for us VC lovers, our need list is very long!

Regarding the 1921.  Here we are talking the same caliber powering both the PT and the1921, and the platinum PT and the 1921 are nearly the same price.  And I agree with you both.  I would choose the 1921 first, but the follow it up with a gray PT chaser.  ;-)

I'll drink to that.  

I do like the 1921, it's so radically different, that it makes everything else look almost ordinary.  

8800 for the Middle Kingdom Market 

Cheers Patrick

Francois

I hope it's international global rename, as I live in the United States.  

I have seen both and both are stunning. I do love that combination. But I confess, I do prefer the Contemporaine. I find the simplicity of the dial more to my taste.
If I did not already have one (WG, black dial, LE for Austria and Germany), I would be looking for one.
But as you know I have other fish to fry (j'ai d'autres chats a fouetter) LOL!
Best,
Joseph

I can't answer your second question, Bill, but I wish I could