After visiting with Vacheron Constantin in April to see the 2013 novelties from SIHH in New York, I stated that my favorite watch from Vacheron Constantin this year was the Patrimony Traditionnelle in platinum with gray dial (It still is). I had taken photographs of the watch but they did not come out as well as I would have hoped. I finally got the opportunity to photograph this watch again and to much better effect.

The basic Patrimony Traditionnelle (Reference 82172) and Patrimony Contemporaine (Reference 81180) are two of the brand’s best selling watches, and it shouldn’t be any surprise why. Each in its own way expresses the brand’s ability to combine flawless aesthetics with technical excellence in the most minimalistic way possible.

The two hands of the Contemporaine may be one hand too little for some collector: some like to see movement on the dial by way of a running seconds hand, and the Traditionnelle provides this.


I have been a fan of gray toned dials for long enough now to think that this is not just a short term fad. The Overseas models in stainless steel with titanium bezels still excite me just as much today as they did when they first came out about five years ago. I also appreciate that for the Contemporaine and Traditionnelle collections, the gray dial is limited only to platinum cased watches. When it comes to the gold models I have a preference for the Contemporaine design over that of the Traditionnelle, but in comparing the gray dial, platinum cased models, my preference leans toward the Traditionnelle:


The combination of the gray dial with the white gold baton hands is too monochromatic in the Contemporaine. Not so with the Traditionnelle, since the Dauphine hands have a half high polish and half frosted finish, giving a much better contrast of the hands over the dial. The dial has two tones of gray as well as a recessed small seconds circle, giving the dial more texture and depth.

I’ll never get tired of looking at the calibre 4400 (and note that the Geneva Hallmark is on both the case and movement).


The case of the Traditionnelle is beautifully proportioned and the design elements are pleasing to my eye. While quite simple looking from a straight on viewing angle, interest is gained by looking at the case from an angle and noticing the texture of the lateral line along the flanks of the case, the shape of the lugs, and knurling on the case back.


Needless to say, it looks great on the wrist as well!!


The platinum Patrimony Traditionnelle is an outstanding addition to the Traditionnelle collection. I hope you all get to see one in person soon.

Bill
VC Forum Moderator