The Dubai Watch Week had already established itself in just a couple of years as an important cultural and educational platform for the watch industry, but this year took things to another level with bigger exhibitions and more space devoted to discussions and presentations. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that Vacheron Constantin chose the event to showcase the first two models of its 2018 collection.
The first model presented was the Traditionnelle Complete Calendar, which follows on in a way from the recently presented Historiques Triple Calendar 1942 and 1948 models. This new stands out as something special, however, since in addition to being in the Traditionnelle collection, it is also part of the prestigious Collection Excellence Platine, which started in 2006. As a result, its case is in the precious metal platinum, but so is its sandblasted dial. A combination of silk and platinum thread is even used for the stitching on the alligator leather strap.
Inside the water-resistant 41 mm-diameter case of the Traditionnelle complete calendar Collection Excellence Platine is the Calibre 2460 QCL, a mechanical self-winding movement entirely developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin. In addition to the central hours and minutes, the movement displays the date centrally by hand as well as the day and month in windows. There is a precision moon phase display at 6 o’clock that requires just one adjustment every 122 years (compared with three years for a simple moon phase). This prestigious timepiece is a 100-piece limited edition.
The impetus given to Vacheron Constantin by the major review of its Overseas collection two years ago continues with the arrival of the new Overseas Dual Time. A new in-house calibre, the 5110 DT, has been developed to allow easy adjustment of the time zones on a watch with a resolutely robust and sporty design, underlined by its water resistance to 150 metres, the screw-down date corrector at 4 o’clock and the three interchangeable straps (leather, rubber and stainless steel) using Vacheron Constantin’s patented changing mechanism that are delivered as standard with the steel models. The home time and dual time can be set by turning the crown at 3 o’clock in either direction, adjusting the local time in one-hour jumps when pulled out to the first position, or the usual home time adjustment when pulled out the second position, adjusting the hours and minutes simultaneously and synchronising the second time zone with it.
The new Overseas Dual Time comes in three versions: two in stainless steel with a choice of blue or silver dials, and one in rose gold with a silver dial.
