Five models, five colours, five motifs symbolising the world of high-quality fabrics: a fascinating narrative thread is woven through the new Métiers d’Art collection by Vacheron Constantin. This collection draws inspiration from the world of the masculine wardrobe. However, instead of literally interpreting this domain, such as by making a dial from a given material as some others may choose to do with leather, lace or silk, Vacheron Constantin has leveraged its dial-making skills and its integrated guillochage workshop, where the brand generally has its one-of-a-kind or special series made.
This small atelier on the ground floor of the Geneva-basd Manufacture will be in charge of crafting the dials for this series. The watch faces on these models are composed of three elements. The first is an engraved white medallion bearing a motif inspired by the language of ties and pocket squares, rimmed with mother-of-pearl. Fitted over this subdial are hours and minutes hands driven by the ultra-thin, small-sized Caliber 1400 that powers this entire collection bearing the Hallmark of Geneva.
The second element composes the rest of the dial and is adorned with one of five hand-guilloché patterns. Herringbone, Prince of Wales check, pin stripes, tartan or windowpane: these are some of the essential features of masculine attire. They are coated with a translucent coloured enamel and fired at high temperatures. The motifs stand out more or less strikingly depending on the chosen enamel colour, but all of them are extremely refined. The red is a raspberry burgundy shade; the lavender blue resembles a soft mauve yet without being feminine. The linen colour resembles gold. The taupe hue is a grey warmed by a touch of chestnut brown and without the neutral gravitas of a suit-type grey, while the azure blue is both deep and vibrant. Lastly, the third element is the rim of each dial, graced with another guilloché motif and reminiscent of a hem.
To create this new collection of Métiers d’Art watches, Vacheron Constantin has called upon the expertise of several elegant talents. The first is Christian Selmoni, Artistic Director of Vacheron Constantin, a savvy dresser whose penchant for motifs led him to dream up this collection. “We wanted to create something that matched the sartorial philosophy we cherish”, he explains. The second belongs to Vitale Barberis Canonico, a prestigious Italian fabric producer with a 350-year-old history, which provided the source of inspiration for the dials. It also supplied the length of fabric that Vacheron Constantin gifts with each watch, available exclusively from the brand’s own-name boutiques. Each customer can have the cloth made up into the garment of his choice. One thing is for sure: this watch is not destined to exist in splendid isolation, but rather as an integral part of a resolutely tailor-made approach embodied in its name: Élégance sartoriale.
