Vacheron Constantin Malte Tourbillon Openworked

— A fresh interpretation in rose gold of the Malte Tourbillon Openworked revealed in 2014.

 

Two new pink gold creations are joining The Malte collection and its creations featuring a tonneau shape case, contemporary lines and a pure, understated display. A few days ago, we unveiled the Malte Moon Phase and Power Reserve model. Today, let's discover the Malte Tourbillon Openworked timepiece.

In 2014, Vacheron Constantin created Caliber 2790 SQ, a skeletonised barrel-shaped caliber, for the Malte Tourbillon Openworked in a platinum case. The collection is now joined by a Malte Tourbillon Openworked model with an 18K 5N pink gold case.

Malte Tourbillon Openworked, rose gold. © Vacheron Constantin

This new creation bearing the Hallmark of Geneva is a rare occurrence in the Fine Watchmaking world. Its curved 38 x 48.24 mm pink gold case frames an entirely openworked and hand-engraved barrel-shaped tourbillon movements, enhanced by an imposing Maltese cross-shaped tourbillon.
Around 540 hours of patient, rigorous and accurate workmanship, from the development of the caliber to the manual finishing of each of its 246 components, are required to achieve the clever balance between a tourbillon mechanism and the aery openworked aesthetic.
Coated in pink gold, this emechanism powering indications of the hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock on tourbillon carriage, date and power reserve (approximately 45 hours), appears through a transparent sapphire dial rimmed by a silver-toned ring and punctuated by 11 baton-type hour-markers as well as an applied Roman (XII) numeral in 18K 5N pink gold.

 

Vacheron Constantin Caliber 2790 SQ reveals an original architectural decor playing with geometrical shapes. © Vacheron Constantin Replica Watches

The curved shape of the watch is complemented by an elegant alligator leather brown strap secured by a half Maltese cross-shaped folding clasp.

Vacheron Constantin A day with the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time

— It’s hard to overstate the importance of the new Overseas collection for Vacheron Constantin this year. I had a chance to try the World Time model in the perfect circumstances.

 

Vacheron Constantin chose as the theme for the launch of its new Overseas collection the subject that has inspired the Overseas line since its beginnings, that of travel. Specifically, the 260 year-old brand dispatched renowned photographer Steve McCurry around the world to capture some of the world’s greatest man-made structures through his lens. The results came in the form of 12 photo essays related to 12 different locations around the world. The first six were announced to coincide with the launch and have been covered extensively on WorldTempus. The remaining six were revealed at the launch event in Japan.

To share some of this spirit of travel, Vacheron Constantin invited WorldTempus, along with some 30 journalists to Japan, staying in Kyoto and Tokyo. But to replicate Steve McCurry’s journeys as closely as possible, we were also challenged to capture our brief two hours of free time in Kyoto with a single photo that we had to submit for Steve McCurry’s critique at a short workshop in Tokyo.
Before experiencing life in one of the numerous Buddhist temples for which Kyoto is famous and heading off into the city in search of the most perfect and representative photo of our visit, we were all given a watch from the new Overseas collection to wear for the day. Since it was a surprise, there were no advance requests and no special treatment – you simply wore what you got. Luckily for me, it was a World Time model in the new brown dial version – the perfect companion when you are adjusting to a time zone that is seven hours ahead of your home time. Although that was the first challenge of the day, since daylight savings time meant that there was a one-hour difference between the time shown on the dial for Geneva and the actual time in Geneva. But once you took this into account, checking the time became child’s play. Your dual time zone is set at 6 o’clock and you can simply check the time in any time zone around the world around the circumference of the dial. In the case of Geneva, you quickly get used to it being at around 10 o’clock if your local time is set to Tokyo. The graduated smoked effect on the transparent disc also clearly shows whether it is night or day back home, with a black and white background to the second time zone scale as a second confirmation.

Tough choices: These are some of the dial configurations that were rejected during the design process, much to the disappointment of several journalists who saw them. © Swiss Replica Watches / Paul O'Neil

The eight-hour hands-on experience was also a chance to try out the interchangeable bracelets that Vacheron Constantin has developed for the new Overseas collection. Each model is supplied with a metal bracelet, a leather strap and a rubber strap (the two latter straps matching the dial colour) with a distinctive folding clasp bearing the Maltese cross emblem of the brand. Switching straps and bracelets is as simple as unhooking them by lifting them at an angle of 45° and fitting the new strap in the same way. So switching from metal bracelet to strap can be done in less than a minute. Each individual reference is therefore three watches in one. With a chronograph, perpetual calendar, self-winding model with date, ultra-thin and smaller diameter models available for ladies, that all adds up to a well-considered collection from the venerable Geneva brand.

 

Tough choices: the design process examined the finest detail of every component for the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas. Here is a selection of the rubber strap finishes that were considered. © World Replica Watches / Paul O'Neil