The noble tourbillon surrounded by precious stones.
In 2020, the watchmaker Vacheron Constantin introduced a jewelry model in the Traditionnelle collection. Its diamond dial was paved with pavé-set brilliant- and baguette-cut stones.
According to Vacheron Constantin's Style & Heritage Director Christian Selmoni, this watch was a perfect demonstration of the different atmosphere stones can create, depending on their shape.
Sharp baguette-cut stones have also been used to generously encrust the bezel of this year's Overseas model — the legacy of luxury sports watches from the 1970s (apart from Vacheron Constantin and their 222 model, other players in this field are Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, Patek Philippe's Nautilus, and the IWC Ingenieur).
The surprising combination of sporty geometry with precious stones is realized in the Overseas Tourbillon High Jewellery model, equipped with the same movement used in the Traditionnelle from 2020. The bezel reflects elements of the watchmaker's symbol — the Maltese cross — decorated with 60 invisibly set diamonds.
These clear gems look particularly delicate when combined with white gold as the case material. It measures 42.5 mm × 10.39 mm. This case height has been achieved thanks to caliber 2160, one of the thinnest tourbillon movements on the market. The movement introduced in 2018 is just 5.56 mm thick.
And the watchmakers have managed to keep the movement this thin even though it has a tourbillon and a rotor, which typically result in thicker movements. The tourbillon cage was reworked, and the rotor was made as a peripheral oscillating weight (the resulting automatic winding system ensures an 80-hour power reserve).
The engineers' accomplishments can be appreciated through the transparent caseback, which also reveals a view of the finest level of finishing on the movement's components.
Vacheron Constantin's Overseas Tourbillon High Jewelry is offered on an integrated white-gold bracelet (another nod to the 1970s), which can be interchanged with a blue strap made of calfskin or a third made of rubber.