Chinese mythical characters transferred onto watch dials.
For this New Year's Eve, Vacheron Constantin has decided to go beyond the signs of the Chinese zodiac by releasing a watch called Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Phoenix and Dragon, featuring a timeless narrative from Chinese mythology.
The phoenix and the dragon symbolize blissful relations between husband and wife, emperor and empress, upholding peace and prosperity. These figures can be traced back to legends about Xi (West) Lake and a magic pearl born in the middle of a dance.
It's also depicted on the dial of the novelty by Vacheron Constantin — right above the tourbillon at 6 o'clock. Its carriage is in the shape of the watchmaker's logo — a Maltese Cross.
The masters have managed to choreograph the pink-gold appliqués in such a way that the tourbillon's constant swinging sets the pace for the entire composition. The dragon literally perches on the tourbillon while the phoenix brushes it with a wing.
The base of the dial is hand-engraved with guilloché patterns and given a galvanic treatment in different tones. There are a total of three watch versions: black, deep blue and silver-toned dials, each framed with a 41 mm case in pink gold. The limit for each watch version is set at 16 pieces.
The case of the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Phoenix and Dragon measures 11.21 mm in height (quite lean considering the embossed appliqués), while the bezel and lugs are engraved with cloud-shaped volutes.
This motif extends onto the case middle and areas around the side of the lugs in an even more elaborate bas-relief. The manufacture movement Caliber 2160 provides more surfaces for decoration.
The peripheral rotor opens up a view of numerous details which really do deserve attention, such as the bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève on the back and hand-beveled components. The ultra-thin tourbillon movement measuring just 5.65 mm in height comprises 188 components and has a 80-hour power reserve.