VACHERON CONSTANTINPRESENTS

Métiers d'Art – Florilège

THREE EXCEPTIONAL MODELS
EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN

Scroll down
Full screen view
HALLMARK OF GENEVA CERTIFIED WATCHES

I.
The Inspiration

A VIBRANT TRIBUTE TO THE DELICATENESS OF ENGLISH BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY.

  • The China Limodoron
  • The White Lily
  • The Queen

Taken from the famous "The Temple of Flora" by Robert John Thornton, published in 1799, the plants grow over the dials of watches that combine several artistic crafts: guillochage, enamelling and gemsetting.

Thornton, a physician, was also a passionate botanist. He spared no pains in the production of his book, commissioning the top botanical illustrators and painters of the time, such as Peter Henderson, Philip Reinagle and Abraham Pether, as well as the best engravers in London.

The colored engravings are not only of interest to historians of botany, but also for their formal qualities. Mezzotint prints that achieve variable tonal intensities of color, and aquatints, a type of acid etching, are sometimes accentuated with colors applied by hand.

Drawn in great detail, the plants flourish within serene and calm landscapes. Meticulously crafted, the drawing has a certain innocence and the harmony of color retains a freshness that continues to draw the eye today.

II.
The Watches
MÉTIERS D'ART - FLORILÈGE

"Make time for time"
Discover
Back
The pistils of the White Lily seem to come alive and to be about to move, while the soft lustre of the petals, highlighted by the finely guilloché pattern, draws light into the enamel.
HALLMARK OF GENEVA CERTIFIED WATCH
HAUTE JOAILLERIE MODEL BAGUETTE-CUT DIAMONDS

Métiers d'Art - Florilège

THE WHITE LILYSYMBOL OF PURITY AND VIRTUE

Limited numbered series of 20 pieces
  • GuillochageGuillochage
  • EnamellingEnamelling
  • GemsettingGemsetting
Diamond-set watch with 85 round-cut diamonds (approx 1.10 ct).
  • Reference: 82550/000G-9853
  • Case: 18K white gold, diamond-set bezel (64 round-cut diamonds, approx 0.89 ct), transparent sapphire crystal caseback.
  • Caseback: transparent sapphire crystal
  • Diameter: 37 mm
  • Thickness: 8 mm
  • Dial: 18K gold, hand guilloché and «Grand Feu» cloisonné enamelling, 18K white gold leaf-shaped hands
  • Strap: colored shiny Mississippiensis alligator leather, large square scales, stitched-tip
  • Clasp: Diamond-set 18K white gold ardillon buckle (21 round-cut diamonds, approx 0.22 carat)
CALIBRE 4400

CALIBRE 4400DEVELOPED AND CRAFTED
BY VACHERON CONSTANTIN

  • Type: Manual-winding
  • Diameter: 28.6 mm (12 lines ½)
  • Thickness: 2.8 mm
  • Jewelling: 21 rubies
  • Number of components: 127
  • Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
  • Power reserve: Approx 65 hours
  • «The White Lily» plate from the «Temple of Flora»
    «The White Lily» plate from the «Temple of Flora»
  • Hand-crafted guilloché motif on the gold dial
    Hand-crafted guilloché motif on the gold dial
  • Adjusting the cloisonné motif on the guilloché dial
    Adjusting the cloisonné motif on the guilloché dial
  • Applying the enamels
    Applying the enamels
  • Setting the diamonds on the bezel
    Setting the diamonds on the bezel
DISCOVER THE ARTISTIC CRAFTS AND THE UNIQUE KNOW-HOW BEHIND THIS EXCEPTIONAL DIAL
"Make time for time"
Discover
Back
The Strelitzia Reginae gracefully alights on the Métiers d'Art dial. The brillant enamel colors add depth to the dial to achieve an uncanny realism.
HALLMARK OF GENEVA CERTIFIED WATCH
HAUTE JOAILLERIE MODEL BAGUETTE-CUT DIAMONDS

Métiers d'Art - Florilège

QUEENSYMBOL OF LOYALTY AND GOOD LUCK

Limited numbered series of 20 pieces
  • GuillochageGuillochage
  • EnamellingEnamelling
  • GemsettingGemsetting
Diamond-set watch with 85 round-cut diamonds (approx 1.10 ct).
  • Reference: 82550/000G-9854
  • Case: 18K white gold, diamond-set bezel (64 round-cut diamonds, approx 0.89 ct), transparent sapphire crystal caseback.
  • Caseback: transparent sapphire crystal
  • Diameter: 37 mm
  • Thickness: 8 mm
  • Dial: 18K gold, hand guilloché and «Grand Feu» cloisonné enamelling, 18K white gold leaf-shaped hands
  • Strap: colored shiny Mississippiensis alligator leather, large square scales, stitched-tip
  • Clasp: Diamond-set 18K white gold ardillon buckle (21 round-cut diamonds, approx 0.22 carat)
CALIBRE 4400

CALIBRE 4400DEVELOPED AND CRAFTED
BY VACHERON CONSTANTIN

  • Type: Manual-winding
  • Diameter: 28.6 mm (12 lines ½)
  • Thickness: 2.8 mm
  • Jewelling: 21 rubies
  • Number of components: 127
  • Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
  • Power reserve: Approx 65 hours
  • «The Queen» plate from the «Temple of Flora»
    «The Queen» plate from the «Temple of Flora»
  • Hand-crafted guilloché motif on the gold dial
    Hand-crafted guilloché motif on the gold dial
  • Cloisonné enamelling involving bending gold wire
    Cloisonné enamelling involving bending gold wire
  • Adjusting the cloisonné motif on the guilloché dial
    Adjusting the cloisonné motif on the guilloché dial
  • Applying the enamels
    Applying the enamels
  • Setting the diamonds on the bezel
    Setting the diamonds on the bezel
DISCOVER THE ARTISTIC CRAFTS AND THE UNIQUE KNOW-HOW BEHIND THIS EXCEPTIONAL DIAL
"Make time for time"
Discover
Back
The flamboyant reds of the orchids contrast with the creamy shades and forcefully complement the vivid green of the stem.
HALLMARK OF GENEVA CERTIFIED WATCH
HAUTE JOAILLERIE MODEL BAGUETTE-CUT DIAMONDS

Métiers d'Art - Florilège

CHINA LIMODORONA SYMBOL OF WEALTH AND REFINEMENT

Limited numbered series of 20 pieces
  • GuillochageGuillochage
  • EnamellingEnamelling
  • GemsettingGemsetting
Diamond-set watch with 85 round-cut diamonds (approx 1.10 ct).
  • Reference: 82550/000G-9855
  • Case: 18K white gold, diamond-set bezel (64 round-cut diamonds, approx 0.89 ct), transparent sapphire crystal caseback.
  • Caseback: transparent sapphire crystal
  • Diameter: 37 mm
  • Thickness: 8 mm
  • Dial: 18K gold, hand guilloché and «Grand Feu» cloisonné enamelling, 18K white gold leaf-shaped hands
  • Strap: colored shiny Mississippiensis alligator leather, large square scales, stitched-tip
  • Clasp: Diamond-set 18K white gold ardillon buckle (21 round-cut diamonds, approx 0.22 carat)
CALIBRE 4400

CALIBRE 4400DEVELOPED AND CRAFTED
BY VACHERON CONSTANTIN

  • Type: Manual-winding
  • Diameter: 28.6 mm (12 lines ½)
  • Thickness: 2.8 mm
  • Jewelling: 21 rubies
  • Number of components: 127
  • Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
  • Power reserve: Approx 65 hours
  • «The China Limodoron» plate from the «Temple of Flora»
    «The China Limodoron» plate from the «Temple of Flora»
  • Hand-crafted guilloché motif on the gold dial
    Hand-crafted guilloché motif on the gold dial
  • Cloisonné enamelling involving bending gold wire
    Cloisonné enamelling involving bending gold wire
  • Adjusting the cloisonné motif on the guilloché dial
    Adjusting the cloisonné motif on the guilloché dial
  • Applying the enamels
    Applying the enamels
  • Setting the diamonds on the bezel
    Setting the diamonds on the bezel
DISCOVER THE ARTISTIC CRAFTS AND THE UNIQUE KNOW-HOW BEHIND THIS EXCEPTIONAL DIAL

III.
Artistic Crafts

THE ARTWORK COMES TO LIFE IN A PROFUSION OF COLOR.

Born from the union of guillochage and «Grand Feu» cloisonné enamelling, each dial gives an illusion of amazing depth and perspective, highlighted by a bezel set with diamonds.
WATCH THE VIDEO
  • WATCH THE VIDEO
    Guillochage,

    Guillochage,
    The hands govern the path of the mechanism.

    The guillocheur then forms tenth-of-a-millimeter symmetrical motifs, while displaying extreme dexterity and genuine artistic sensitivity.

    The guillocheur guides the machine to trace symmetrical guilloché motifs with incredible dexterity. With one hand, he turns the handle that inserts the piece to be decorated, and with the other, he pushes the frame that holds the chisel so that he can trace the fine, regular strokes.

  • WATCH THE VIDEO
    Enamelling,

    Enamelling,
    Exceptional expertise to show colors in their best light.

    The enameller marks out the outlines of the motifs using a fine gold wire to separate the various enamel colors, a process known as cloisonné enamelling. The enamels are then placed in the kiln at a temperature of around 800°C.

    The craftsman repeats this operation several times carefully to intensify the colors and allow the play of light and translucency of materials to take effect.

    The enameller applies one final coat of enamel for the ultimate glazing phase. The last firing, which has the effect of glazing the enamel and achieving that distinctive shine, creates the best definition for the floral pattern.

  • WATCH THE VIDEO
    Gemsetting,

    Gemsetting,
    The art of the meticulous to create watches of prestige.

    The gemsetter's role is to arrange precious stones on a timepiece while respecting the codes of quality concerning the alignment of the stones in relation to the cut and the refraction of light.

    The round- or baguette-cut diamonds with which the watch is set are carefully selected. Of exceptional whiteness, they meet our demanding standards of purity.

The end
DISCOVER THE
MÉTIERS D'ART COLLECTIONDISCOVER ALL SIHH
2013 NEW MODELS