Women became interested in watchmaking at an early stage, often to enhance their apparel with objects that were sometimes unusual yet generally designed as authentic jewellery. Their practical usefulness was nonetheless not neglected, as demonstrated by the many chiming or calendar watches made for women.

While the miniaturisation of pocket watches led to the advent of wristwatches, this infatuation with the infinitely small would be fully expressed through the creation of calibres featuring extreme dimensions. Perfectly suited to horological elegance and the daintiness of finely gem-set timepieces, these movements represent the technical prowess perfectly mastered by Vacheron Constantin, notably with its 8''' calibre.

The late 1960s were marked by the emergence of quartz watches, demanding swift responses from watchmakers in terms of mechanical movements to satisfy new customer demands. This “secret” jewellery watch graced with a brilliant-cut diamond-set bezel is clearly one such model. Equipped with ultra-thin calibre 1430 measuring 2.90 mm thick and 12.40 mm in diameter, it flaunts its elegance and originality with a winding crown concealed beneath the case for aesthetic reasons.