The Overseas perpetual calendar ultra-thin skeleton was awarded the ‘Calendar and Astronomy’ prize at the GPHG —Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève— 2020. This timepiece is the perfect illustration of Vacheron Constantin’s technical and aesthetic know-how: it stands out for its contemporary design as well as for the complexity and sophistication of its ultra-thin open-worked movement which also houses a perpetual calendar.
“Above all this award recognizes the talent of all our colleagues, our partners and our suppliers. This award belongs to all of them. I also would like to recognize all the other Maisons who are constantly challenging us and pushing us to elevate our game. Thank you for preserving the Swiss know how and our community! In this particular context I salute their resilience and their passion. These values are essential for all of us to be innovative and to remains relevant”, said Louis Ferla, CEO of Vacheron Constantin, during the GPHG evening.
Available in an 18K 5N all-gold version, the Overseas Skeleton Perpetual Calendar watch combines the refinement of precious metal with the technicality of its ultra-thin open-worked complication movement, Calibre 1120 QPSQ, in a 41.5 mm-diameter case. Skeletonisation, which consists of finely open working a mechanical movement by hollowing out its components yet without compromising their reliability, is an extremely complex undertaking: a quest for transparency coupled with highly sophisticated skills mastered by very few watchmaking artisans. Today, Vacheron Constantin is one of the rare Manufactures capable of open working calibres as complex as perpetual calendars and ultra-thin movements. All components of the 1120 QPSQ calibre have been hollowed out, finished and decorated, so as to exalt the functional beauty of the mechanism.
Greatly appreciated by collectors for its technical qualities and its performance —no adjustment will be required before March 1st, 2100, neither for the day, date, and month indications nor for the moon phases—, this entirely open-worked ultra-thin NAC-treated anthracite grey mechanism is visible through a transparent sapphire dial bearing applied 18K 5N pink gold hour-markers. The transparent case back also stages a fascinating watchmaking show starring the gear trains and the NAC-treated oscillating weight with its segment in 22K gold, which is also open-worked for the first time in the Overseas collection so as to highlight its stylized design shaped like a Maltese cross.
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