2025 is, no doubt, Vacheron Constantin’s year. The Maison’s 270th anniversary places the illustrious watch manufacturer among those revealing the most attractive new timepieces at Watches and Wonders. As we head towards the Palexpo, inside stories regarding the commemorative collections begin to surface, and collectors can’t wait to discover what’s next from the longest-established brand.
Under the loupe are those that defined Vacheron Constantin’s impressive history, including the Traditionnelle and Patrimony. The second one in the list above is previewed here.
The Patrimony Moon Phase and Retrograde Date
Scroll the collections, and you’ll discover countless product variants. However, while a Traditionnelle comes in hand-wind or self-winding iterations, a Patrimony is exclusively available as a self-winding timepiece, either a three-hander or not, like the signature Moon Phase with a Retrograde Date.
Here is a brand’s favourite. Nevertheless, the Maison took the chance to revise the model further by applying the 270th-anniversary treatment inside and out while building on a proven layout whose gold case measures 42.5 mm across and 9.7 mm in thickness.
The “270 years” treatment expands Vacheron Constantin’s brand identity and introduces some traits we hope could become standard soon. They make this classic complicated gold watch with an ultra-flat shape look and feel much better.
Look at the dial. It has an unexpected pattern, representing the “270 years”official logo, with the Maltese cross placed at 7:30. You can hardly notice it at first glance. Still, it adds character enough to make it contemporary yet understated.
From Côtes de Genève to Côtes unique
The next addition is rooted in the brand’s history. Vacheron Constantin has revived the “côtes unique”decoration from its archives. It all began in 2021 when it crafted the Historiques American 1921 watch. As the brand claims, more than five hundred hours of training were needed to bring “Côte unique” to life again. The outcome is a dense array of ultra-thin lines that set the decoration into a class apart from the ubiquitous Côtes de Genève you’ll see in an ordinary movement.
The self-winding calibre 2460 R31L/270, with the new decoration and anniversary logo excluded, has the same features as ever before. It is a 4Hz calibre running for 40 hours of power reserve when fully wound, assembled, and decorated to meet the Hallmark of Geneva insignia (and the engraved 270-year logo). Vacheron Constantin will build 270 white gold and 270 rose gold pieces on an alligator leather strap with a gold pin buckle shaped like a Maltese cross.
(Photo credit: Vacheron Constantin, Horbiter®)
Giovanni Maria Di Biase @Horbiter®
In this article:
Date
It indicates the date of the month. There are different types of display: via a window or a pointer, where an additional hand is usually placed centrally or on a…
Case
It encases the mechanical movement and is crafted in one or more parts. It can also be a single piece, as with some professional diving watches, or made of unconventional…
Strap
A leather, rubber or other material band that secures the watch to the wearer's wrist.
Power Reserve
A mechanical watch feature displays, on the dial or the case back, the remaining power in a watch movement, showing the length of time until the timepiece must be rewound.
Calibre
A calibre is the type of watch movement encased in an assigned timepiece. Its name is usually associated with the manufacturer's name and a standard code, e.g., ETA 2824.