I’m happy to be able to sign my first article of 2024, telling you about an incredible unique piece.
The Les Cabinotiers special order watch department has created a one-of-a-kind piece that will blow your mind. Its name Replica Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Bacchus summarizes a craftsmanship that combines the highest and most complicated concepts of traditional mechanical watchmaking with mastery of artistic craftsmanship.
Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Bacchus
Before we start talking about this phenomenal unique specimen, do you know what a Grande Complication is?
They are two terms used to identify a watch that contains three high-ranking mechanical complications: the first must provide astronomical information, such as a perpetual calendar; the second must be a sound function, such as the minute repeater; the third typically uses one or more hands to provide an additional indication of time, usually the chronograph, or be an entirely different high complication such as a tourbillon.
But the unique Les Cabinotiers you see went much further. There are 16 complications that this watch displays on two dials.
Earnings
The 47 mm rose gold case of this Vacheron Constantin features a decoration composed of vine leaves alternating with bunches of grapes made up of real rubies.
The work of the engraver is completed by that of the setter who has created various representations on the external part of the case. The two master craftsmen who worked on this model alternated: first the engraver intervened, then the setter, finally the engraver again for the final touches. The work of the two artists required more than 300 hours of painstaking work.
By delicately digging with a graver into the precious material, the engraver created 113 cavities using bas-relief, a technique which consists of creating cells or cavities by delicately “digging” the material to bring out the leaf motif. This phase includes the setting of 113 cavities with rubies of five different sizes that form the clusters, and the surrounding material necessary to hold them in place.
The setter took over the subsequent stages to fix the cabochon-cut rubies, with a technique that combines prong setting which has at least three fixing points.
Once the bunches of grapes had been created, the engraver took the model again to carry out the finishing touches with the further difficulty of having to work around the embedded parts without touching them. The vine leaves were delicately modeled through the intaglio engraving technique, hollowing out the material, and finally polishing them.
Because every detail is important, the engraver even gouged slightly under the outline of each leaf to accentuate the three-dimensional visual effect. The leaves, therefore, clearly stand out on the middle case, above all thanks to the delicately chiseled base. To obtain this sandblasted effect, the engraver hammers the surface point by point in order to accentuate the contrast with the polished elements in relief.
The decoration of the case continues on the bezel and case back with a hand engraving depicting vine leaves. The garland is an element in its own right. This last aspect is reflected in the two closure options – folding clasp and pin buckle – which characterize the watch and required a whole week of work.
Vacheron Constantin caliber 2755 GC16
To create the movement of this very complicated timepiece, Vacheron Constantin watchmakers took as a reference the Tour de l’Île, the watch presented in 2005 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Geneva-based manufacturer.
Les Cabinotiers Bacchus features 16 complications, making it one of the most complex watches produced by the Maison. Inside beats the manually wound caliber 2755 GC16 equipped with a tourbillon regulator.
Equipped with a cage in the shape of a Maltese cross, the Vacheron Constantin emblem, the tourbillon completes a complete rotation per minute and therefore also acts as a small seconds indicator.
Furthermore, this unique piece features a minute repeater that allows the hours, quarters and minutes to be struck on demand. To avoid noise and wear of the mechanism, the gong striker is equipped with an ingenious flying centripetal striker regulator.
The calendar and astronomical functions are featured on both sides of the watch. On the front, where the spectacle of the moving tourbillon can be admired at 6 o’clock, three counters display the perpetual calendar indications.
The leap year indication is visible through a small opening next to the hand indicating the torque of the minute repeater mechanism between 1 and 2 o’clock. The power reserve of the striking mechanism is accompanied by the power reserve indication of the movement , which is read by means of a serpentine hand coaxial with the day of the week hand.