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SIHH2015: Record-breaking Vacheron chronograph

Vacheron Constantin today revealed the world’s slimmest automatic split-seconds chronograph on the first day of luxury watch show, SIHH, in Geneva.

The movement, one of a number of inhouse calibre debuts from the brand, has been in development since 2008 and released as part of the company’s 260th Anniversary celebrations. The brand was previously without an inhouse chronograph movement.

The Calibre 3500 finds a home in Vacheron Constantin’s Harmony Ultra Thin Grand Complication Chronograph, an anniversary watch limited to just 10 pieces worldwide, that measures just 5.2mm thick.

The monopusher split-second chronograph features a peripheral rotor, sapphire crystal caseback, rotor lock that engages when the watch is fully-wound, power reserve of 50 hours and a ‘friction technique’ that prevents ‘second jump’ when the chronograph is started.

A second model, the column wheel Harmony Tourbillon Chronograph features an enlarged tourbillon carriage and aperture at the 12 o’clock, a first for the brand, double hammers and mechanics that prevent the chronograph from operating when the movement is low on power reserve.

The company also unveiled its first chronograph for ladies using the manual-wind Calibre 1142, perhaps finally signalling a demand for true horological complications from female customers.

Vacheron Constantin signalled that its annual focus in 2015, as well as monopusher chronographs, would be on fully hand engraved movements, showing off unmodified decorated versions of its Calibre 2260 and Calibre 4400.

The company rounded off its presentation of 2015 novelties with a trio of limited edition dual-time watches using automatic Calibre 2640DT, including a diamond-set ladies model.

James Buttery

Editor of WatchPro, the WatchPro Hot 100 and The Luxury Report.

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