Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists

Quick specs Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists
Price: € 203.000 | approx. CHF 189’000 | approx. $ 223,000 | approx. £ 175,000
Size: 41 mm
Reference: 7500U/000G-B991 (Cap-Vert) | 7500U/000R-B992 (Détroit de Magellan) | 7500U/000G-B993 (Terre de Feu) | 7500U/000R-B994 (Cap de Bonne-Espérance) – limited to 10 pieces each

The Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists is the latest model in the Métiers d’Art collection. It comes in four models, namely the Cap-Vert, the Détroit de Magellan, the Terre de Feu and lastly the Cap de Bonne-Espérance. All limited to 10 pieces each.

This Métiers d’Art collection is the decorative series of Vacheron Constantin. With limited editions the brand shows its capabilities of creating art on the dials of their time pieces. In a way that reading the time looks kind of a secondary focus. The artwork on the dials of the new models is inspired by scientific discoveries of naturalists.

All the skills for making stunning art on dials are showcased

They travelled the world’s oceans on the Beagle, in the 1830s, an English ship that sailed out to discover and explore new worlds. Each dial shows a location and a piece of wildlife, or the Beagle and a piece of wildlife.

Engravers, enamellers, guilloché specialists and jewelers work together to create sparkling images with depth, details, and accuracy to depict the odyssey of the scientific Explorers. It’s painting on less than a square inch. Two of the models have a white gold case, two come in pink gold. All 41 millimeters, and all with the same movement.

The Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists has a power reserve of 40 hours

Inside is the automatic Vacheron Constantin caliber 1120 AT, viewable through its transparent sapphire case back. Hidden under the top part of the dial is an hours wheel with three arms, each carrying four Arabic numerals. These numerals on this satellite module enable the hours to sweep over the dial, from top to bottom. In combination with the fixed minutes track the time is readable.

For sure, the movement is a piece of art on its own. Furnished with Côtes de Genève guilloché decoration, swept over by the 22K gold oscillating weight adorned with a compass rose. It beats at an easy going frequency of 2.75 Hz delivering a power reserve of 40 hours.

The Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists models come on a dark blue or green Mississippiensis alligator leather strap. All with alligator leather inner shell, handstitched, saddle-finish, with large square scales. They are secured with an 18K white gold or 18K 4N pink gold buckle.