Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253
A couple of weeks ago, the ultra-premium Swiss watch brand has revealed its new Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253 watch featuring a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, a tourbillon and, omg, an equation of time complication.
Frankly speaking, I never really understood the equation of time complication. Sunrise and sunset indicators come in handy in January (at least, in the Northern hemisphere,) when you get the winter blues and only these little buggers assure you that everything is going to be alright, that day is getting longer and the Summer is on its way. Perpetual calendar is good for those suffering of Alzheimer’s, and the tourbillon, as well as minute repeater, is just plain mesmerizing.
The logic of why does one need to know the deviation of the apparent solar time from the mean solar time, if he or she is not an astronomer or a skipper without a GPS navigation system, somehow escapes me. Perhaps, this kind of useless complications exists just for its own sake. Or, more likely, serves the purpose of telling the world that the owner of the watch can afford one.
Well, back to our sheep. Like all members of the Patrimony Traditionelle line, the “Calibre 2253″ model sports a beautifully executed case with a transparent display back giving a good view at its gorgeous hand-wound movement.
However, its noticeably off-centered dial is ruined with three extra indicators: two for the sunrise and sunset indicators at 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock respectively and the equation of time indicator between 10 and 11 o’clock.
Well, to put it more clearly, the indicators are alright, it is the color of hands that spoil the things. Trying to increase the watch’s legibility, Vacheron Constantin decided to make the small hands in bright blue while leaving the hour and minute hands in its original color of platinum. As a result, the seven small hands dominate the dial making it look busy and even messy. Perhaps, VC should have executed them of platinum or in rhodiumed gold and left them at that.
All things considered, this is an interesting and even desirable watch, which is going to be a much thought-after collector’s item even in 2050s, since it will be produced in an ultra-limited edition of only 10 (ten) pieces. It is also okay to wear the watch with proud.
Just bear in mind that vanity is the seventh deadly sin.
Photos: Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle “Calibre 2253″ watch specification (Collection Excellence Platine)
Price range: N/A, VERY expensive
Movement: Calibre 2253, hand-wound, 29 jewels, 18,000 vph, 457 parts, 9.60 mm high, 32.0 mm in diameter, 4 main spring barrels coupled 2×2
Complications: Date, perpetual calendar, leap year, minute repeater, tourbillon, power reserve, equation of time, sunrise/sunset
Power reserve: 336 hours (14 days)
Case material: Platinum
Bezel material: Platinum
Case shape: Round
Transparent case back: Yes, sapphire caseback
Case size: 44.0 mm
Case height: 15.71 mm
Dial: Silvered or dark-grey opaline
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Platinum
Strap: Black or dark blue hand-stitched alligator leather with platinum stitching and platinum buckle polished half Maltese Cross
Crystal: Sapphire, AR-coated
Water resistance: 30 meters
Evgueni Matoussevitch in Swiss WatchesTags: 44 mm, Calibre 2253, date, Equation of Time, leap-year, manual, minute repeater, Patrimony, perpetual calendar, platinum, power reserve, Tourbillon, Traditionnelle, Vacheron Constantin
