A creative odyssey in the company of 19th century naturalists
Traveling from Cape Verde to the Cape of Good Hope, passing through Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan, the Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists collection is a fresh celebration of exploration and scientific discovery. It resonates with the unquenchable spirit of adventure exhibited by François Constantin in his time. This philosophy has been fervently nurtured by the craftsmen of the Manufacture, carrying forward a rich tapestry of narratives and sentiments through generations.
Vacheron Constantin extends an invitation to collectors to join the Beagle expedition alongside the eminent naturalists of the 19th century. This new offering follows the 1994 Mercator model, paying homage to geographer Geraldus Mercator, as well as the Métiers d’Art Tribute to Great Explorers series introduced in 2021, and the Métiers d’Art Aérostiers series from 2018, celebrating the conquest of the skies. During their journey across the world’s oceans between 1831 and 1836, these scientific explorers meticulously documented their findings. Exquisite tropical plants with glossy foliage, vibrant birds of paradise, brilliantly colored butterflies, lush groves of flowering and fruit-bearing trees, and a fascinating array of wildlife graced each stop on this epic voyage. These discoveries gave rise to numerous scientific, botanical, and zoological engravings and drawings, some of which served as inspiration for Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists collection, weaving a delicately illustrated, refined, and colorful narrative.
Vacheron Constantin narrates the historical voyage offered by the Métiers d’Art collection, brought to life by the combined skills of its artisans – engravers, enamellers, guilloché specialists, and jewelers – cultivated within its Manufacture. These artisans blend their talents to create dials that act as windows into the world. Vacheron Constantin has chosen to unite two crafts in crafting these limited editions. In addition to the precision and artistry of the master engraver who meticulously sculpts the decoration’s curves and depth to the nearest tenth of a millimeter, the master enameller employs fire and pigments to compose miniature masterpieces with the stroke of a brush. It takes four days of labor to bring each of the scenes to life within a 41mm white or pink gold case, distinguished by its slim bezel and screw-topped lugs, inspired by Vacheron Constantin’s watches from the 1980s and 90s.
Calibre 1120 AT/1
To fully express the talents of its enamellers and engravers, Vacheron Constantin has once again opted for the in-house self-winding Calibre 1120 AT/1. This 5.45mm-thick movement not only guarantees elegance on the wrist but also endows the gold case with a sleek profile, measuring just 11.68mm in thickness.
Thanks to its unique construction and unconventional time display, aesthetics take precedence over technicalities, inviting the wearer to embark on a visual journey through the dial as the hours progress. Hidden beneath the upper part of the dial, the hours wheel bears three arms, each adorned with four Arabic numerals, driven by a cam inspired by the Manufacture’s Maltese cross emblem. This ingenious and technical satellite module enables the wandering hours to glide across the dial from top to bottom, following the fixed minutes track covering a 120° arc, indicating the minutes in lieu of a traditional hand.
As always, the back of the movement is adorned with finishes paying homage to traditional High Watchmaking decorations, featuring the Côtes de Genève guilloché pattern and a 22K gold oscillating weight embellished with a compass rose.
Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists Cape Verde (January 1832)
Within the 41mm white gold 750/1000 case lies a two-part tableau. The upper part of the dial blends engraving and enameling to depict the majestic silhouette of the Beagle. Seen from its stern, the finely engraved gold ship, with its billowing sails, gracefully glides across a miniature-painted ocean. The lower part, displaying the hours and minutes, showcases a naturalist scene where bouquets of flowers burst forth and bloom beneath lush foliage, meticulously recreated by the enamelling artisan with infinite finesse and a captivating interplay of colors. Calibre 1120 AT/1 reveals its secrets through a sapphire caseback aperture. This ten-piece limited edition comes with a blue Mississipiensis alligator strap fastened by a white gold 750/1000 folding buckle.
Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists Straits of Magellan (1833/1834)
After several weeks at sea, the Beagle traversed the Strait of Magellan, discovered some 300 years earlier by the explorer bearing its name. Despite its remoteness, the region was teeming with vegetation, where palm leaves intermingled with ferns, vividly portrayed on the lower part of the dial. The enamelling artisan has painstakingly worked the colors through multiple kiln firings to achieve the perfect harmony with the pink gold sculpted into a 41mm case. The upper part of the dial features a delicate white gold engraving depicting the Beagle sailing on blue-enamelled waves, while the sapphire crystal caseback continues the visual journey with the exquisite finish of Calibre 1120 AT/1. This ten-piece limited edition is complemented by a blue Mississipiensis alligator strap secured by a pink gold folding buckle.
Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists Tierra del Fuego (1833-1834)
On Tierra del Fuego, the archipelago at the southernmost tip of the South American continent, the naturalists aboard the Beagle encountered captivating flora and fauna. Vacheron Constantin’s artisans drew inspiration from period engravings to craft a tableau that can be explored from every angle. Encased in a 41mm white gold case, the upper dial features a 3D butterfly and two birds, set against a backdrop adorned with miniature paintings. The lower part of the dial showcases a miniature enamel reproduction of an antique terrestrial map of Tierra del Fuego, complemented by a windrose as a tribute to the world of exploration. Through the transparent back, Calibre 1120 AT/1 beats with precision. This ten-piece limited edition is accompanied by a green Mississipiensis alligator strap secured by a white gold folding buckle.
Métiers d’Art Tribute to Explorer Naturalists Cape of Good Hope (May 1836)
On its journey back to Europe, the Beagle skirts the African coast from the Cape of Good Hope, a legendary passage used by navigators since the late 15th century. This maritime scene is meticulously depicted on the miniature enamel panel on the lower part of the dial. Every detail of the Beagle, crafted in exquisite detail, is revealed in this fine decoration. The upper part of the dial is adorned with a landscape reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, much like what the naturalists observed at the Cape of Good Hope. Delicate plumage of birds perched amidst the foliage is complemented by the graceful silhouette of an iguana. This naturalistic scene unfolds within the 41mm pink gold case. The spectacle continues on the other side with the meticulous finish of Calibre 1120 AT/1, visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. This ten-piece limited edition comes with a green Mississipiensis alligator strap secured by a pink gold folding buckle.
For more information, please visit Vacheron-Constantin.com.
TECHNICAL DATA
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
Calibre
1120 AT/1
Developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding
22K gold oscillating weight with tapisserie decor
28 mm (12 ½ ‘’’ diameter), 5.45 mm thick
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve
2.75 Hz (19,800 vibrations per hour)
205 components
36 jewels
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
Indications
Dragging hours, minutes
Case
18K white gold / 18K 4N pink gold
41mm diameter, 11.68 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 meters)
Dial
18K white gold, two-level dial, Grand Feu miniature enamel
Hand-engraved 18K white gold applique
Straps
Dark blue Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle
18K white gold / 18K 4N pink gold buckle
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Limited series of ten timepieces per reference.