New Vacheron Constantin Overseas Grand Complication Openface

What occurs if you take the 2755 QP motion out of the 2017 Traditionnelle Calibre 2755 (ref. 80172/000R-B406), replace the design so it caters to an viewers with a extra modern style, and put it within the sportiest of watch designs out there? You get the Vacheron Constantin Abroad Grand Complication Openface. This limited-production watch is the primary minute repeater within the Abroad assortment. The capabilities of the caliber that additionally beats contained in the Traditionelle didn’t change, so it additionally encompasses a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon. Nonetheless, due to the clear sapphire crystal dial, the sophisticated motion now reveals itself from each the again and the entrance.

What a mix — a 44.5 × 13.1mm titanium Abroad case holding the ultra-complicated, 7.9mm-thick caliber 2755 QP seen by way of a sapphire crystal dial. Because the motion has been round for some time, why did Vacheron Constantin simply now consider sticking it in an Abroad? By no means thoughts; it’s higher late than by no means. For these with deep pockets and a factor for sporty watches with a sophisticated twist, the Abroad Grand Complication Openface ref. 6510V/110T-128C was properly well worth the wait.

Vacheron Constantin Abroad Grand Complication Openface: The unique and elusive sound of a titanium minute repeater

Issues in sports activities watches… They’re OK if you may get previous the paradox of a rugged exterior and a fragile inside. Nicely, I suppose they’re a bit of bit greater than OK. I can consider loads of examples of luxurious sports activities watches which can be a wonderful platform for a complication or two. Or three, within the case of the Vacheron Constantin Abroad Grand Complication Openface. Vacheron determined to place the 602-component caliber 2755 QP — which includes a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon, and, for user-friendly causes, an influence reserve indicator — inside a waterproof Grade 5 titanium case matched to an built-in bracelet.

The model additionally determined to vary the motion’s aesthetics to match the design codes of the Abroad. The sapphire dial reveals rhodium-plated wheels with a darkish NAC coating. I wouldn’t go as far as to name the look industrial because the Geneva Hallmark-certified timepiece has so many hand-finished motion elements on show. Nonetheless, mixed with the clear dial that includes blue and white indicators, the general look of the grayish titanium watch and color-matching motion is technical with a sophisticated, luxurious twist.

Sure, it’s a waterproof minute repeater

Essentially the most difficult a part of establishing the Abroad Grand Complication Openface is making a waterproof case for a repeater motion. Holding water out of a case with a sliding mechanism is not any imply feat. Within the case of this Abroad, Vacheron needed to make that occur whereas additionally contemplating the specs of the 2755 QP motion. The watchmakers took a 12 months and a half to determine it out and conduct the mandatory analysis and growth. They needed to utterly redesign the case again to create house for the repeater mechanism whereas not ruining the smooth strains of the Abroad case. Essentially the most sophisticated Abroad shouldn’t be a dive watch, however it could actually take a light splash because of its 3-bar water resistance.

Closing phrases on the Abroad Grand Complication Openface and a guess on the value

At this 12 months’s Watches and Wonders, Vacheron Constantin put the hyper-complicated Les Cabinotiers Solaria with its 41 problems within the highlight and introduced a spread of traditional watches in 270th-anniversary livery. The model launched the Historiques 222 in metal earlier than the present and waited till after the large salon to carry out the titanium Abroad Grand Complication Openface. VC in all probability foresaw both of these two novelties stealing an excessive amount of consideration from the extra classical jubilee watches. That was a intelligent transfer, however now I desperately need to get my palms on this 44.5 × 13.1mm titanium Abroad. How does it really feel? How does it put on? Is it too large or proportionally excellent? I’ve many questions and doubtless little or no probability of going hands-on with one. Possibly I’ll drop by the Vacheron Constantin manufacture and see if there’s one mendacity round; it’s not too removed from my new house, anyway.

Concerning the worth, the Traditionnelle Calibre 2755 value US$655,400 when it got here out eight years in the past. I’m guessing that the price-on-request Abroad Grand Complication Openface is round US$900,000. Does it matter? For these with the disposable revenue to play on this league of horology, it in all probability doesn’t.

What do you assume? Should you may select between all of the sporty grand problems on the market and had an infinite price range, would you decide this Abroad?

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