BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Vacheron Constantin is definitely setting the tables on fire at SIHH 2019. Where on one hand the brand has added interesting new colorways to their existing collections, on the other hand, the brand is challenging the boundaries of watchmaking by creating technically innovative watches such as the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar. Featuring a perpetual calendar complication this watch brings forth the unique capability of operating at two separate frequencies and switching between them culminating into a mind-numbing power reserve of up to 65 days.
To achieve this great feat the in-house caliber 3610 QP this watch utilizes two balance wheels, one operating at a high frequency of 5Hz and the other operating at a drastically low frequency of 1.2Hz, with only one of them being active at any given instance. Switching between the two frequencies is as simple as pressing the pusher at 8. So, for instance, you have been enjoying your watch for quite a while now and would like to stow it back, all you need to do is switch the watch to low-frequency mode and you would be happy to see your watch up and running with the correct, date, day and time even 65 days later. And, just in case you were not able to switch to the low-frequency mode before you took the watch off your wrist, you will still have your watch alive and kicking for around 4 days.
The dial on the Vacheron Constantin is finely executed and is basically divided into two halves. The upper half is beautifully decorated with an intricate hand done guilloche pattern and features a big circular power reserve sub-dial with black and red markings to indicate the high and low-frequency power reserve. The lower half of the dial has been kept open giving a nice view of the complicated internals and houses the frequency indicator at 8 with high and low frequency in black and red respective similar to the power reserve, a transparent looking date sub-dial between 7 and 8, a month sub-dial between 4 and 5, and the current year at 6. And finally, you have a nicely proportioned elongated dauphine style handset to track the hours and minutes using the applied hour markers and a railroad style minute track printed in white.
All the technical goodness mentioned above is packed inside a rather compact platinum case measuring 42 mm x 12.3 mm which is secured on the wrist of the wearer with the help of a black leather strap. To conclude, we would like to say that the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar is indeed a true marvel of Haute Horlogerie. The watch would retail at a price of EUR 219,000. Visit Vacheron Constantin here.
