The Harmony Collection Welcomes New Models Including a Complete Calendar

On the occasion of its 260th anniversary, the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin unveiled the Harmony collection, which was immediately regarded as a stellar collection. Designed as authentic watch sculptures featuring sophisticated technical content, the timepieces composing the range were housed in an unusual cushion-shaped case featuring pure, graphic lines. After the limited series supporting the launch of the collection, Vacheron Constantin is now introducing new references equipped with several in-house calibers and developed around the chronograph, tourbillon or dual-time complications. A remarkable Harmony complete calendar model, equipped with an unprecedented in-house movement, is joining the ranks of these precious mechanical timepieces, all certified by the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.

10 new models including a complete calendar are enriching the collection

The Maison Vacheron Constantin is the world’s oldest watch manufacturer engaged in uninterrupted activity since its creation in 1755. One of the brand’s first wrist chronographs, dating from 1928, inspired the cushion shape and the eminently contemporary design of the models composing the Harmony collection. Its generous cases with reinvented lines are particularly suited to housing medium and high complications and Grand Complication calibers. This year, Vacheron Constantin is introducing ten new references in the range, developed around a tourbillon monopusher chronograph, a monopusher chronograph with pulsimeter scale, a double-pusher chronograph, and a dual-time display. A brand-new 2460 QC caliber with a complete calendar – a complication much appreciated and eagerly anticipated by watchmaking enthusiasts – is joining this collection characterised by a blend of aesthetic and technical refinement. The dual time and double-pusher chronograph small models also come in non-gemset versions, ensuring they are equally suited to men’s and women’s wrists.

The models now entering the standard collection are among others distinguished from the collection launch limited editions by anthracite-colored numerals (instead of the blue ones on the 260th anniversary edition), a mellow opaline silvered dial, a new more contemporary font for the counters, a reworked burgundy colour and a railway-track minute circle. Like the most recent creations from the Manufacture, all these new models comply with the Hallmark of Geneva criteria guaranteeing their provenance, quality of execution and precision, durability and watchmaking mastery.

Perfect design

The Harmony collection once again demonstrates the complete mastery achieved by Vacheron Constantin, which has always successfully combined the art of shapes with that of time measurement. A curved caseband, a square bezel and a round watch crystal meet and mingle in this elegant reinterpretation of the monopusher chronograph with pulsimeter scale presented in 1928 by the Manufacture. While the cushion shape had been chosen to highlight a chronograph caliber from the brand formerly used as a pocket watch, this same approach guided the creation of the models composing the Harmony collection. The inspiration stemming from the historical model is immediately perceptible, and yet each detail of the case has been infinitely rethought – including a study of its specific reflections – in order to provide a unique and unprecedented shape combined with appreciable user friendliness.

Harmony complete calendar: a new complication joins the collection

In 2016, the Harmony collection welcomes a useful, technical and sophisticated horological complication: the complete calendar. The classic and elegant design of the cushion-shaped rose gold case strikes a perfect balance with the optimal readability of the dial indications. Around its rim, the date is indicated by a central hand which culminates in a burgundy crescent. The day and month, in the same deep red, appear through apertures in the upper half of the dial, while the lower half is devoted to displays of the moon phases and the age of the moon. These remarkably precise astronomical indications require adjustment only once every 122 years, instead of every three years for a conventional moon phase. An all-new self-winding movement, Caliber 2460 QC – entirely developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin – powers this complete calendar. Equipped with 308 components, it beats at a frequency of 4 Hz. A transparent sapphire crystal caseback provides an admirable view of its inner workings and its high-end finishing.

Two of the most prestigious complications

The inherently exclusive Harmony tourbillon chronograph achieves an impressive technical feat by combining the monopusher chronograph with a stunning tourbillon shaped like the Maltese cross, the Vacheron Constantin emblem. It beats to the rhythm of Manufacture Vacheron Constantin manual-winding Calibre 3200, which features refined details such as the screw holding the column wheel also adorned with the brand emblem. This movement – entirely developed, fine-tuned and produced in-house – was unveiled to mark the 260th anniversary of Vacheron Constantin, after seven years of research and development. It is endowed with a number of technologically advanced features heightening the precision and reliability of its complex functions, while also enhancing its user friendliness. By way of example, the dial provides a dragging-display 45-minute counter, instead of the usual 30-minute version. The lower 2.5 Hz frequency ensures an optimal view of the fascinating rotations of the tourbillon. This exceptional caliber, housed in this new version at the heart of an opulent pink gold case, will be available exclusively from Vacheron Constantin boutiques. 

Vintage inspiration

A contemporary reincarnation of a 1928 Vacheron Constantin chronograph, the chronograph belonging to the Harmony collection clearly displays its kinship with the original model, while paying vibrant tribute to the latter. Its generous pink gold cushion-shaped case houses manual-winding Calibre3300, developed by Vacheron Constantin and ensuring a substantial 65-hour power reserve. It drives the hours, minutes and small seconds functions, along with a monopusher chronograph, a pulsimeter scale and a power-reserve indication. In a nod to the 1928 model and to vintage medical watches, it features a burgundy graduated scale painted around the rim of the dial and serving to calculate the pulse based on 30 heartbeats. Whether visible or concealed, all the refined details of this chronograph epitomise the watchmaking art as practiced by Vacheron Constantin, expressed through details as such as the chronograph gears cut out to form the Maltese cross shape, or the screw holding the column wheel also adorned with the brand emblem.

The elegance of the Harmony chronograph small model

The chronograph small model deploys its charms in a generous 18K pink gold cushion-shaped case. At 37 mm wide, it is particularly suited to a wide variety of wrists, whether feminine or masculine. The version with diamond-set bezel, dedicated to women, sparkles with diamonds of the highest quality, totalling 1.2 carats. Its heart beats at a frequency of 3 Hz with manual-winding Calibre 1142, equipped with one of the most sought-after Fine Watchmaking complications: the chronograph. Calibre1142 is an improved version of an existing movement, now meeting the Hallmark of Geneva criteria with a higher frequency designed to increase the shock resistance of the balance-wheel. Delivering a 48-hour power reserve, this exceptional calibre features refined details such as a screw holding the column wheel adorned with the Maltese cross, comprises 164 entirely hand-decorated components and drives the hours, minutes, small seconds and chronograph functions.

Sophisticated simplicity

Guided by this same vision of marrying tradition with cutting-edge technologies, the development of self-winding Calibre 2460 DT rounds out this range of exclusive Manufacture complications, by providing a dual-time display, along with a subdial devoted to the day/night indication. This useful complication equips five different models: two elegant men’s versions in white gold and pink gold; smaller models intended for both men and women in a non-gemset pink gold version; as well as ladies’ variations with white or pink gold cases graced with a diamond-set bezel. The sophisticated mechanism of Vacheron Constantin Calibre 2460 DT enables smooth correction of all indications via the crown. A first notch enables simultaneous adjustment of local time and a second time zone, while a second notch activates travel time alone. The movement with its generous 40-hour power reserve comprises 233 parts, all hand-decorated in keeping with the finest watchmaking traditions.

Embodying contemporary reinterpretations of time measurement, the new timepieces in the Harmony collection mingle elegance, technical refinement and functionality in a pure, restrained construction around the cushion shape.

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