Caliber 1120 QP developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin drives the hours and minutes hands, the moon phase at 6 o’clock along with a perpetual calendar displaying the day of the week in a counter at 9 o’clock, the date in a counter at 3 o’clock, the month and leap year in a 48-month counters at 12 o’clock. Acknowledged by connoisseurs as one of the most iconic existing perpetual calendars, it will smoothly cope with all the vagaries of the calendar without requiring any corrections until March 1st 2100. Unlike simple calendars requiring manual correction after every month with less than 31 days, the perpetual calendar takes account of the leap-year cycle with its 31-, 30- and 28-day months, as well as the quadrennial recurrence of February 29th. This sophisticated function requires prodigious miniaturisation to mechanically adjust it so as to keep track of calendar irregularities. This miniaturisation has been taken to extremes in order to achieve an ultra-thin perpetual calendar. Vacheron Constantin Caliber 1120 QP measures just 4.05 mm thick, beats at the frequency of 2.75 Hz (19,800 vibrations per hour), and has a 40-hour power reserve. The oscillating weight cut out in the shape of a Maltese cross further embeds the design codes of the Maison at the heart of the movement.
A new release at the SIHH 2017, the vacheron constantin patrimony perpetual calendar features a pink gold case framing a slate-colored opaline dial. While remaining loyal to the collection’s characteristic elegance and aesthetic purity, this new interpretation is infused with a definite sense of modernity and dynamism.The slightly convex external zone is adorned with a circular “pearl” minute-track and 18K pink gold applied hour-markers. The hours, minutes hands and calendar pointers are in 18K pink gold. Setting the finishing touch, the saddle-finish black alligator strap is hand-stitched and secured by a folding clasp in the same metal.
Revolving beneath the dial, the moon disc depicts the heavenly vault in pink gold enhanced by a blue galvanic treatment. Each star has been delicately crafted so as to provide an exact map of the sky. Fitted with a sapphire back enabling one to admire Caliber 1120 QP, the 41 mm-diameter case is water-resistant to 3 bar (approximately 30 meters).
One of the most popular and complex functions is the perpetual calendar, as found in the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Perpetual Calendar . This exquisite wristwatch comes in pink gold or platinum. The platinum version belongs to the “Collection Excellence Platine” and is limited to only 100 pieces. The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony collection is comprised of numerous men’s and women’s models. You can purchase a simple thin gold watch with two hands for around 16,200 USD in mint condition. Pre-owned examples are somewhat less expensive at about 11,500 USD.Vacheron Constantin presented this multi-functional timepiece in 2015, after eight years of development. The Patrimony collection is one of Vacheron Constantin’s most successful and sought-after collections.At 4.05 mm, the in-house caliber 1120 QP is exceptionally thin for an automatic movement with a perpetual calendar. With a total thickness of 8.96 mm, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Perpetual Calendar is easy to slip under any shirt cuff. Plus, its moderate 41-mm diameter means it is suitable for almost any wrist.