Vacheron Constantin

Survey of the Caliber 1120

 

In writing about the Historiques Ultra-fine 1968 and in thinking about the idea of an ultra thin movement being its own complication, I concluded that there is an inherent desirability to the caliber 1120 and thus the watches in which Vacheron Constantin historically and currently employs it. As a collector of Vacheron Constantin watches I have paid just as much attention to the movements inside the watches I pursue as I do to the cases, dials, and their respective conditions, and some of my favorites have been powered by the 1120. This movement has proven itself for over 40 years of service, is extremely attractive, and is exclusive, as only Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin have access to the ebauche.

 
Being thin, this caliber is well suited for skeletonization, and no one makes a finer openworked watch than Vacheron Constantin. In this photo, the caliber 1120 is in the watch on the right of this pair of diamond set Patrimony Traditionnelle watches:


 
Being thin also makes the movement an attractive base for driving complications. In the past, the 1120 has been the base of the Mercator, one of Vacheron Constantin's most iconic watches of the past twenty years:





as well as the Heure Sautante and Saltarello, a pair of elegant and minimalistic Jump Hour watches.


 
In 1986 Vacheron Constantin introduced its first perpetual calendar wristwatch and this basic movement is still used today. I was the lucky owner of an early skeletonized example:


Vacheron Constantin has updated that design for use in both the Patrimony Traditionnelle QP openworked watch:



and for the Patrimony Contemporaine QP, just introduced at SIHH, which I find to be supremely elegant:

 
Harking back to the early days of the caliber 1120, it is used in the Historiques Ultra-fine 1968:


 
The most recent design to use the caliber 1120 is the limited edition Excellence Platine Patirmony Contemporatine, featuring a 42 mm platinum case and a sand-blasted platinum dial.


 

There are many references from Vacheron Constantin that use the caliber 1120 that were not part of this survey, including many simple vintage dress watches that can be had for a very reasonable financial outlay. If have a favorite watch with this caliber, please share it in this thread.

As I said at the beginning, one could build a great collection of watches based on just this caliber. If you could only have one 1120-watch in your collection, which model would you choose? And could you or would you really keep yourself to having just one watch with this movement?

 
Bill
 

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