VACHERON CONSTANTIN LAUNCHES THE MALTE TOURBILLON IN STEEL
By: Bill (registered) Wednesday, February 7th, 2007
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of its historical
Geneva boutique, Vacheron Constantin presents a
tourbillon in a steel watch case, issued in a limited
series of just 10 and available exclusively in Geneva.
For me Vacheron has always been synonymous with original and creative designs, this may not seem completely true with certain pieces from the past but it seems that they are going more towards bold designs and “niche” aesthetics (just look at the thread with the love/hate reactions to the Patrimony Bi-Reatrograde).
For me VC have hit the nail on the head with this watch.
But VC is not only design but also real manufacturing skills. The Malte Tourbillon houses VC’s first inhouse calibre (cal 1790) which has an impressive finish (yet another point where VC has made immense progress in the past). If you look at the tourbillon bridge it tappers gently outwards: just reaching that results necessitates over 11 hours of buffing and polishing of the bridge!
The dial features a “secret mark” concealed at noon in the minute circle as a reminder of the Geneva boutique’s 1906-2006 anniversary date, the opaline black nickel dial with its two pink gold hands is hand-guilloché on the outer zone with vertical lines contributing to an elegant and extremely refined appearance. Applied pink gold hour-markers set the finishing touch to the harmonious overall effect.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Reference 30145/000A-9246
Calibre 1790, tourbillon, mechanical hand-wound
Movement thickness 6.1mm
Movement dimensions 12’’’ x 12’’’½ (corresponding to 27.37mm x 29.30mm)
Indications Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve, pointer-type 31-day display
Jewelling 27 jewels
Frequency 18,000 vibrations per hour
Power reserve Over 40 hours
Case Stainless steel
Water resistance 30 metres
Dial Opaline black nickel, sunray-brushed centre Vertical hand-guilloché outer zone Vertical hand-guilloché counter zone
Strap Hand-sewn black alligator mississipiensis
Clasp Steel folding clasp matching the case
For me Vacheron has always been synonymous with original and creative designs, this may not seem completely true with certain pieces from the past but it seems that they are going more towards bold designs and “niche” aesthetics (just look at the thread with the love/hate reactions to the Patrimony Bi-Reatrograde).
For me VC have hit the nail on the head with this watch.
But VC is not only design but also real manufacturing skills. The Malte Tourbillon houses VC’s first inhouse calibre (cal 1790) which has an impressive finish (yet another point where VC has made immense progress in the past). If you look at the tourbillon bridge it tappers gently outwards: just reaching that results necessitates over 11 hours of buffing and polishing of the bridge!
The dial features a “secret mark” concealed at noon in the minute circle as a reminder of the Geneva boutique’s 1906-2006 anniversary date, the opaline black nickel dial with its two pink gold hands is hand-guilloché on the outer zone with vertical lines contributing to an elegant and extremely refined appearance. Applied pink gold hour-markers set the finishing touch to the harmonious overall effect.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Reference 30145/000A-9246
Calibre 1790, tourbillon, mechanical hand-wound
Movement thickness 6.1mm
Movement dimensions 12’’’ x 12’’’½ (corresponding to 27.37mm x 29.30mm)
Indications Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve, pointer-type 31-day display
Jewelling 27 jewels
Frequency 18,000 vibrations per hour
Power reserve Over 40 hours
Case Stainless steel
Water resistance 30 metres
Dial Opaline black nickel, sunray-brushed centre Vertical hand-guilloché outer zone Vertical hand-guilloché counter zone
Strap Hand-sewn black alligator mississipiensis
Clasp Steel folding clasp matching the case
