Vacheron Constantin Patrimony - Watch Collection Takes Cues From its Past

Elegant, timeless and pure are all adjectives used to describe haute horologists Vacheron Constantin Patrimony collection, by far the largest of the company´s timepiece collections. Broken into three categories, Vacheron Constantin Classique, Contemporaine and Traditionnelle, the world´s oldest, uninterrupted watchmaking company takes cues from its past in creating this highly praised line. The Traditionnelle is the line considered the purist and the most steeped in the past. It has the highest level of complications and includes a number of openwork examples. On the other hand, the Contemporaine models demonstrate an ultra-thin, minimalist timepiece. The Classique, as its name implies, is classic in design.

A standout, and one of the newest in the "Patrimony" line is the Traditionnelle World Time watch, which allows the owner to check the time in every time zone, including those offset from Universal Coordinated Time. Patented by Vacheron Constantin, a specially designed complication simultaneously displays 37 time zones and offers a day/night indicator, illuminating which half of the hemisphere is in daylight and which is in darkness. A second dial indicates the major city associated with each time zone and a third dial rotates around the two inner dials with applied gold hour markers.

In the Contemporaine and Classique lines of the Vacheron Constantin "Patrimony" collection, the Contemporaine Collection Excellence Platine and the Classique Gold Bracelet are also worth noting for their elegant simplicity and aesthetic value. The Excellence Platine utilizes solid platinum on the dial, the case, the crown and even in the alligator leather strap. The Classique Gold Bracelet displays an 18K white gold case set with 60 brilliant cut diamonds, a dial with a diamond paved center and an 18K gold woven bracelet. All watches in the collection are water resistant to 30 meters and bear the Hallmark of Geneva, a certificate of excellence awarded only to those watchmakers that adhere to the strict mechanical and aesthetic guidelines that are used to achieve timepiece perfection. Only a handful of Genevan watchmakers have been awarded this hallmark.

Founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, the Vacheron Constantin company has been a leader in watchmaking innovations. In 1839, a production engineer for the company invented the pantograph device, which made it possible to mass produce certain watch components. In 1955, VC introduced one of the thinnest watches ever produced, a model for which the "Patrimony" Contemporaine line displays, with a caliber of 1.64 mm deep. The VC company is owned by the Richemont Group.