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Lot Essay
This Patrimony Traditionelle ‘Grande Complication’ is not only incredibly attractive, it is also a wristwatch of extraordinary complexity that perfectly represents the innovation, excellence and purity of design that defines the Vacheron Constantin brand. Chief among the Grand Complication models presented by Vacheron Constantin at the SIHH 2010, it was made in a very small limited series. This awe-inspiring timepiece is certainly one of the most elegant and exclusive high-complication wristwatches of the modern era.
Housed in a perfectly proportioned 44 mm. platinum case with classic mid-century styling, the equally perfectly proportioned dark grey opaline dial immediately highlights the formidable complications of the caliber 2253 movement within. In the lower half of the dial the one-minute tourbillon is displayed with its distinctive Maltese cross cage carrying the seconds hand. The tourbillon is flanked by sectors indicating the time of sunrise and the time of sunset which are custom set to the original client’s location. In the upper half of the dial are subsidiary dials for the perpetual calendar and the leap-years, the sector at 11 o’clock is for equation of time, showing the difference in minutes between true solar time and mean time. Both the sunrise/sunset and equation of time complications are extremely difficult to construct, only watchmakers of exceptional skill are capable of making movements with these seldom-seen mechanisms. Indeed, it is the Vacheron Constantin 30-jewel caliber 2253 movement that truly sets this watch apart, despite being functionally very complicated, it is also extremely precise, earning it the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. Further increasing the impressiveness of this feat are the various technological advancements housed in the movement, such as a 14-day power reserve provided by four barrels coupled in two pairs, the power reserve sector is visible through the sapphire case back.
For the collector of high complication watches, there is no better opportunity to own a truly symbolic and complicated piece from one of the most respected watchmakers in the industry.
Vacheron Constantin is one of the greatest watch houses in the world, their reputation for innovation and excellence in the production of complicated watches is almost unrivalled. The company currently holds the record for making the most complicated watch in the world, the reference 57260, with an incredible 57 complications including a (retrograde) split-seconds chronograph.
Equation of Time
For a watch with an equation mechanism, an indication of the date is always required because the equation varies continuously throughout the year. This information is useful when setting a watch to time given by a sundial. By adding or subtracting the equation for the day, as indicated by the hand, the sundial time could be corrected to mean time.
The equation of time in astronomy is the quantity that needs to be added or subtracted to switch from real time given by the sun, to the mean time; our time, which arbitrarily divided a day in 24 hours. The equation of time varies from one day to another, its value swings between around -16 to +16 seconds per day. By cumulating these differences, we obtain a variation between the real noon and the mean noon of more or less 15 minutes. The most important differences are, function of the years, toward February 12 (+14 minutes and 59 seconds) and November 3 (-16 minutes and 15 seconds). The difference is zero toward April 15, June 15, September 1 and December 24. It should be known that today, due to the summer time and the winter time, we live with a difference of two or three hours relative to the sun; our daily noon corresponding to the solar noon of Central Europe. The equation of time also gives information about the equinoxes of spring (21 - 22 March) and autumn (22 - 23 September), as well as the solstices of summer (toward 21 June 21) and winter (toward 21 December). The equinox is the moment when the sun is on the plane of the equator, thus leading to days equal to nights. The solstice is the moment when the sun is in the farthest position from the equator, resulting in the longest day and the longest night. These dates determine the seasons of the year.
Housed in a perfectly proportioned 44 mm. platinum case with classic mid-century styling, the equally perfectly proportioned dark grey opaline dial immediately highlights the formidable complications of the caliber 2253 movement within. In the lower half of the dial the one-minute tourbillon is displayed with its distinctive Maltese cross cage carrying the seconds hand. The tourbillon is flanked by sectors indicating the time of sunrise and the time of sunset which are custom set to the original client’s location. In the upper half of the dial are subsidiary dials for the perpetual calendar and the leap-years, the sector at 11 o’clock is for equation of time, showing the difference in minutes between true solar time and mean time. Both the sunrise/sunset and equation of time complications are extremely difficult to construct, only watchmakers of exceptional skill are capable of making movements with these seldom-seen mechanisms. Indeed, it is the Vacheron Constantin 30-jewel caliber 2253 movement that truly sets this watch apart, despite being functionally very complicated, it is also extremely precise, earning it the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. Further increasing the impressiveness of this feat are the various technological advancements housed in the movement, such as a 14-day power reserve provided by four barrels coupled in two pairs, the power reserve sector is visible through the sapphire case back.
For the collector of high complication watches, there is no better opportunity to own a truly symbolic and complicated piece from one of the most respected watchmakers in the industry.
Vacheron Constantin is one of the greatest watch houses in the world, their reputation for innovation and excellence in the production of complicated watches is almost unrivalled. The company currently holds the record for making the most complicated watch in the world, the reference 57260, with an incredible 57 complications including a (retrograde) split-seconds chronograph.
Equation of Time
For a watch with an equation mechanism, an indication of the date is always required because the equation varies continuously throughout the year. This information is useful when setting a watch to time given by a sundial. By adding or subtracting the equation for the day, as indicated by the hand, the sundial time could be corrected to mean time.
The equation of time in astronomy is the quantity that needs to be added or subtracted to switch from real time given by the sun, to the mean time; our time, which arbitrarily divided a day in 24 hours. The equation of time varies from one day to another, its value swings between around -16 to +16 seconds per day. By cumulating these differences, we obtain a variation between the real noon and the mean noon of more or less 15 minutes. The most important differences are, function of the years, toward February 12 (+14 minutes and 59 seconds) and November 3 (-16 minutes and 15 seconds). The difference is zero toward April 15, June 15, September 1 and December 24. It should be known that today, due to the summer time and the winter time, we live with a difference of two or three hours relative to the sun; our daily noon corresponding to the solar noon of Central Europe. The equation of time also gives information about the equinoxes of spring (21 - 22 March) and autumn (22 - 23 September), as well as the solstices of summer (toward 21 June 21) and winter (toward 21 December). The equinox is the moment when the sun is on the plane of the equator, thus leading to days equal to nights. The solstice is the moment when the sun is in the farthest position from the equator, resulting in the longest day and the longest night. These dates determine the seasons of the year.