Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon Dragon is Vacheron Constantin on engraving beast mode. Announced earlier this year as a special limited edition in late January (just ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations), the watch is said to be made available solely through the maison’s Asia Pacific boutiques.
Starting with the exterior, we have a 42mm 18K pink gold case that has nearly all of its visible surfaces engraved with an oriental cloud motif. Considering that this is all hand engraved, the consistency of the motif’s depth and its pattern is remarkable. Check out the work on the lugs, it must be appreciated that even the inner edge on them are engraved.
Moving into the galvanized dial, we first have a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock to help keep an eye on the watch’s 336 hours or 14 days’ worth of power reserve. Taking center stage, thereafter, is the beast within — an 18K pink gold, hand engraved dragon that sprawls out across the diameter of the dial, which is an exemplary specimen showcasing Vacheron Constantin’s metier d’art knowhow.
There is yet another beast contained within the watch, one which you must turn the timepiece over in order to see. It is the calibre 2260, a 1-minute tourbillon movement developed and made by Vacheron Constantin themselves. While the solid bridges from the business end are a pragmatic approach to movement construction, the wide-open Maltese cross tourbillon on display on the dial-side will keep you gawking for hours. If not, there’s always the mastery of the work done on the dragon. And goes without saying that at this level of craftsmanship — and the fact that this is a Vacheron Constantin timepiece — the calibre 2260 for sure bears the Poinçon de Genève.
Just 8 pieces of the Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon Dragon will be made. None of them are number, however, they do bear the words “limited edition of 8 pieces” on the caseback. Price at this point in time is listed at S$411,200 and as mentioned earlier, the 8 pieces will only be sold through the maison’s boutiques in the Asia Pacific.
Technical Specifications: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon Dragon
Movement
Mechanical hand-wound calibre 2260; hours, minutes and seconds hand mounted on tourbillon; 336-hour power reserve
Case
42mm; 18k pink gold; water resistant to 30 meters
Strap
Dark brown Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Limited edition of 8 pieces to be sold solely through Vacheron Constantin’s boutiques in the Asia Pacific
