It honours the concept of being ‘dressed to the nines’ and pays homage to the undeniable elegance of the perfect suit. And Vacheron Constantin knows all about sartorial elegance. The high watchmaker from Geneva has been dressing the pockets and wrists of gentlemen for over 260 years.
This new release is a unique take on the classic masculine wardrobe and parallels the art of tailoring.
Just as in haute horlogerie, fine tailoring is an art involving extreme refinement, carefully selected materials and ultra-precise movements, all governed by a determination to achieve a perfectly mastered aesthetic and technical balance.
The details in each dial are remarkable. With dials drawing inspiration from the fabrics typical of a masculine wardrobe, the Métiers d’Art Elégance Sartoriale comprises five models – a fit for every man.
The Prince of Wales check plays on superimposed squares connected by vertical and horizontal stripes, enhanced by raspberry-red translucent enamel. The herringbone motif creates a subtly well-ordered and eminently sophisticated effect, accentuated by a lavender-toned. The regularity and the geometry of the windowpane pattern are emphasised by a warm grey enamel. The slim vertical pinstripes pattern shimmers beneath a soft linen colour. Finally, the tartan motif with its criss-crossing horizontal and vertical grooves is coated with a cerulean blue.
This is not where the sartorial nod concludes – it’s all about the details, remember? Look closer and you’ll see that the hours and minutes are displayed on a sub-dial rimmed with mother-of-pearl, a nod to shirt buttons. At its centre, a pattern created using a tapestry machine draws the gaze, like a silk pocket square against a suit. Even the finely gadrooned pattern around the rim of the dial, the incising of which called for hours of craftsmanship to make the most of light and depth, calls to mind the hem of a perfectly tailored garment. The Caliber 1400, a mechanical manual-winding movement developed and produced by the Vacheron Constantin, powers the five models composing this new collection, ensuring that you are, quite literally, always with the times, while maintaining an abiding refinement.
Of course, though, the deportment of the wearer remains the final mark of a man of style. This part, naturally, is up to you.
