New additions to the Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège collection

Two years after its initial launch, three new additions are added to the Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège collection, featuring beautifully crafted dials with Grand Feu enamel.

In this new chapter, the most attractive plants from around the world blossom thanks to a cleverly orchestrated association of figurative guilloché, Grand Feu cloisonné enamelling, and gemsetting. These are timepieces well worth observing under a magnifying glass to capture all their subtle features, in which the smallest detail contributes to rendering the scene strikingly beautiful.

The dials are inspired by the pictures printed in the 1799 publication: The Temple of Flora by Robert John Thornton.

The three new additions to the Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège collection

RENEALMIA WATCH
A profusion of flaming corollas stand out against an opalescent milky white backdrop. This is the Curved Renealmia, which originated in Latin America and is now called “the flower of my soul”. This flower was historically much appreciated for its exotic extravagance. Its deep green leaves measure up to 60 cm and its clustered blooms play on white and red contrasts that end in striped red lips. Its soft and pleasant scent is similar to that of ginger. The subtle painted details on the dial of this model mingles beautifully with the generosity of Nature, subtly marked off by the gold wire of the cloisonné.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège “Renealmia”

ROSE CENTIFOLIA WATCH

The Rose centifolia– a beauty with countless petals – stems from extensive crossbreeding between wild varieties from the Caucasus and Iran. It is also appreciated by devotees of flowering plants for its abundant fragrant flower production. The rose on the dial of this model has been “plucked” at the heart of a densely flowered bush on the original plate and drawn by Thornton himself who, although a medical doctor, was also endowed with undeniable artistic gifts. The master enamellist has played on a palette of pink shades with soft, fluffy effects against a background of subtle pearly grey shades lit up by delicate guilloché motifs literally capturing the light in the enamel.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège “Rose Centifolia”

TULIP WATCH

The Tulip, which originates from the foot of the Himalayas, soon conquered the entire Ottoman Empire. No other flower has so greatly enthused humankind, to an almost manic extent. Its bulb engendered strong speculation that led in the 17th century to a total collapse of the market and the financial ruin of some unconditional tulip-lovers. Yet this crisis did not diminish the interest in this flower, as confirmed by the plate featured by Thornton as the first in his publication. It also proves the spectacular diversity of the shades one can achieve through successive crossbreeding. This model with its more contemporary, linear graphic design highlights various guilloché motifs. The strongly contrasting colours of the enamels, between the beige background and the mingled yellow, rosé and aubergine shades of the petals, accentuates the realism of the depiction.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège “Tulip”

The Métiers d’Art Florilège trio is equipped with a mechanical hand-wound movement developed and produced by Vacheron Constantin: The Calibre 4400. It beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. It has an almost three-day (around 65-hour) power reserve. The decoration and finishing reflect the longstanding expertise of the Manufacture. The Côtes de Genève create ever-changing reflections on the mainplate, the polished screw heads gleam, the straight-grained angles accentuate the fine craftsmanship of an exceptional movement measuring 12.5’’’ (28.60 mm) in diameter. The latter is housed in a perfectly round white gold case with a transparent exhibition back protected by a sapphire crystal providing a chance to admire this intricate workmanship.

The manual winding Calibre 4400 powers the watch

These three models come in two styles: one version with a bezel set with round-cut diamonds (approx. 1.10 carats), available in a 20-piece limited numbered edition; and another featuring a bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 1.90 carats) available as a series of five numbered watches exclusively available from the Vacheron Constantin Boutiques.

 For more information please visit Vacheron Constantin