The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine

Unveiled in 2020, the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph was a spectacular showcase of Vacheron Constantin’s dexterity in combining a monopusher chronograph and tourbillon complication with a twist, thanks to its unconventional layout. Now considered a classic, Vacheron has inducted the Traditionnelle into its hall of fame to become a member of the Excellence Platine club. Crafted in precious 950 platinum, the 50-piece limited edition is destined to become a sought-after collector’s piece.

The Excellence Platine is Vacheron Constantin’s crème de la crème collection, originally created as a platform to release new benchmark models from the Maison. Broadening its horizons, the collection also welcomed emblematic timepieces. The common denominator for all the limited-edition members of this exclusive club is platinum. From the cases to the crown and from the sandblasted dial to the Maltese cross-shaped clasp, platinum is king. Even the stitching on the strap is made of braided silk and platinum thread.

The calibre 3200 powering the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph was developed to mark Vacheron’s grand 260^th anniversary in 2015 and was first used inside the Harmony collection. In 2020, it surfaced inside the more conventionally shaped Traditionnelle collection in a 42.5mm gold case with a thickness of 11.7mm. While the 2024 version respects the distinctive features of the Traditionnelle collection – stepped case with fluted caseback, railway-style minutes track and Dauphine-style hands – almost everything (barring the strap, movement, hands and indices) is crafted in platinum.

The surprising aspect of this watch was not just its masterful integration of two complications but its unconventional dial layout. Instead of occupying its traditional position at 6 o’clock, Vacheron placed the tourbillon with its Maltese cross-shaped carriage in a massive aperture at noon and relayed the chronograph information in a 45-minute register at 3 o’clock complemented by a 65-hour power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock.

Now displayed against a matte sandblasted platinum base, the minutes track with its 1/5th-of-a-second graduation, the tachymeter scale, the 45-minute chronograph register, the power reserve indicator and the seconds on the tourbillon are picked out in black for contrast and legibility. The elapsed times, power reserve and central chronograph seconds hands are blued, and the hour indices and hands are crafted in white gold. There is also a secret “Pt950” signature between 4 and 5 o’clock.

The exceptional in-house calibre 3200 with a monopusher chronograph and a tourbillon regulator is an integrated movement. With 292 components, this manual-winding beauty retains a slim height of just 6.7mm. Operating at a leisurely pace of 18,800vph, the movement delivers 65 hours of power reserve and is decorated to Hallmark of Geneva standards.

Limited to 50 individually numbered pieces, the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine is presented on a dark blue alligator leather strap with hand-stitched details in platinum and silk thread. It is closed by a platinum folding clasp with the brand’s Maltese cross-shaped logo. The price is upon request, and the watch will be available exclusively from Vacheron Constantin boutiques.

For more information, please visit Vacheron-Constantin.com.