The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton, Now In Blue

Vacheron Constantin can boast close to 270 years of continuously amassed watchmaking expertise. With that, it is the oldest uninterrupted Manufacture currently in operation. It regularly showcases its watchmaking prowess through true Haute Horlogerie creations with traditional finishing techniques. It has always shown great skill in creating chronograph and calendar movements, of which the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton in blue is the latest form of expression.

Ultra-thin watchmaking is essentially a complication in itself. The art of slimming down and rearranging components to mere millimetres is extremely challenging. Only a few Manufactures really master the traits to do this, of which Vacheron Constantin indeed is one. Although it might not break any records, the complex 18k 5N pink gold Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton comes in at an acceptable 41.5mm in width and a wafer-thin 8.1mm in height. To put things into perspective, the current world’s thinnest QP watch is the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar, which is 5.8mm.

Vacheron Constantin manages to combine this with the art of skeletonization, as the Overseas QP Ultra-Thin Skeleton lacks a traditional dial. The previous version had a movement that had a grey tone resulting from the NAC treatment of the bridges, plates and other components. This is now changed to a regal blue for the various subdials and tracks, set against the gold and grey-toned components underneath. All this splendour is sandwiched between two sapphire crystals, with the signature serrated bezel on top.

Spread across the dial are multiple calendar indications, starting with the month and leap year subdial at 12 o’clock. At 3 o’clock, there’s the date indication, with the day of the week on the opposite side of the dial. The final indication on the dial side is the moon phase, positioned at 6 o’clock. Time is indicated with centrally mounted gold hands, combined with applied gold markers, all filled with white luminescent material.

Inside we find VC’s in-house crafted Calibre 1120 QPSQ/1, which is automatically wound through a skeletonized central rotor. Visually it almost seems like it’s a peripheral rotor as the arms extending from the central bearing subtly blends into the movement. The Calibre 1120 QPSQ/1 consists of 276 components in total, runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and has a running time of 40 hours once fully wound. It comes with the Hallmark of Geneva seal-of-approval as a testament to VC’s devotion to the craft.

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton Blue comes on a half-Maltese cross 18k pink gold bracelet, with supplemental blue calfskin leather and blue rubber strap. The bracelet and straps can be easily changed thanks to the integrated quick-release system. The price is set at EUR 130,000 which is similar to the pink gold and grey version introduced two years ago.

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