Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine small model – for women and men?

Vacheron Constantin just released the Patrimony Contemporaine small model. It’s an incredibly elegant dress watch with a diameter of 36 mm. Do you think it’s a mens or ladies watch? We think it’s superb for both?

The press release starts with these words: “Classic yet contemporary. Understated and refined. Moderate and yet sensual”. We can only agree. This is the ‘iced’ dress watch that even men who think that diamonds are for girls, can wear without feeling girlish. Classic, contemporary, understated, refined, moderate and sensual…

The new Patrimony Contemporaine small model comes in pink and white gold and the side of the case is set with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds, with a total weight of approx. 0.39 carat. Traditional dress watches used to be roughly between 33 mm and 36 mm, and if we take the Patek Philippe 3939A into account (it just sold for 1.4 million Euro and measures 33.3 mm in diameter), the size of the new Patrimony small model seems to fit in this ‘genre’. Although it’s probably intended as a ladies watch, we think it’s perfect for either women or men. But please, no marital fight over this watch.

The gold case is only 6.7 mm thick and we think the curves are just gorgeous. The lugs gently curve downwards and the strap perfectly connects with the case. One of those details that matter! No seconds hand on this one, just the hour and minute hand to indicate the time. Again one of those details that simply suit this watch perfect.

The silvered opaline dial features 18K gold applied indexes, which are quite long. In terms of design this perfectly suits with ‘lacking’ seconds hand. Besides the long five-minute indexes, there are small round minute markers (also 18K gold) around the dial.

Inside ticks the in-house developed and produced caliber 1400. A beautiful and ultra-flat hand-wound movement, that of course bears the Geneva Hallmark, and which can be seen through the transparent case back.

Vacheron Constantin caliber 1400 is only 2.60 mm thick and measures 20.65 mm (or 9 lignes) in diameter. In total it comprises of 98 components, of which 20 jewels, beats at 4 Hz (28,800 bph) and has a power reserve of approximately 40 hours.

Vacheron Constantin fitted this Patrimony Contemporaine small model with an absolute gorgeous movement. It is hand-finished; the flat surfaces are decorated with Côte de Genève, the edges are hand beveled and polished and even the flat-headed screws are polished. Would you consider this to be a ladies or mens watch? We would like to see your opinion!

More details can be found at the Vacheron Constantin website and on their in-house forum called The Hour Lounge.