Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar

Vacheron Constantin’s very own customisation department – Les Cabinotiers – has created a one-of-a-kind timepiece that perpetuates the brand’s longstanding tradition of combining sophisticated horological complications.  Following the release of the Mécaniques Sauvages animal-themed collection, the Grande Complication Phoenix, and the Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky Chart,  Vacheron gives yet another display of the virtuosity of its watchmakers and artisans grouped in the Les Cabinotiers, where bespoke fantasies come to light. The latest unique piece shared by the brand is this Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar fitted with a totally revisited and ultra-thin movement: Calibre 1731 QP.

Case and Dial

The unique Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar is presented in either a polished white or pink gold case and distinguished by its pure, sober lines. Measuring 42mm in diameter with a thickness of 10.44mm, the only give-away that you are looking at something of greater complexity than a perpetual calendar is the minute repeater slide on the left side of the case. The blue dial of the white gold version and the brown dial of the pink gold model add a dash of dynamism and modernity to the mix.

The layout of the calendar indications is similar to the Patrimony Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin model. Placed in the northern hemisphere of the dial, the perpetual calendar indications appear in three snailed discs with a darker background and clear markings for enhanced legibility. As opposed to inserting the leap year indication inside one of the three counters, it appears in a small, discreet aperture between the month and date.

There are no hour indicators to clutter the dial and the markers are miniature gold pyramids placed on the periphery of the minute track. The lower part of the dial is dedicated to the moon phase function with a gold Moon picked out against a blue or brown background with stars.

Calibre 1731 QP

Launched in 2013 by the Maison and named after the year of Jean-Marc Vacheron’s birth, Calibre 1731 is an ultra-slim manual-winding minute repeater movement. For this latest creation, the Les Cabinotiers watchmakers combined the ultra-thin Calibre 1731 with a perpetual calendar complication resulting in Calibre 1731 QP. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement measures 32.80mm in diameter and has a thickness of just 5.70mm.

Composed of 438 components, Calibre 1731QP beats at 21,600 vph/3Hz and is endowed with a 65h power reserve. A prodigious technical accomplishment, a silent strike governor to control the cadence of the hammers was also developed by the Les Cabinotiers.

Both watches are presented on matching alligator straps with a gold folding clasp and delivered in a Les Cabinotiers winding box made of Makassar ebony. For more information, please consult www.vacheron-constantin.com.