Vacheron Constantin - Angel Watch, Metiers d'Art Les Univers Infinis
Representing the second chapter in a collection presented in 2012, the new Metiers d'Art Les Univers Infinis creations, inspired by the work of Dutch artist Cornelis Escher, pursue this glowing tribute to the graphic art of tessellation. Three new watches are unveiled: the Angel Watch, the Lizard Watch and the Horsemen Watch.
The watches express the creativity of the Master Craftsmen whose skills are so greatly valued by the Manufacture, and they illustrate the ties between watchmaking and culture that Vacheron Constantin has been perpetuating ever since its founding. At the crossroads between past, present and future, these timepieces embody the challenges taken up by the artisans of Vacheron Constantin and governed by a combination of talent, discipline and instinct.
The new Metiers d'Art Les Univers Infinis trilogy uses the technique of periodic paving to create a strikingly hypnotic effect. Gold and mother-of-pearl marquetry is associated with engraving, enamelling, gemsetting and guilloche work to create trompe l'oeil dials featuring infinitely entwined elements of geometry, movement and symbolism. The space on the dials is filled with interlocking repetitive motifs, thereby creating a world of optimal illusion and perspective, beautifully framed by a white gold case. The slender bezel ensures a maximum dial opening, while the hands are hollowed so as to provide full expressive scope for the art of tessellation.
The Hallmark of Geneva certified watches are driven by Calibre Vacheron Constantin 2460, a mechanical self-winding movement. In addition to its reliability, it bears manual finishes: polished angles, hand-drawn flanks, circular-grained mainplate, bridges adorned with a Côtes de Geneve motif and gold oscillating weight featuring the crossweave guilloche pattern. All are visible through the sapphire crystal case-back.
Angel Watch
Engraving, guilloche work and Grand Feu enamel
On the dial of this model, angels and demons face off in a contrast that is both symbolic and aesthetic. The former are in light, the latter in darkness. Inspired by research conducted by Maurits Cornelis Escher on the "circular boundary" - involving decor composed of infinitely multiplied elements radiating out from a central point - the watch portrays these respective figures through a combination of the arts of engraving, enamelling and guilloche work, skilfully playing on depth and shimmering mirror-like effects.
Working with a white gold base, the engraver first traces the outlines of the figures and then hollows them out as cells using the champleve technique. Next comes the copperplate engraving that defines the details of the demons. The enameller fills the cavities thus hollowed out, an operation requiring infinite precision in that the repetitive symmetry of the pattern simply cannot tolerate even the tiniest flaw. After several firings in the kiln, during which the grey and blue colours are progressively set in place, the artisan applies a final layer of translucent enamel to the imps in order to accentuate the depth of the engraved motifs. The guillocheur then moves into action to craft the angel robes and wings by patiently incising the colourful material. It is extremely rare that guilloche work on an enamelled model is done as the last phase, precisely due to the extreme complexity of such an operation, since any slip of the tool could jeopardise the precious work of an entire team of artisans.
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