Ultrathin Vacheron Constantin Perpetual Calendar Watch

Compact new items in the unisex style, which can be considered both as a “costume suit” without unnecessary decor, and as an elegant accessory for sophisticated ladies.

In recent years, under the influence of market trends, many watch brands have been blurring the line between men’s and women’s watches, increasingly offering unisex models. This happened with the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar line. In 2022, she debuted women’s models, which were offered with mother-of-pearl dials and diamonds. This year, the same compact models have moved to neutral territory.

Historical fact: the new ultra-thin automatic caliber 1120 QP debuted in 1983. It was used in the famous Ref. 43031 watches, which played a key role in reviving interest in sophisticated watchmaking after the decline caused by the quartz crisis. This movement is based on the Jaeger-LeCoultre 920 caliber, which Vacheron Constantin has long used in the 222 model, Patek Philippe in the Nautilus 3700 model, and Audemars Piguet in the Royal Oak 5402 model.

The Ref. 43031 model has been in production for two decades. With a diameter of 36 mm, the watch was 8 mm thick and became the forerunner of the Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar models. The body of the new products has similar parameters of 36.5 x 8.43 mm. Everything is classic in the design: round shape, straight ears, thin polished bezel and low restrained profile.

The arrangement of the functions on the silver watch face is also inspired by the Ref. 43031 model. At the “12 o’clock” mark there is a pointer of the month and the cycle of leap years, the date and day of the week pointers occupy the horizontal in the central part of the dial. There is an indicator of the phases and age of the moon at the bottom of the dial.

All counters are equipped with golden arrows. The latter are matched to the Dauphine-style hour and minute hands and stick-shaped hour markers. The minute scale on the dial is designed in the railroad style.

Let’s go back to the mechanism. Assembled from 276 parts, the 1120 QP caliber is only 4.05 mm thick. It operates at a frequency of 19800 pcs/hour (2.75 Hz) and provides a 40-hour power reserve. The movement is marked with the Geneva stamp and decorated according to all the rules of high watchmaking. The Geneva waves are visible on the bridges, and the Vacheron Constantin emblem, the Maltese Cross, is inscribed in the delicate rotor design.

Despite the abundance of information on the dial, this watch has not sacrificed either readability or elegance. The watches are available in pink and white gold cases. The rose gold model is complemented by a blue alligator leather strap, while the white gold version has a light brown alligator leather strap.

A special feature in this series is a model in a white gold case with diamonds on the bezel, ears and crown. This version comes with a blue alligator leather strap.

The estimated cost of the watch is $100,000 for the two models without gemstones and $102,000 for the diamond model.