A look back at the Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch

Luxurious takes a look back at one of the greats – The Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch.

This Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch is a world first. Featuring four barrels coupled with a regulator tourbillon and a perpetual calendar and thus establishing new landmarks in horological excellence.

A quarter of a millennium of the highest quality watchmaking provides an ideal opportunity for Vacheron Constantin to look back on its past.  Highlighting its vast experience and paying tribute to the Métiers d’Art. Vacheron Constantin has faithfully promoted throughout the centuries, and stimulated a capacity for technical innovation that has remained intact and is as vigorous as ever. This is well illustrated by the Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch a “Grande Complication” watch that the Vacheron Constantin brand with the Maltese Cross is proud to present as a means of taking the watchmaking industry a step further into a complex field, that of the power reserve. With 250 hours guaranteed by four barrels coupled with a tourbillon regulator and a perpetual calendar mechanism the Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch represents an active step towards instating a new reference in the field of horological excellence.

A tribute to the Cabinotiers established in the historical Saint-Gervais district, the cradle of grand traditional Geneva watchmaking, the Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch perpetuates the enlightened and innovative approach adopted by the pioneers of which Vacheron Constantin is a direct descendant. The Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais commemorative series is a sparkling homage, 250 years later, to this fertile breeding ground and to the skilled craftsmen mastering the subtle gear-trains and the complicated mechanisms on which Vacheron Constantin has built its reputation. This Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch serves to prove that their descendants are still worthy of their legacy and would not disappoint them in any way.

The Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais Watch has Four barrels for a total of 410 parts

The various functions clothed in the 44 mm case in 950 platinum call for 410 parts driving the hour and minute displays, small seconds at 6 o’clock, along with a tourbillon device. Calibre 2250 also incorporates a perpetual calendar indicating the day, the date, the month and the leap year. The movement is powered by four barrels, stacked in pairs and providing a total power reserve of 250 hours: the reserve is visible on the dial by double 125-hour segment indications, each winding down in turn. The power-reserve mechanism driven by the four barrels is patented.

The ethereal, finely worked and extremely precise tourbillon is a classic, revolving once a minute. It is positioned at 6 o’clock in the traditional small seconds position. Optimised by the design-engineers of the brand’s Research / Development department based in Le Sentier (Vallée de Joux), the perpetual calendar displays its indications using the blued hands of the three day, month and date subdials respectively placed at 10, 12 and 2 o’clock. The discreet leap-year display appears through an aperture at 1 o’clock.

In addition to the gold hour and minute hands, two additional blued steel hands can be seen running over the silvered dial in engine-turned gold, each sweeping across a segment at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock. Their function is completely original, since they each indicate the power-reserve of barrels, which successively wind down one after the other.

Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais Power-RESERVE : setting new standards

The Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais watch’s four barrels provide a real and guaranteed power reserve of 250 hours, guaranteeing the smooth and undiminished operation of the movement and the functions. The development department has thus pushed existing limits and set the standard higher than ever before, especially in light of the fact that a comfortable additional margin guarantees that optimal efficiency has been duly verified. Nonetheless, for symbolic reasons, the brand has preferred to officially keep to 250 hours, the natural choice for this anniversary year.

As in all Vacheron Constantin watches, the high level of technical sophistication detracts nothing from the most accomplished forms of aesthetic expression. All the movement parts have thus been treated and decorated with meticulous care and in accordance with the uncompromising criteria of the Poincon de Geneve quality hallmark. The Vacheron Constantin Saint-Gervais watch is being issued in a limited series of of only 55 models.

Vacheron Constantin Saint Gervais Technical specifications
MOVEMENT
Movement : Calibre 2250 – 410 parts – 4 barrels providing a 250-hour power reserve
Indications & functions : hours and minutes seconds at 6 o’clock “Tourbillon” device independent double power reserve, perpetual calendar, day/date/month/leap years

Other technical characteristics:
Energy : mechanical, hand-winding
Regulating organs: Breguet overcoil balance-spring, balance with screws
Frequency: 2.5Hz (18,000 vph)
Power reserve: 250 hours
Jewelling: 33 jewels

Other characteristics:
Winding stem: 2 positions
Perpetual calendar adjustment: using 3 correctors housed along the case

Main dimensions:
Caging diameter: 28.50mm
Total diameter: 32.0mm
Total thickness: 8.60mm

CASE
Material:  950 platinum
Diameter and thickness: 44mm, 14.6 mm
Inter-horn width: 22mm at the strap attachment
Shape and construction: Round 3 parts, screw-on bezel
Case-back: Secured with screws, with inset crystal
Crystals: Sapphire, glareproofed on the inner face, mounted on a joint
Finishing: Polished case, fine knurling on the bezel and case-back “250th anniversary” type soldered lugs
Water-resistant to 30 metres.

DIAL
Material:18-carat gold
Dial description: light silvered finishing, hand-guilloché “ 250th anniversary” motif, 18-carat gold appliques

HANDS
Hours and minutes: In rhodium-finished 18-carat gold, fan-shaped, inspired by a 1926 vintage model
Seconds : In rhodium-finished 18-carat gold, baton-shaped, on tourbillon carriage
Subdials: In flame-blued steel, dagger-shaped

STRAP & CLASP
Strap: Hand-sewn alligator leather with a silky satin finish
Clasp: Folding clasp, 18-carat gold

PRODUCTION RUN
The Vacheron Constantin Saint-Gervais is a limited edition of 55, crafted in 950 platinum and each individually numbered.