(You can read a full overview of the Vacheron Constantin Philosophia watch here)
Named Philosophia watch by its owner, this watch was based on the postulate that mankind does not need to constantly know the exact time to the nearest minute. In some parts of the world, making an appointment in the morning or in the evening is quite sufficient to allow two people to meet. In the same spirit, knowing that it is 12 or 17 minutes past ten o’clock does not make the Philosophia watch’s owner any happier or unhappier. However, while this man has decided on a lifestyle of displaying approximate time, he is no less a connoisseur of excellence. Far from being indifferent, he is in fact a Fine Watchmaking enthusiast and a major collector of timepieces
The Vacheron Constantin Philosophia watch conveys all of these things at once. Based on a model from the Patrimony collection, it has only one hand in the centre, the hour hand, with a 24-hour display, allowing the approximate hour to be read without worrying about the minutes. But if the owner wants a more exact idea of the time at any given moment, he simply engages the on-off slide of the philosophia watch‘s minute repeater, which reveals the exact hour, quarter hour and minute. If the hand is a little before 6 o’clock, the chime will sound five times on a low note, three times on a low-to-high note pair, and, for example, twelve times on a high note. That means it is exactly 5:57. Another philosophia watch‘s sophisticated touches is an opening in the dial at 6 o’clock that reveals a tourbillon rotating once every 60 seconds.
Vacheron Constantin Philosophia watch technical specifications
Reference
‘80173 000R9483’ – Atelier Cabinotiers Philosophia
Calibre 2755
Stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva
Energy
Mechanical, manual-winding
Movement diameter
33.30 mm
Movement thickness
7.65 mm
Jewels
40
Frequency
18’000 vibrations / hour (2.5 Hz)
Indications
Hours 24 H, second on tourbillon
Minute Repeater
Tourbillon
Power reserve on the back of the watch
Power reserve
Approx. 58 hours
Bespoke power reserve dial engraved with ‘great and lesser Bear’
Case 18K
5N pink gold
43 mm in diameter
Convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on one side
Water-Resistance
None
Dial
Silvered opaline
Moon-phases disc in 18K 5N pink gold
Black painted minute-track and 11 Arabic numerals
Strap
Brown Mississipiensis alligator leather, square scales, hand-stitched, saddle finish
Clasp
Buckle in 18K 5N pink gold
Polished half Maltese Cross
Unique piece
Case-back engraved with “Les Cabinotiers” identification and “AC” Hallmark