Vacheron Constantin, a name that resonates with centuries of horological mastery, has once again pushed the boundaries of watchmaking with the introduction of its Overseas Grand Complication Openface. This timepiece is a significant milestone, as it marks the debut of a minute repeater within the esteemed Overseas collection, a line celebrated for its blend of sporty spirit and sophisticated mechanics. The watch is not merely a carrier of this complex chiming function; it also integrates a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon, all housed within a remarkably svelte and water-resistant titanium case.
The journey to incorporate such a high level of complexity into the sporty Overseas silhouette was a meticulous undertaking. The Calibre 2755 QP, the heart of this mechanical marvel, is a testament to Vacheron Constantin's engineering prowess. Despite its array of functions – minute repeater, perpetual calendar, tourbillon, and power reserve indicator – the movement measures a mere 7.9 mm in thickness. This allows the watch to maintain an overall case height of 13.1 mm, a notable achievement for a grand complication. The selection of grade 5 titanium for the case and integrated bracelet underscores the collection's adventurous character while contributing to the watch's surprisingly light feel on the wrist.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
A key aesthetic feature of the Overseas Grand Complication Openface is its sapphire crystal dial. This transparent stage offers an unobstructed view into the intricate workings of the Calibre 2755 QP. The decision to reveal the movement from the dial side, a practice
Vacheron Constantin has a rich history with, dating back to Art Deco era openface pocket watches, enhances the watch's contemporary and kinetic appeal. The rhodium-plated wheels and the NAC (N-acetylcysteine) galvanic treatment on the bridges create a striking visual contrast, lending an avant-garde touch to the traditionally finished components.
The development of this timepiece was not without its challenges. Ensuring water resistance in a minute repeater watch is a significant hurdle due to the traditional sliding mechanism on the case side that activates the chimes. Vacheron Constantin dedicated a year and a half of research and development to overcome this, completely redesigning the caseback to accommodate the minute repeater mechanism while preserving the distinctive, slender curves of the Overseas case. The result is a watch water-resistant to 3 bar (approximately 30 meters), a practical feature that aligns with the collection's go-anywhere ethos.
The Calibre 2755 QP itself is an emblematic movement for Vacheron Constantin, with roots in the developments made for the groundbreaking Tour de l'Île watch of 2005. Comprising 602 individual components within a diameter of 33.30 mm, this manual-winding movement orchestrates a symphony of horological complications. The perpetual calendar accurately displays the date, day, month, and leap-year cycle, requiring no manual correction until the year 2100. This intricate calendar mechanism is seamlessly integrated with the minute repeater.
The minute repeater function, a first for the Overseas collection, chimes the hours, quarter-hours, and minutes on demand. To ensure the clarity and precision of these chimes, Vacheron Constantin employs a proprietary centripetal regulator. This silent device uses two centrifugal weights to act as a brake on the axis of rotation, smoothing the release of energy from the repeater's spring and allowing the hammers to strike the gongs at the correct intervals for a harmonious musical sequence. The craftsmanship extends to the regulator itself; an arc-shaped bar securing it is fashioned from 750/1000 gold and requires a full day of meticulous hand-polishing to achieve its rounded form. Beneath this, the circular-grained inertia weights bear the engraved initials of Jean-Marc Vacheron, the Maison's founder.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
The tourbillon, another hallmark of high watchmaking, is also given a prominent display. The finishing of the tourbillon bridges exemplifies Vacheron Constantin's exacting standards, involving rounding their convex profiles and tapering them towards the fixing screws, followed by hand-polishing to a brilliant sheen. The architecture of these bridges, particularly on the reverse side, has been redesigned to be more open and visually lighter, offering an enhanced view of the tourbillon's mesmerizing rotation. The tourbillon cage, featuring the Maltese cross emblem, completes a revolution every minute, acting as a small seconds indicator. The relatively slow beat of the balance wheel, at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), further accentuates the graceful ballet of the tourbillon.
Beyond the tourbillon and repeater, the overall finishing of the Calibre 2755 QP is executed to the highest standards, earning the timepiece the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva certification. This includes mirror-polished repeater hammers, meticulously bevelled and satin-brushed bridges, circular satin-brushed wheels, and bridges adorned with the traditional Côtes de Genève motif. These details, often hidden within the movement, are brought to the forefront in the Openface design.
The openworked sapphire dial presents its own set of aesthetic and technical considerations. While offering a captivating view, it also serves as the canvas for displaying the watch's indications. The 18-carat white gold hour-markers appear to float above the mechanical landscape, treated with blue Super-Luminova® for enhanced visibility in low light conditions, as are the hour and minute hands. The various circles outlining the calendar and time indications are given a blue metallised finish, creating a vibrant contrast with the predominantly grey and silver tones of the movement. White engraved markings on these blue circles clearly denote the dates, days, months, years, and minutes, ensuring legibility amidst the visual complexity.
The avant-garde spirit is further amplified by the interplay of colors and finishes within the movement itself. The anthracite grey hue of the NAC galvanic treatment applied to the bridges provides a modern counterpoint to the silvery brilliance of the rhodium-plated wheels. This dynamic visual is framed by the grade 5 titanium case, which measures 44.5 mm in diameter. The case and its integrated bracelet feature a sophisticated mix of finishes, including sandblasting on the bezel combined with polishing and satin-brushing—a new signature for titanium models in the Overseas collection. This combination creates an engaging play of light and reflections, highlighting the watch's multifaceted design.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
True to the versatility of the Overseas collection, the integrated titanium bracelet is equipped with a comfort-adjustment system and can be easily interchanged without the need for tools. The watch is supplied with two additional straps: one in elegant blue alligator leather and another in sporty blue rubber. An additional titanium grade 5 folding clasp, compatible with both supplementary straps, is also included, allowing the wearer to adapt the watch's character to different occasions.
The decision to introduce an openface grand complication into the Overseas collection, a line often associated with exploration and everyday adventures, reflects the evolving landscape of haute horlogerie. As Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin's Director of Style and Patrimony, notes, the boundaries between watchmaking genres are becoming increasingly blurred. Complex mechanisms are no longer confined to delicate dress watches. The Overseas collection has previously embraced complications like the tourbillon and the ultra-thin skeletonized perpetual calendar, demonstrating that high watchmaking can indeed coexist with a spirit of adventure. The Overseas Grand Complication Openface continues this trajectory, housing a profoundly complex calibre in a form that honors the collection's robust and versatile nature.
The choice of Calibre 2755 QP was deliberate, driven by its impressive combination of a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar, and a minute repeater featuring the Maison's advanced striking mechanism regulator. The movement's lineage, tracing back to the research for the 250th-anniversary Tour de l'Île watch with its 16 complications, speaks to its sophisticated architecture. Furthermore, its relative slimness for such a complex assembly (7.9 mm) was a crucial factor in achieving the desired case proportions. The modularity of the calibre, allowing for the addition of further astronomical or other functions, hints at its potential for future evolution, as seen in pieces like the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Bacchus and the Les Cabinotiers Dual Moon Grand Complication.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
The visual presentation of the watch from the front is a captivating interplay of depth and transparency. The blue sub-dials for the perpetual calendar indications – day of the week at approximately 9 o'clock, month at 12 o'clock, and date at 3 o'clock – are clearly demarcated and float above the intricate mechanics. The leap year indicator is subtly integrated within the month sub-dial. The tourbillon cage at 6 o'clock, with its Maltese cross shape, draws the eye, its constant rotation a visual reminder of the watch's precision. The minute track, also in blue, lines the periphery of the sapphire dial, punctuated by the applied white gold hour markers. The openworked hour and minute hands, also in white gold and partially filled with blue luminescent material, sweep across this complex yet legible display.
Turning the watch over reveals a transparent sapphire crystal caseback, offering another perspective on the Calibre 2755 QP. Here, the power reserve indicator is discreetly located, providing a practical indication of the approximately 58 hours of autonomy when fully wound. The meticulous finishing of the movement, including the Côtes de Genève on the bridges and the hand-polished anglages, is again on full display. The engraving of Jean-Marc Vacheron's initials on the centripetal regulator's inertia weights is a subtle nod to the Maison's deep heritage.
The technical specifications of the Overseas Grand Complication Openface, reference 6510V/110T-128C, summarize its impressive capabilities. The manually wound Calibre 2755 QP, developed and manufactured in-house by Vacheron Constantin, boasts 602 components and 45 jewels. It operates at a frequency of 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour) and features NAC finishing. The indications include hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon, the minute repeater, the full perpetual calendar, the tourbillon itself, and the aforementioned power reserve on the caseback.
The case, crafted from robust and lightweight grade 5 titanium, measures 44.5 mm in diameter and 13.1 mm in height. It features a transparent sapphire crystal caseback and offers water resistance tested to 3 bar. The dial is a sapphire crystal with blue display counters, complemented by 18K white gold hour-markers and hands, with blue Super-Luminova® highlights for the hours, minutes, and markers. The counter hands are also rendered in 18K white gold.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
The primary strap is a grade 5 titanium bracelet, satin-finished and polished, featuring an interchangeable system and a comfort-adjustment mechanism. Accompanying this are two additional straps, one in blue alligator leather and another in blue rubber. The watch is secured by a titanium grade 5 folding clasp, and an additional, interchangeable titanium grade 5 folding clasp is provided for use with the supplementary straps.
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Grand Complication Openface is a watch of limited production. Reflecting its complexity, craftsmanship, and the precious materials used, the price is available upon request, a common practice for timepieces of this caliber. It represents a bold statement from Vacheron Constantin, successfully marrying the adventurous spirit of the Overseas line with the highest echelons of traditional watchmaking complications, all presented in a strikingly contemporary openworked design. This fusion creates a timepiece that is both a technical tour de force and a visually arresting piece of kinetic art.
Case: Titanium grade 5, 44.5 mm diameter, 13.1 mm height. Transparent sapphire crystal caseback. Water resistant tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres).
Movement: Calibre 2755 QP, developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin. Mechanical manual-winding. 33.9 mm diameter, 7.9 mm thick. Approximately 58 hours of power reserve. 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour). 602 components, 45 jewels. NAC finishing. Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece. Indications: Hours and minutes, small seconds on tourbillon, minute repeater, perpetual calendar (day, date, month, leap year), tourbillon, power reserve on the back of the watch.
Dial: Sapphire crystal with blue display counters. 18K white gold (750/1000) hour-markers and hours & minutes hands highlighted with blue Super-Luminova®. 18K white gold (750/1000) counter hands.
Strap: Titanium grade 5, satin-finished and polished, interchangeable and with comfort-adjustment system. Two additional straps: one in blue alligator and one in blue rubber. Titanium grade 5 folding clasp. One additional titanium grade 5 folding clasp, interchangeable and compatible with both additional straps.
Price: Price on request.
Reference Number: 6510V/110T-128C
Notes: The first minute repeater in the Overseas collection. Features a complex Calibre 2755 QP with a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and tourbillon. The openface design showcases the intricate movement through a sapphire crystal dial. Limited production.