Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Retrograde Open Tourbillon Watch

Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Retrograde Open Tourbillon Watch Vacheron Constantin offers a masterclass in combining ultra-modern design codes with its acclaimed watchmaking heritage

As they say, if you have it, show it off. Vacheron Constantin's latest tourbillon and retrograde date display combination does exactly this, and presents its exquisite mechanism in a modern multi-layer skeleton dial. A long-established manufacturer in tune with current trends, Vacheron Constantin welcomes another watch into its Traditionelle collection with an ultra-modern yet refined 21st century aesthetic.

There's no doubt that skeletonized or skeletonized watches are in vogue, and we tend to think of them as a novel way to showcase a mechanical movement. However, if you are a 268-year-old company like Vacheron Constantin, you might even have some skeletonized models in your archives. It turns out that VC's archives do have a 1918 skeletonized pocket watch with an astronomical calendar (Ref. 10937). After a nearly 100-year hiatus, VC revisited the concept of a skeleton dial and introduced ref. 47247 in 2002, followed by watches like the Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar in 2019 and the Traditionnelle Openface Complete Calendar in 2021. payment.


The stepped case with fluted caseback and slim bezel, signature Traditionelle style, is crafted in polished 18K rose gold and measures 41mm in diameter by 11.07mm in height. However, the dial presents a fascinating fusion of old and new, with classic gold dauphine hands, railway minute track and gold baton hour markers, and the presentation of modern functions on four different planes.

The upper part of the dial has a cream flange with a railroad minute track, behind which is an arched gray hand-guilloche ring with gold hour markers and a retrograde date track. The retrograde date display doesn't complete a full revolution of the dial; it travels along an arc, then springs back to 1 to begin the countdown to the new month. Here the retrograde date hand is made of 18K black gold and is highlighted with a white arrow-shaped tip.

Below the retrograde date is a skeletonized area, protected by sapphire crystal, showing the various parts of the retrograde mechanism. The board has a modern slate gray finish with vertical hand brushing.

This is followed by another recessed guilloche engraved plate and the large aperture of the spectacular tourbillon framed by the seconds track. A skeletonized Maltese cross is adorned above the tourbillon, forming a well-like structure that runs through the dial and case back. The decoration of the tourbillon frame is very delicate, the surface is hand-chamfered and hand-polished.

Viewed from the back, it is possible to see the other components of Caliber 2162 R31, an automatic movement developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin. The caliber 2161 R31 is protected by slate gray bridges with NAC finish, is only 6.25mm thick and is powered by a gold peripheral oscillating weight. The movement beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour, offers a 72-hour power reserve, and is certified by the Hallmark of Geneva.

The Traditionelle Tourbillon Retrograde Date Openface comes on a hand-stitched gray alligator strap with a pink gold folding clasp in the shape of a half Maltese cross.

Technical Specifications – Vacheron Constantin TRADITIONELLE Tourbillon Retrograde Date OPENFACE
Case: 41mm diameter x 11.07mm thick - 18k rose gold, polished - fluted case back - 30m water resistance
Dial: Skeletonized - Assembled from 4 parts - Applied gold hour markers - Railway minute track - Retrograde date with arrow indicator in upper half of dial - Tourbillon at 6 o'clock - Rose gold Dauphine hour and minute hands - Small seconds on the tourbillon
Movement: Caliber 2162 R31 - developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin - automatic - 31 mm x 6.25 mm - 242 components, 30 jewels - 18,000 vph/2.5 Hz - 72 hours power reserve - Hallmark of Geneva certification - hours, minutes , small seconds, tourbillon, retrograde date
Strap: Gray hand-stitched alligator leather with alligator leather lining - 18K rose gold folding clasp with polished half Maltese cross
Reference number: 6010T/000R-B638