Vacheron Constantin new Quai de l'Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar

[Airangel]

Quai de l'Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar

The resolutely contemporary Quai de l’Ile collection launched by Vacheron Constantin in 2008 is now enriched with a Retrograde Annual Calendar model. This complication is revealed through the new Vacheron Constantin Calibre 2460 QRA and housed within a 43 mm case offering unique opportunities for personalisation.




It made a significant impact in 2008 and will doubtless not go unnoticed in 2011. Resolutely contemporary and embodying as never before the concept of personalisation in the field of fine watchmaking, the Quai de l’Ile collection welcomes a new complication that is as useful as it is technical: the retrograde annual calendar. Clothed in pink or white gold – or both if the customer so wishes – this model with its dynamic lines houses a new mechanical self-winding complicated movement designed, developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin: Calibre 2460 QRA, bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. This calibre incorporates two expressions of technical mastery: the annual calendar combined with a retrograde date display.

A rare and extremely useful combination

The annual calendar is undoubtedly one of the most useful complications, since it takes account of the essential calendar irregularities over a full year. Contrary to simple calendars programmed for 31-day months and requiring date corrections almost every two months, the mechanical programming of the annual calendar enables it to handle months of both 30 and 31 days. This means it requires adjustment just once a year in order to cope with the specific vagaries of the month of February. Already remarkable in its own right, this complication is associated in the new Quai de l’Ile model with a retrograde date display, an acknowledged Vacheron Constantin speciality.

A new calibre

The master-watchmakers and design engineers of Vacheron Cosntantin have conceived, developed and crafted the new Calibre 2460 QRA, complying with technical specifications that included the need to meet the high finishing and construction stipulations laid down by the Hallmark of Geneva regulations. The new 326-part Vacheron Constantin Calibre 2460 QRA drives the hours, minutes and small seconds at 9 o’clock, as well as the annual calendar with retrograde date display, months and a high-precision moon-phase indication requiring correction just once every 122 years. Equipped with a stop-seconds device to ensure precise time-setting, it is endowed with a 40-hour power reserve and a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour). This mechanical self-winding movement is equipped with an oscillating weight mounted on ceramic ball bearings and specially developed to match the spirit of the innovative Quai de l’Ile collection. Crafted in ruthenium-plated 22K gold, it is distinguished by its pure lines enhanced by five raised decorative fillets.

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Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar
Date: Nov 16, 2010,11:47 AM -  (view entire thread)
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The resolutely contemporary Quai de l’Ile collection launched by Vacheron Constantin in 2008 is now enriched with a Retrograde Annual Calendar model. This complication is revealed through the new Vacheron Constantin Calibre 2460 QRA and housed within a 43 mm case offering unique opportunities for personalisation.




It made a significant impact in 2008 and will doubtless not go unnoticed in 2011. Resolutely contemporary and embodying as never before the concept of personalisation in the field of fine watchmaking, the Quai de l’Ile collection welcomes a new complication that is as useful as it is technical: the retrograde annual calendar. Clothed in pink or white gold – or both if the customer so wishes – this model with its dynamic lines houses a new mechanical self-winding complicated movement designed, developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin: Calibre 2460 QRA, bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. This calibre incorporates two expressions of technical mastery: the annual calendar combined with a retrograde date display.



 




A rare and extremely useful combination

The annual calendar is undoubtedly one of the most useful complications, since it takes account of the essential calendar irregularities over a full year. Contrary to simple calendars programmed for 31-day months and requiring date corrections almost every two months, the mechanical programming of the annual calendar enables it to handle months of both 30 and 31 days. This means it requires adjustment just once a year in order to cope with the specific vagaries of the month of February. Already remarkable in its own right, this complication is associated in the new Quai de l’Ile model with a retrograde date display, an acknowledged Vacheron Constantin speciality.




 

A new calibre

The master-watchmakers and design engineers of Vacheron Cosntantin have conceived, developed and crafted the new Calibre 2460 QRA, complying with technical specifications that included the need to meet the high finishing and construction stipulations laid down by the Hallmark of Geneva regulations. The new 326-part Vacheron Constantin Calibre 2460 QRA drives the hours, minutes and small seconds at 9 o’clock, as well as the annual calendar with retrograde date display, months and a high-precision moon-phase indication requiring correction just once every 122 years. Equipped with a stop-seconds device to ensure precise time-setting, it is endowed with a 40-hour power reserve and a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour). This mechanical self-winding movement is equipped with an oscillating weight mounted on ceramic ball bearings and specially developed to match the spirit of the innovative Quai de l’Ile collection. Crafted in ruthenium-plated 22K gold, it is distinguished by its pure lines enhanced by five raised decorative fillets.

 




 

 

A visibly modern character

The contemporary character of the Quai de l’Ile collection is further reinforced by the case of the Retrograde Annual Calendar available in a new 43 mm size. Cushion-shaped and featuring a screw-down back fitted with a sapphire crystal pane, this original case is a contemporary reinterpretation of a classic watch shape. Like legendary cars that are endlessly redesigned to keep pace with style developments, the Quai de l’Ile case is a vivid expression of an avant-garde watchmaking concept, while remaining entirely in harmony with the stylistic spirit of Vacheron Constantin. Constantly in search of flowing shapes and visually perfect curves, as well as the boldly assertive character and dynamic lines of stealth-type objects, the Vacheron Constantin designers have pushed the limits of these territories in conceiving and designing this case that now symbolises the Vacheron Constantin personalisation concept.
Time for personalisation

Available in three versions in the standard collection (pink gold, white gold or two-tone pink and white gold), the Quai de l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar corresponds to another of the collection’s signature features: personalisation. The owner can personalise the model according to certain predefined principles, and this unique and unprecedented opportunity in the field of Haute Horlogerie is made possible by the original construction of the Quai de l’Ile case and its seven-part middle: lateral flanks at 3 and 9 o’clock, lugs at 12 and 6 o’clock, inter-lug pieces at 12 and 6 o’clock, and a support plate. In addition to these seven elements, the 43 mm-diameter case comprises the bezel, the back and the crown. Combined with certain dial elements, this construction enables Vacheron Constantin to offer its clientele 700 potential variations within the complete Quai de l’Ile collection.

A new face

The latest addition to the collection also offers new dial versions with satin-brushed/vertical finishing in the central zone and opaline finishing in the outer zone, as well as for the month and date indications. When launched in 2008, the Quai de l’Ile achieved a considerable impact through its unprecedented association between the watchmaking world and the most secret and sophisticated “Security Printing” technologies. A powerful emblem of this original security system, the sun motif inspired by the clock tower of the Tour de l’Ile (next to the historic headquarters of Vacheron Constantin) is placed inside a disc printed in invisible ink and appears between 4 and 5 o’clock only under ultra-violet light.

The Quai de l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar is delivered with two straps: one in black or brown alligator leather, and the other in black or brown rubber, secured by an 18K pink or white gold folding clasp.

Resolutely modern in terms of its design and of the original concepts on which its unique personality is based, the new Quai de l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar merges perfect mastery of mechanical complexity with innovative design and an entirely original personalisation concept.



Technical Data
 

Reference                    86040

 

Movement                               2460 QRA, developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin

                                                Stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva

 

Energy                                     Mechanical, self-winding

                                               

Movement diameter                 26.20 mm

 

Movement thickness                5.40 mm

 

Jewels                                      27 jewels         

 

Frequency                                4Hz (28’800 vibrations/hour)

 

Indications                               Hours, minutes and small seconds at 9 o’clock

                                                Annual calendar (date, month), date with retrograde hand

                                                Precision moon phase

 

Power reserve                          More than 40 hours     

 

Case                                         18K 5N pink gold or 18K white gold

                                                Cushion-shape

                                                43 mm x 54 mm

                                                Transparent, sapphire crystal, screwed-down

 

Water-resistance                      3 BAR, equivalent to 30 meters

 

Dial                                          Soft vertical satin-finishing in the central zone,

                                                Opaline external ring and day and date indication zones

                                                UV ink sun

                                                Chamfered hour-markers and counters

                                                Moon phase disk in matt ebony opaline metal and circular satin-finished moon figure

                                                           

Strap                                        Each model is delivered with two straps:

                                                Black or brown hand-stitched, saddle-finished square-shape scales alligator Mississippiensis leather

                                                Black or brown natural rubber

 

Clasp                           18K 5N pink or 18K white gold triple-blade folding clasp

[Airangel]

[Airangel]

[Airangel]

[Airangel]

[Teo]

Io un vacheron di questo tipo da 43mm non riesco proprio a vederlo mi sembra quasi una bestemmia 


Matteo

[Teo]

Aggiungo... sbaglio o anche il calibro non mi sembra un granché    dalla foto non si vedono grosse rifiniture oppure sono io che sto sbagliando?
Matteo

[Andrea 65]

Comunque è sempre un orologio di gran classe...!

[fabri5.5]

ho avuto modo di vedere dal vero i Quai de l'Ile
ma non mi hanno soddisfatto,
qualità ottima,una linea con una discreta personalità,
ma non sono riuscito a dagli una collocazione ne tra l'elegante ne tra lo sportivo,
di buono c'è che è un orologio personalizzabile a richiesta.

[Airangel]

quando non si è nè carne nè pesce.....non piace....

[fabri5.5]

Aggiungo... sbaglio o anche il calibro non mi sembra un granché    dalla foto non si vedono grosse rifiniture oppure sono io che sto sbagliando?
Matteo

le foto non rendono molto,
è un calibro con punzone ginevrino e si vede subito dalla piastra dove è fissata la spirale.
se lo vedi in altra foto e con un rotore diverso cambia,
sul modulo si vede che l'anglage è comunque ben presente e anche qui la foto non rende.
il calibro è uno degli ultimi se non l'ultimo di VCVJ (Vacheron Constantin Vallée Joux)
ex HDG (Haute De Gamme) azienda acquisita nel 98 nell’intento di ridurre la dipendenza da fornitori di movimenti esterni.

[topdown]

sinceramente a me non piace moltissimo...ne preferisco altri...

[Patrizio]

lo vorrei vedere però un perpetuale vacheron mi piacerebbe...

[aratro]

a parità di prezzo
prendo il Ré
P.P

[Dani80]

Non mi piace il quadrante...sembra che abbiano buttato a caso i contatori del calendario!