Wild Animals Inspire Six-Figure Watches That Have Collectors Scrambling
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Shown last week in Paris, France, the following is a selection of a new collection of unique watches called “Mécaniques Sauvages” from Vacheron Constantin’s remarkable Les Cabinotiers department. The department, which is comprised of a collection of the brand’s most talented watchmakers, is tasked with the creation both unique high complications and an array of artistic expressions including bespoke engraving and enamel work. If you want a wild one-off Vacheron that pushes the bleeding edge of handmade craftsmanship, you’ll need to speak to Les Cabinotiers.
Mécaniques Sauvages is a bespoke collection inspired by wild animals. From rhinos and monkeys to tigers, eagles, and more, the line is comprised of over twenty pieces but the following is what was available after Vacheron’s most ardent collectors had a chance to see the new collection. Many of the watches were sold upon viewing, with the new owners asking the watches not be subject to press photography. Below we have examples of incredible engraving, painstaking enamel work, and impressive haute horology watchmaking. This is Vacheron Constantin creating niche expressions (all of these pieces are one-of-one creations) of their core talents, be it cutting edge or entirely old-school.
45mm in warm 18k pink gold, the Calibre 2755 is not only hugely complicated, but its case flanks also carry a wonderfully detailed rendering of an eagle spreading its wings.
Polished on the front face of the bezel and lugs, the Calibre 2755 Eagle is bold, but only from the sides. At first glance it appears a standard highly complicated Vacheron Constantin.
One the right case flank, an engraving of an eagle’s back. The case is rendered in a larger specification and then the engraver starts to remove gold to form the feathers, this is how you can just see the edge of the engraving from the front view of the watch.
The left case side of the Calibre 2755 Eagle showing an eagle as it stretches its wings. Click on the image to see the detail and remember that this is done by hand and takes more than a month of man-hours to finish. Even if you don’t want an eagle on the side of your watch, it’s an incredible thing to experience.
Hard to hate this view, the Calibre 2755 with a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, 60-second tourbillon, and rear power reserve. It’s a thing to behold and the finishing is, as you’d expect, beautiful.
A lovely blue dial with guilloche finishing, applied markers, and a wide open aperture for the 60-second tourbillon.
On wrist, the Calbre 2755 Eagle is big but undeniably special. A combination of a razor-sharp time display and the animation of the tourbillon work so well with the detailed engraving on the case sides. It’s a wild and unique thing meant to be perfect for just one wrist.
