Watchmaker Vacheron Constantin revealed this week a project eight years in the making, Les Cabinotiers Westminster Sonnerie — Tribute to Johannes Vermeer. A marvelous feat combining the best of horology and fine art, the one-of-a-kind timepiece takes the form of a pendant pocket watch with a miniature rendition of the Dutch master’s famed Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin.
Imagined in 18karat yellow gold, the classic rounded case features intricate hand-engraved markings like acanthus leaves and tulips, and an ornate bow sculpted with two minuscule lion heads. On one side of the 98-mm timepiece is the delicate enamel work of Anita Porchet, who has painstakingly recreated the Vermeer masterpiece in nearly exact likeness, using the centuries-old Geneva enamel technique. On the flip side, the eggshell-hued enamel dial has been numbered in blue and features a delicate set of golden hands to mark hours, minutes, and seconds, along with a minute repeater.
Outfitted with the maison’s brand-new Calibre 3761 movement, the inner workings of the tourbillon-powered pocket watch are composed of 806 moving parts to make up its manual winding caliber. The timepiece’s Westminster chime features several methods for marking the passing of time, including the more persistent Grande Sonnerie mode, the less frequent Petite Sonnerie mode, and an option for silent transitions.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin.
Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin.
