The world’s oldest Haute Horlogerie manufacture, Vacheron Constantin, invites you to discover the exceptional FIFTYSIX® collection within its exclusive “One of Not Many” pop-up at Salhiyah Mall in Kuwait City from October 30thto November 4th, 2018. The “One of Not Many” pop-up will bring to life the distinct world of FIFTYSIX® as well as the maison’s new, artistically-inspired brand campaign.
“One of not many”. The signature of the new Vacheron Constantin communications campaign defines the exceptional universe it has embodied for more than 260 years. In the prestigious realm of Fine Watchmaking, this is a Maison for connoisseurs, profoundly attached to human values and enriched by expertise passed on across generations of master watchmakers and artisans.
For the first time in Kuwait, key models from the FIFTYSIX® collection were on display for connoisseurs to preview. Featuring the FIFTYSIX® Self-winding, the FIFTYSIX® Day-Date and the FIFTYSIX® Complete Calendar, the pop-up embodies Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to consistently resetting precedents; blending tradition and savoir-faire with exceptional, understated design to create an effortlessly refined collection which caters to the most distinguished of palates.
The FIFTYSIX® Collection
Geneva’s oldest watch Manufacture, Vacheron Constantin is heralding a new chapter in its history with its FIFTYSIX® collection. It represents an important new step as this original line, inspired by a historical Vacheron Constantin watch dating from 1956, instils a modern momentum capable of opening up the world of Fine Watchmaking to contemporary enthusiasts.
The style of the Fiftysix® is a direct tribute to a watch created in 1956: reference 6073. The distinctive design of this iconic model embodies the creativity of the Maison during the 1950s – a period representing the golden age of watchmaking refinement, as well as the heyday of musical creativity. Round, slim and effortlessly elegant, reference 6073 is distinguished by its four lugs each representing a branch of the Maltese cross.
With its classic dial, daring case and avant-garde technical characteristics (it was at the time one of the first watches from the Manufacture to be equipped with a self-winding movement and a waterresistant case), this 1956 watch wove ties between respect for tradition and a taste for innovation. Ties deeply cherished by Vacheron Constantin and now expressed in the Fiftysix® collection picking up several features of the original model: lugs respectively forming one portion of the Maltese cross, a box-type crystal, as well as self-winding movements.
For the first time in its storied history, the Maison has decided to offer a classic collection both in gold and in steel, while treating the latter material with the same high aesthetic standards as the precious metal. As an example of this, see the use of white gold hands and appliques on the steel versions of the FIFTYSIX®.
FIFTYSIX® self-winding
The 40 mm-diameter steel or 18 carats 5N pink gold case of this model houses a brand-new mechanical self-winding movement, Calibre 1326, endowed with a 48-hour power reserve.
Featuring the 22 carats openworked Maltese cross-shaped oscillating weight, this watch displaying the hours, minutes, central seconds and an aperture-type date indication is equipped with a stop-seconds device. The movement finishing – Côtes de Genève, circular graining and snailing – can be admired through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback. Alternating gold Arabic numerals and hour-markers enliven the monochrome dial with its double opaline-sunburst effect: grey on the steel version and silver-toned on the pink gold version. The baton-type gold hours and minutes hands, as well as the hour-markers, are coated with a luminescent material. This model in the FIFTYSIX® collection is fitted with an alligator leather strap secured by a polished half Maltese cross-shaped steel folding clasp or pin gold buckle depending on the version.
FIFTYSIX® Day-Date with Power-Reserve Indicator
The day-date FIFTYSIX® with its 40 mm-diameter case in steel or 18 carats 5N pink gold provides additional functions driven by its self-winding movement, Calibre 2475 SC/2. Equipped with a stop-seconds device, the latter powers the day of the week indication appearing at 9 o’clock, the date at 3 o’clock and the power-reserve display at 6 o’clock. The 22 carats gold openworked oscillating weight visible through the sapphire crystal caseback is fitted with a ceramic ball bearing rotation system requiring no lubrication and guaranteeing the movement’s longevity.In keeping with the characteristic face of this collection, this version features a monochrome dial with double opaline-sunburst effect, enhanced by the additional contrast of its two snailed counters. Gold Arabic numerals, hour-markers and hours & minutes hands punctuate the dial of this FIFTYSIX® model, teamed with an alligator leather strap secured by a polished half Maltese cross-shaped steel folding clasp or gold pin buckle, depending on the version.
FIFTYSIX® Complete Calendar with Precision Moon Phase
Behind the understated elegance of the FIFTYSIX® complete calendar model’s monochrome dial with opaline-sunburst effect lies one of the horological complications most appreciated by discerning connoisseurs and collectors. The indications of the day of the week, date, month and moon phase are driven by a self-winding movement, Calibre 2460 QCL/1, equipped with a 22 carats openworked oscillating weight adorned with the Maltese cross emblem. Its construction and its extreme precision mean that the moon-phase function requires adjustment only once every 122 years (compared with once every three years or a standard moon phase).The collection’s characteristic dial is graced with two rectangular apertures at 12 o’clock, respectively indicating the month and the day of the week. The date is displayed by a central gold hand, while the moon disc at 6 o’clock features a blue night sky and 18K gold moons.A 40 mm-diameter case in steel or 18 carats 5N pink gold; gold Arabic numerals, hour-markers and hours & minutes hands; alligator leather strap with steel folding clasp or pink gold pin buckle depending on the model: the FIFTYSIX® complete calendar embodies a perfect blend of Vacheron Constantin’s stylish elegance and the sophistication of its mechanical functions.
