Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon: Destined for the Rolls Royce Amethyst Droptail
Watchmaker Vacheron Constantin is teaming up with a car producer of equally high calibre to create a unique watch destined for the dashboard of a Rolls Royce. The formidable collaboration came about thanks to a client with a passion for luxury cars and fine watches alike.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Default. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
The unique timepiece, christened Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon, is designed to aesthetically fit into the dashboard of an exquisite Rolls-Royce commission: the Amethyst Droptail. The eight-figure coachbuilt convertible is a bespoke motor car, of which Rolls Royce has pledged to only make four carefully curated models. The only other known model thus far is the sultry La Rose Noire Droptail, which is accompanied by a special Royal Oak Concept from Audemars Piguet. The estimated price of the Droptail stands at around 30 million dollars, making it likely the most expensive Rolls Royce to date.
The Amethyst Droptail by Rolls Royce
While Vacheron Constantin’s archives reveal that a watch was commissioned for an automobile in 1928, the Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon project represents a first in the company’s modern history. It was executed by the horology house’s Les Cabinotiers department, which creates special pieces that fulfil the wishes of its top clients. Let’s take a closer look at this highly unusual yet alluring timepiece.
The case
For all its beauty, complexity, and innovation, the watch itself is housed in a simple 43.8 mm stainless-steel case with a height of 19.90 mm. The client thoughtfully opted for steel due to the material also being used in the Rolls Royce model. The really interesting part, however, is the fact that Vacheron Constantin fit the watch with a fully integrated – but removable – steel holder mechanism so that the client can display the timepiece on the dashboard, nestled to the right between the driver and passenger seat. The holder showcases exquisite hand-guilloche finishing in 18-carat white gold, alongside the watchmaker’s emblem: the Maltese cross.
The dial
The sapphire crystal dial allows for an unobstructed view of this exquisitely finished watch’s inner workings, while matching perfectly to the Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail‘s interior. An outer ring in white with purple lettering presents the retrograde minutes along the upper half of the dial, while small seconds can be read on the armillary tourbillon. Meanwhile, the hours float above the exposed movement and brass rhodium opaline mainplate, while titanium hands point to the hour and minutes.
The movement
The real showstopper when it comes to the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon is the movement, which is the horology house’s calibre 1990. First developed back in 2016, Vacheron Constantin opted for the 1990 in light of its bi-retrograde hours and minutes display reminiscent of traditional automobile speedometers. It also provides the wow factor with its integration of an armillary tourbillon, with its ethereal design nodding to 18th century models of the celestial sphere.
The armillary tourbillon
Here things get technical: the armillary tourbillon features a cylindrical (as opposed to flat) balance spring coupled to the balance itself. Conceived by Jacques-Frédéric Hourier in 1814, this type of balance spring without terminal curves is a rarity in contemporary watchmaking. Rarity aside, however, it has an important purpose, as the cylindrical balance spring gives the tourbillon a perfectly concentric beat. This ensures enhanced isochronism, thus providing remarkable precision. Thanks to Vacheron Constantin’s special escapement consisting of a silicon escape-wheel and diamond-coated silicon pallet-lever, it can then transmit impulses of 2.5 Hz (18,000 vph) while avoiding any unwanted friction – all without the need for lubrication.
Four patents
The calibre 1990 holds no less than four patents. Firstly, there’s the escapement collet, which secures the end of the balance spring. It is made of titanium in order to match the material of the regulating organ, in turn resulting in improved regulator performance. Secondly, the architecture of the tourbillon carriages allows the mechanism to form the shape of a Maltese cross motif every 15 seconds – an aesthetic and technical feat that is certainly worth a patent.
Thirdly, the diamond-coated silicon pallet-lever is also patented for its aforementioned friction-resistant qualities. Last but not least, the handsome instantaneous retrograde system, controlled by a single minutes cam that perfectly synchronises the jump of the two hands at midnight or noon, also earns itself a patent.
Decoration of the highest calibre
Paying attention to the finest details, the mainplate of the calibre 1990 features a mauve-coloured NAC galvanic coating with a circular satin finish. This original shade matches perfectly to the Rolls Royce Amethyst Droptail’s leather seats. As one can also admire through the sapphire crystal dial as well as the caseback, the matching mauve bridges are sharply cut, hand-bevelled, and adorned with a Côtes de Genève pattern.
Calibre 1990: Facts and figures
Last but not least, the manual-winding calibre 1990 not only beats at a frequency of 2.5 Hz but also provides a solid power reserve of 58 hours. This is partly thanks to the inclusion of an oversized crown, which allows the wearer to wind the watch with the utmost ease. Unusually placed at 12 o’clock, the crown is reminiscent of vintage manual-winding chronometers, just as the minutes track on the dial recalls traditional speedometers.
Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon: A unique piece
Unsurprisingly, the price of the Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon (Ref. 9880C/000A-182C) remains under wraps. The unique piece conceived for the owner of the Rolls Royce Amethyst Droptail comes in a special wooden Les Cabinotiers box, which likewise aesthetically echoes the motor car’s interior.
240 years ago, Abrahm-Louis Breguet created the first pocket watches with minute repeaters, whose mechanism is based on a mainspring instead of chimes. Today, his invention from 1783 is continuing to resound in the case of the new Breguet Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes. The timepiece is available in two versions: in rose gold with a…
This is the third time that Swiss watchmaker Hublot and luxury retailer Bucherer have teamed up. Already in 2019 and 2021, the Hublot Classic Fusion Bronze Bucherer Blue and Big Bang Unico Bucherer Blue are two models that experiment with materials such as ceramic, titanium, bronze and rubber. Now Hublot and Bucherer are jointly launching…
To mark the centenary of the American 1921, Vacheron Constantin presents three new models of the watch that captures the spirit of the Roaring Twenties with its diagonal dial. Two of the three new variants are housed in a white gold case that measures either 36.5 mm or 40 mm. The Historiques American 1921 -…
Inspired by one of the brand’s most famous pocket watches, which already won a gold medal in 1889 on the Paris world fair, Girard-Perregaux now introduces the La Esmeralda Tourbillon in white gold. Since developing the first tourbillon in 1860, the manufacture kept innovating new techniques and over time created a mechanism, that was not only functional…
Montblanc has added three new pieces to its Heritage collection, including the 18-carat rose-gold Heritage Manufacture Pulsograph Limited Edition 100 with a 'smoked-tobacco' brown dial. The vintage-looking wristwatch evokes the brand’s Minerva watches that were produced in the 1940s and 1950s, featuring a domed box-shaped sapphire crystal. Initially launched showcasing a salmon-coloured dial and stainless-steel…
Cartier is introducing a platinum version of its Tank Cintrée, in a special edition that makes up part of the brand's Les Rééditions. Les Rééditions are sought-after watches that Cartier creates with its collectors in mind. Following re-editions such as the Pasha Calendrier Perpétuel and last year's Pebble watch, this 2023 piece makes a return…
TAG Heuer has unveiled two new additions to its Carrera collection: the Carrera Chronograph and the limited Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon, the latter of which is limited to 200 pieces. Both watches feature a striking smoky black-to-purple gradient dial, showcasing the brand’s Glassbox design. These timepieces offer collectors a fresh perspective on the Carrera’s more then…
The new OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black comes with a black ceramic case and dial. Unlike the ceramic-titanium version of the Diver 300M, OMEGA does not use titanium here, but relies solely on ceramic. OMEGA produces the dial from a single piece of ceramic, using a laser to define the details layer by layer.…
Breguet's two new ladies' models, the Reine de Naples 9835 and 9838, take their inspiration from the first-ever wristwatch, delivered to the Queen of Naples (Napoleon's sister) in 1812. Interestingly, the minute hands on these latest additions to the Reine de Naples collection adopt a variety of shapes while moving around the dial. Case The…
Panerai presents its new Submersible Bronzo in a stand-alone collection. It has a limited production of 1.000 units per year, but is no longer a 'special edition'. It means that Panerai keeps the flexibility to continue its production in the years after. This will especially please many Panerai fans because previous models have always been limited to 1.000 pieces within a…
The Geneva-based manufacture Vacheron Constantin is presenting a new version of the Traditionnelle Complete Calendar with a case in 18-carat white gold. Previously, the watch was only available in rose gold or as the Excellence Platine Edition with a platinum case. This new Traditionnelle Complete Calendar comes with a slate grey dial that accommodates a…
On the watch fair SIHH 2019 the brand Vacheron Constantin launched the new innovative model Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar (Ref. 3200T/000P-B578), which especially focuses on the needs of its owner. It is particularly special due to its active and standby modi: When the model is worn it beats at a high frequency, when the owner takes the…
Earlier this summer, Zenith unveiled this reinterpretation of the iconic A386 from 1969. Now follows a variant that is exclusively available in the brand's online shop. Appropriately, it is called the Chronomaster Original E-Commerce and has a slightly different dial. What remains, however, are the three coloured counters and the modern El Primero 3600 calibre…