Vacheron Constantin: Maître Cabinotier

In the wake of the most complicated watch ever made “the Ref. 57260”, Vacheron Constantin unveils the Maître Cabinotier. This timepiece bearing the Hallmark of Geneva, it’s a remake of two of the Ref. 57260’s complications, the double retrograde indications and the armillary tourbillon, in a contemporary guise.

The retrograde function governs the hours and minutes with instant flyback, while the tourbillon “under a sapphire crystal dome at 9 o’clock” revolves on two axes and has a spherical balance-spring. The tourbillon carriage incorporates the Maltese Cross emblem, which forms up every 15 seconds as the tourbillon rotates.

Another feature that makes the Maître Cabinotier original is the modern styling applied to the architecture and finish of the movement.

The calibre 1990 manual-winding
is electro-plated with an NAC treatment in a dark anthracite colour creating a mirror-polished effect. On the dial side the movement displays its modern architecture with sharply cut bridges tempered by a sunburst satin finish and Geneva stripes.

The indications are shown on two dials that partially cover the baseplate so as to reveal the outlines and contemporary finish of the movement. On the right, the retrograde minutes and hours hands describe a semicircle over a sunburst satin finish punctuated by applied white-gold hour markers and a black minutes scale. Placed symmetrically, the tourbillon carriage carries the seconds pointer around a scale on a silvered disc.

The Maître Cabinotier retrograde armillary tourbillon is combined with a black alligator leather hand-stitched strap and 18K white gold claps Polished half Maltese cross-shaped.