BLUE FLUO ISSUE • n°38 • 2024
A passion for cars and watches has led a wealthy client to commission an exclusive timepiece from Vacheron Constantin’s Les Cabinotiers department. Its purpose is to nestle in the dashboard of a Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail – created, of course, to measure
by Diego Tamone -ph. courtesy by Vacheron Costantin
Only one before, dated 1928, then nothing else. During almost a century of modern history there was no other hint concealed in Vacheron Constantin’s archives regarding the existence of a timepiece, not made to wear on the wrist or carried in the pocket, but to adorn the console of a luxury car. It may seem strange given the tendency of many watch brands to collaborate with automobile and aircraft companies. Then, recently, came a request from a special client on the hot line from a person important enough to have a direct link to the Geneva house. The aim was to create a one-of-a-kind watch to instal on board a Rolls-Royce, itself commissioned as a special project to be handled by Rolls-Royce Coachbuild, a bespoke atelier that is part of the British factory. For Vacheron Constantin the job was enough for the brand to activate its Cabinotier division, reserved for special projects. Since 2006
These pages, the Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon by Vacheron Constantin inside and out of the dedicated mount on the console. The 43.8 mm steel case is fixed to a white gold base decorated with a pronounced guilloche sunburst pattern
– the year it was launched, with the task of reviving the spirit of the unique creations produced in the 18th century in Geneva by artisan watchmakers in cabinotiers, light-filled apartments on the top floor of residential blocks – it has created some extraordinary individual pieces on commission. One of these is the Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon, a dashboard watch made especially for the Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail, with secure installation and smooth extraction system. Its case is reminiscent of pocket watches, this time equipped with a cutting-edge mechanism, an in-house hand-wound movement whose regulating organ is mounted in a double rotating cage. The hours and minutes display, like classic automobile instruments, are arranged along a 180° arc with retrograde progression. vacheron-constantin.com
