Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin

By Don Ellis

ike a well-made suit or credit card debt, luxury watch manufacture Vacheron Constantin intends for its watches to grow old with – or perhaps outlive - their owners. Thus, when introducing a brash new bespoke watch line, the renowned Swiss watchmaker can be forgiven for overexerting itself somewhat.

Behold the shoe-box-sized, satin covered case that encases a watch, called the "Quai de l'Ile," which shows that personalization is the ultimate expression of luxury. Under the gold-trimmed, embossed cover, the combination of elements constitutes the genetic heritage of the Vacheron Constantin line, an innovative yet contemporary line that embodies the notions of service and the special relationship with the customer.

Along with the other components of the watch – movement, dial and strap – this striking construction means that the Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile can be offered in over 400 different styles. Thanks to the Quai de l’Ile case and its remarkable seven-piece middle, the customer can choose from three metals, two dials & two different finishes on the movements to craft the watch of his dreams. The crown too can be personalized, but it has to be made of the material chosen for one of the other three groups.

And, since watchmakers have long fought counterfeiters by adding special stickers and limiting supply, this watch uses layers of invisible UV marking, laser perforations of some watch parts, special high-security inks, and other measures used to secure passports and currencies like the euro and Swiss franc. The innovative personalization of the Quai de l’Ile line is made possible by the unique 7-part construction of the case and middle. The Quai de l’Ile is aimed at those who are looking for the ultimate luxury of personalization, even in mass produced consumer items. it boasts a complex mechanism can be seen through the watch's semi-transparent dials, -which gives the watch a slightly Bond-gadget feel. It's a beautiful, bulbous addition to Vacheron Constantin's repertoire and deserving of ebullient praise.

While the cushion-shaped case allows for an infinite number of combinations, Vacheron Constantin is offering almost 400 for this year’s launching. Designed, developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin, these state-of-the-art movements are coated with rhodium or ruthenium and visible through the dial.

The company, which produces about 18,000 watches annually, expects to make 800 Quai de l'Iles a year, and will sell for between $29,000 and $60,000, depending on which features are chosen.