Vacheron Constantin have launched a new high jewellery edition of the Overseas Tourbillon (called the Overseas Tourbillon High Jewellery) offering a new hyper luxe interpretation to sit alongside last year’s skeletonised version. To be honest, my favourite thing about this watch is that it isn’t being marketed as a women’s watch – some brands could still stand to learn the lesson that diamonds do not instantly equal feminine. Vacheron Constantin have found a nice way to balance the watch being bling while retaining the Overseas’ gender neutral appeal.
Let’s cut to the chase, which is the watch’s new iced-out case. It’s made from white gold with a diameter of 42.5mm in the Oversea’s signature style that consists of a tonneau shape, Maltese cross inspired bezel and integrated lugs. The bezel is where the gems are to be found, invisibly set as it is with 60 baguette-cut diamonds.
Diamond watches are in very high demand at the moment, especially in rainbow configuration like the Patek Philippe Ref. 5260/355R-001, although the demand does look inflated simply because supply is so low due to the difficulties in procuring enough stones of the right colour and quality. Personally, I prefer the clean look of the uniform Overseas Tourbillon High Jewellery thanks to its classy white diamonds.
It must be said that diamonds also make their way onto the dial of the piece as well in the form of the large baton style hour markers set just inside the peripheral minute scale. They look good paired with the vibrant blue dial. Between the white gold case, blue dial and diamond decoration, it almost feels like a festive piece, a frozen pond you could skate away on.
Of course, at 6 o’clock is the titular tourbillon with its Maltese cross style carriage. It’s part of the Calibre 2160, an automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, which is a pretty impressive considering how energy intensive tourbillons tend to be. It’s visible through the sapphire exhibition caseback, where you have a nice view of the movement as it has a peripheral rotor, meaning there isn’t a big wedge blocking part of it.
Considering that the standard steel Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon is price on request, you’d be correct if you guessed that the white gold, diamond bezel High Jewellery version is price on request too. Judging by the prices they are happy to publish on the website which go up to £98,500 for the perpetual calendar models, the implication is that it has a £100k+ price tag.
Price and Specs:
Model:
Vacheron
Constantin Overseas Tourbillon High Jewellery
Ref:
6007V/210G-B955
Case:
42.5mm
diameter x 10.39mm thickness, 18k white gold, 60 baguette-cut diamonds set in bezel
Dial:
Blue
sunburst with 9 baguette cut diamond hour markers
Water resistance:
50m
(5 bar)
Movement:
Vacheron
Constantin calibre 2160, automatic, 30 jewels, 188 parts
Frequency:
18,000
vph (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve:
80h
Functions:
Hours,
minutes, seconds, tourbillon
Strap:
18k
white gold bracelet with 18k white gold triple-blade folding clasp with additional blue leather and blue rubber straps
Price:
Price
on request
More details at Vacheron Constantin.
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