Patrimony Heritage Exhibition in Lisbon

Source:  Images and content by Vacheron Constantin

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Patrimony collection, the Vacheron Constantin boutique located at Av. Da Liberdade in Lisbon, receives the Patrimony heritage Exhibition, from the 24^th April until the 6^th May.
 

From the 1950s to the present day: the legacy of modernity
The Patrimony collection is one that has been passed down from generation to generation, unaffected by fashions and trends. Timeless by nature, it is naturally attuned to each successive age because it has succeeded in capturing the undeniable spirit of modernity pervading the 1950s. This was an era marked by creative effervescence, renewal and optimism, a decade in which fashion underwent a major revolution, when design ingeniously played on curves and straight lines, while architecture expressed itself mainly through pure shapes. Vacheron Constantin accompanied the energy of this period with creations distinguished by their understated roundness and striking slenderness.

Twenty years of elegance
Understatement is a demanding stylistic exercise that Vacheron Constantin has mastered to perfection. Since the very first model unveiled in 2004 – a manual-winding Patrimony faithful in every respect to the inspirational 1957 reference – the collection has welcomed numerous watchmaking complications without ever abandoning its identity codes. Perpetual calendar, retrograde displays, minute repeater, ultra-thin calibre and major horological complications have marked the last 20 years without ever detracting from the Patrimony’s formal sobriety.

A selection of timepieces to trace back the roots of the Patrimony collection
This selection of timepieces traces back the roots of the Patrimony collection- epitome of stylistic pureness, and understates lines of this collection, a singular expression of the harmony between mechanical excellence, aesthetic discretion and the “simplicity” concept which characterized perfectly Vacheron Constantin.

“Disco Volante” Pocket watch – 1965 (Ref. 6345)
This pocket watch is perfectly in keeping with the «Sixties» era where style sometimes took extravagant liberties. This ultra-thin pink gold model is the pocket version of a watch nicknamed «Disco-Volante» by Italian collectors. It is characterised by its bevelled caseband also known as «knife-edge» and designed to accentuate the extreme slenderness of the timepiece intended by the use of Calibre 1003. This reference is fitted with the legendary hand-wound 9’’’ Calibre 1003.

In 1955, to commemorate the bicentenary of its founding, Vacheron Constantin stepped up its promotion of ultra-thin models by presenting three timepieces equipped with the first version of the world’s thinnest mechanical movement, Calibre 1003. This 120-part movement is barely larger than a coin at just 1.64 mm thick and remains one of the world’s thinnest calibres to date.

The full measure of the Maison’s expertise is also expressed in the watch’s finishes, between the brushed polish of the case, the stone-polished finish of the bezel and the subtle light effects playing across the silvered sunray dial.

Bracelet wristwatch – 1958 (ref. 6264)
Conceived in the 1950s, when elegance returned to the forefront, this ultra-thin conventional round watch embodied Vacheron Constantin’s classical styling, while offering outstanding reliability. The absence of extraneous decoration and the controlled design are all that is required, provided that every detail serves to accentuate the clean lines and the beauty of a timeless design.

This 1958 yellow gold watch, known as Reference 6264 and part of the Maison’s private collection, served as the inspiration for the “Patrimony” collection with its deliberately minimalist approach. The collection is entirely composed of round watches that focus resolutely on essentials, in a refined style that represents its strength and charm. This timepiece embodied by a silver-toned dial punctuated only by radiant indexes. The case, which opts for a broad dial aperture, is fitted with very short lugs so as not to disrupt the finely balanced shapes and the elegance of a semi-thin model typical of this era.

In the interest of fitting the narrow shape of the case, this timepiece features a movement of remarkable finesse; the manual winding movement calibre 1002, with central seconds.

Bracelet wristwatch – 1976 (ref. 34001)
Reference 34001 offers a design that is perfectly in line with the artistic trends of 1970s watchmaking: aesthetic minimalism, one touch colour dial, horns and a slender case.The absence of extraneous decoration and the controlled design are all that is required, provided that every detail serves to accentuate the clean lines and the beauty of a timeless design. This ultra-thin conventional round watch embodied Vacheron Constantin’s classical styling, while offering a great reliability.

This watch is equipped by the Caliber 1014, an extra-thin manual-winding movement. Its finishes demonstrate Vacheron Constantin’s uncompromising approach to mechanical watchmaking, with aesthetic sophistication as one of its greatest assets.