Traditionnelle moon phase: A dazzling sight

Source:  Images and content by Vacheron Constantin

• Snow setting of 548 diamonds
• Precision moon phase requiring no correction for 122 years
• Movement developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin, mechanical manual-winding Calibre 1410 AS
• Interchangeable strap

Lit up by snow setting

The Traditionnelle moon phase watch reveals the lunar display through the prism of virtuoso jewellery skills. Entirely paved with diamonds, this bejewelled version of the existing model has been subtly redesigned to ensure perfectly proportioned shapes. The dial features the snow-setting technique, according to which 548 round-cut diamonds in ten different diameters ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 mm are randomly placed to achieve a striking effect, as if melting seamlessly into the light. In addition to the paving technique, which requires the skilled and experienced gemsetter to master the available space, the additional difficulty is to successfully bypass the moon phase, follow the curve of the power-reserve indication and integrate the white gold hour-markers.  The small seconds counter, features 38 diamonds rimmed by 24 stones to enhance legibility. Prong setting extends to 225 round-cut diamonds totalling approximately 4.8 carats and adorning the bezel, case middle, lugs and crown.

Astronomical moon

As a means of giving depth to the jewellery aesthetic, the designers chose to enhance the rigorous discipline of prong setting and the effervescence of snow setting with two night blue touches. A tinted mother-of-pearl inlay serves as a 40-hour power-reserve indicator, while the moon phases – standing out on a star-studded disc and in the same gold hue as the case with an opaline finish – appear through an aperture between 8 and 9 o’clock.

Driven by the in-house 1410 AS movement, the moon phases are based on 29-day, 12-hour and 45-minute lunar cycles, incorporated into the mechanism in the form of a 135-tooth wheel. >This high-precision moon, also known as the “astronomical moon”, thus displays a variation in rate of just one day every 122 years.

The finishing of the manual-winding movement – circular-grained on the front mainplate and featuring a Côtes de Genève motif adorning the bridges on the reverse side, complete with hand-chamfered edges and straight-grained flanks – can be admired through the sapphire caseback of the watch. Elegance and refinement are expressed all the way to the night blue satin-effect alligator leather strap – interchangeable at the touch of a button and tool-free – fitted with a white gold pin buckle set with 21 round-cut diamonds.

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SUM-UP

Entirely paved with diamonds totalling approximately 4.8 carats (minimum guaranteed), the Traditionnelle moon phase watch in white gold has been subtly redesigned to ensure optimal elegance and harmoniously balanced shapes. The dial is graced with dainty snow setting composed of 548 diamonds. The gemsetting continues with 225 round-cut diamonds adorning the bezel, case middle, lugs and crown. Powered by in-house Calibre 1410 AS, this timepiece displays a high-precision moon phase on a star-studded blue disc and requires no correction in 122 years. This same night blue hue is echoed by the mother-of-pearl inlay used to indicate the power reserve and by the interchangeable strap, which can be fitted at the touch of a button and entirely tool-free.

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Reference                                                     
7006T/000G-B913 

Calibre                                                          
1410 AS  
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin 
Mechanical, manual-winding 
26 mm (9’’’) diameter, 4.2 mm thick 
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve   
4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)   
175 components   
22 jewels 
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepieces 

Indications                                                   
Hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock 
Power reserve 
Precision moon phase  

Case                                                              
18K white gold case set with 225 round-cut diamonds 
37.5 mm diameter, 10.2 mm thick 
Crown set with 1 round-cut diamond 
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback   
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 metres)   

Dial                                                                
18K white gold set with 548 round-cut diamonds   
Mother-of-pearl power-reserve segment 
18K white gold applied hour-markers and hands     

Straps                                      
Night blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap calf inner shell, stitched-tip, square scales 
With integrated self-interchangeable system

Buckle 
18K white gold pin buckle set with 21 round-cut diamonds 

Total diamond-setting                              
795 round-cut diamonds, for a total weight of approx. 4.8 carats (guaranteed minimum carats)