Vacheron Constantin has had plenty to shout about this year. Although, truth be told, being the revered Swiss watchmaker it is, ‘shouting’ is not really Vacheron Constantin’s style, so all the shouting has really been done by others on its behalf.
So allow us to warm up our vocal chords before we bellow on about the newest addition to one of the brand’s more modern collections— the FiftySix.
The line, unveiled in 2018, is inspired by 1950s aesthetics, and makes a significant return with a new self-winding model in black. The new FiftySix self-winding is a 40mm dress watch with a date, that comes with a black-toned dial complete with 18k pink gold case, Arabic numerals, and hour-markers highlighted with blue luminescent material.
It is the first time that a piece from the collection has been toned with a black dial and anthracite nubuck calfskin leather strap, contrasting rather fantastically with the pink gold. The watch runs on an in-house self-winding movement, with a 30-hour power reserve. “The 1950s were a period of prosperity and economic growth and Vacheron Constantin was no exception to this dynamic,” Vacheron Constantin’s style and heritage director Christian Selmoni says (without shouting).
“After World War II, watches were distinguished by their elegance. Unlike in the early 20th century such as during the Roaring Twenties when the watch industry produced just about every shape of watch, cases were round, slim and elegant. At Vacheron Constantin, timepieces were characterised by sophistication, clean lines and harmonious proportions.
In addition, technological advances had led to significant improvements in terms of accuracy and reliability, as well as the widespread use of steel and gold. The watches created by Vacheron Constantin during this decade also reflected the trends of the time, with light-coloured dials and refined finishes. Today, the aesthetics of these watches have not aged at all, consolidating their status as timeless icons.