Vacheron Constantin: Behold the masterpieces of Métiers d'Art, marveling at the intricacy of engraving and enamel

"Métiers d'Art Les Quatre Saisons" is a limited edition of 12 sets of four watches, released by Vacheron Constantin to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The dial features flawless engraving, miniatures, and Grand Feu enamel with champlevé detailing. After 20 years, this masterful craftsmanship has only grown more brilliant.

Learn about the world of Haute Horlogerie from Vacheron Constantin

　In 2005, Vacheron Constantin released a set of four watches featuring the sun god Apollo as its motif. Celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding, the watches, which attracted attention for their artistic merit, were a set of only 12 exquisite pieces to celebrate the quarter millennium of the world's oldest watch brand.

　When it was first released, it was called the "Métiers d'Art" Watch Collection 2005. Just as the portrait of Madame Gioconda became the "Mona Lisa," it eventually acquired the proper name "Métiers d'Art Les Quatre Saisons." The plural definite article "Les" means "the four seasons." Each of the four watches symbolizes spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and when all four are together, they form a complete series.

　Apollo is a god worthy of a watch brand with an unrivaled history. In Greek mythology, the path of the sun is the path Apollo took in his chariot. The cantering of his four-horse chariot overlaps with the meaning of time itself. A brand founded in the 18th century has captured the myth of time, passed down from centuries before Christ, in a 21st-century watch.

　The Caliber 2460 H205, which displays the hours, minutes, date and day of the week in small windows in the four corners without using hands, has transformed the dial into the perfect canvas for Métiers d'Art. The main techniques used are miniature painting, champlevé (inlaid enamel) and translucent enamel, with a focus on intricately engraved reliefs full of three-dimensional effect, and some gem setting.

　Each season is depicted differently, and the case materials are all different. "Spring" features a white gold case with the sun god and his chariot in yellow gold, and budding trees in miniature enamel. "Summer" has a yellow gold case with a seasonal bounty depicted in the background, resembling corn. "Autumn" has a pink gold case with Apollo and his chariot in the same material, and a background of colorful leaves in champlevé enamel. "Winter" has a platinum case with the main motif and a leafless tree highlighted in white gold, and the snow kicked up by the horse is scattered with brilliant-cut diamonds.

　While sharing a common base of translucent enamel, the colors of the daytime and night sky are different. The golden sun becomes increasingly reddish from spring to autumn, and takes on shades of gray in winter. Founded in the autumn of 1755, Vacheron Constantin has endured 270 cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and is still in its golden age. The four expressions of this masterpiece also symbolize the four consecutive centuries that the brand has spanned.

Professor Hirota's "This is amazing!"

　Vacheron Constantin has incorporated various motifs into the "canvas" of a wristwatch. Its consistent individuality lies in its skillful use of space and three-dimensionality. In order to feature an engraved Apollo on the dial, this watch uses a direct-reading system without hands, leaving ample space on the canvas.

　The use of free space is even more brilliant. The dial is minimally intricately crafted to draw attention to the elaborate relief, while vibrant enamel is used to break up the sense of droopiness. Rather than emphasizing technique, the designers chose a design and finish that complements the chosen motif. While it would have been possible to incorporate more intricate detail, the designers have focused on minimizing and emphasizing the god Apollo, a feat truly impressive.