The Patrimony Moon Phase and Retrograde Date is classically beautiful and very expensive, a perfect example of Vacheron Constantin’s traditional watchmaking brilliance. The two versions, white gold and pink gold, give you the choice between a more discreet or a more colourful timepiece. The principal features of the watch are the retrograde date on the upper half of the dial, a moon phase display accurate to one day in 122 years, and a lovely minute track consisting of a row of tiny pearl-like spheres.
User-friendly adjustments from crown
Vacheron Constantin have worked on the movement to provide extra user-friendliness. Instead of the usual recessed pusher for moon phase adjustment, all adjustments are made from the crown. This has three positions: at the first, you can wind the watch, at the second, you turn clockwise to set the date, and counter-clockwise to adjust the moon phase. In the third and final position, you set the time. If it were me, I’m sure that I would inadvertently mess up the moon phase every time (5 times a year) that I had to adjust the date, because I wouldn’t remember which way I have to turn the crown, but the scale of days above the moon phase window makes it easy to reset. You just have to go to a website that provides you with the exact age of the moon today, and readjust the moon phase without turning in the wrong direction and messing the date up.
Slim Patrimony case
The case is 42.5 mm in diameter, and slim at 9.7 mm, water resistance 3 bar (30 metres). On a silvered opaline dial, the hour markers and “pearl” minute track are applied, in white or pink gold according to the version, with the moon phase disc and hands in the same precious metal. The date hand has an openworked tip, and it is darkened by means of the black oxide process. The strap is in alligator leather.
New movement
The display caseback reveals the new Calibre 2460 R31L, developed and built in-house. The oscillating weight is in gold, with a lovely guilloché pattern and the Vacheron Constantin Maltese cross. The balance runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hertz) and the watch has a power reserve of about 40 hours. The watch has Hallmark of Geneva certification, visible from the Poinçon de Genève emblem stamped onto the caseback and movement.
Price and references
The Patrimony Moon Phase and Retrograde Date by Vacheron Constantin is available in two versions:
Reference 4010U/000G-B330 in white gold, price €43,900
Reference 4010U/000R-B329 in pink gold, price €43,900.
Further information from the Vacheron Constantin website.
