| Quick specs Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860 Price: on request (probably more than $/€/£ 1,000,000) Size: 45 mm Reference: 9200E/000G-B099  |
Grand sonnerie’s are complicated and expensive. This Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860 is too as it is the first grand sonnerie Vacheron Constantin has ever made. It doesn’t look as astonishing as the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600, this one is more subtle. Not to say more common, or plain. Which can be a statement, as it’s a miraculous time piece.
A short recap on chiming watches: there are more or less three options. The first is a petite sonnerie which automatically chimes the quarters when they pass (en passent). The second is a minute repeater which chimes the time on demand – you have to push a button to activate it. And the third is the grand sonnerie which is a combination of both; it chimes the hours and quarters when they pass, and it chimes the time on demand.
The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860 is a one-off
The in-house developed bi-directional manual-winding movement is composed of 727 parts. A single watchmaker from VC assembles, adjusts, decorates and regulates the entire watch, which takes about 500 hours.
This 45-millimeter Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860 has two barrels for its energy. One for the time with a power-reserve of 72 hours and one for the grande sonnerie with a power-reserve of 20 hours. Which is 96 strikes a day. Both reserves are indicated individually on the dial. The chiming mechanism can be switched in three positions on the case band; PS for Petite Sonnerie, GS for Grande Sonnerie en SIL for Silent. No chimes at all. The minute repeater can be activated by pushing the button on the crown.
To protect the delicate mechanism the Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860 is full of safety solutions. Vacheron Constantin will probably instruct the owner exactly how it works. As it is a one-off.
technical data Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860 |
| Reference: 9200E/000G-B099 |
| Movement: Vacheron Constantin 1860 | Hand-wound | Diameter: 37 mm / 16 lignes | Thickness: 9.1 mm | Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz) | Jewels: 74 | Parts: 727 | Two barrels | Hours, minutes, small seconds, grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, minute repeater, power-reserve indicator, strike work power-reserve indicator | Power-reserve: 72 hours (movement) / 20 hours (strike work) |
| Case & dial: 45 mm | 18k white gold | Thickness: 15.1 mm | Transparent sapphire crystal case back | 18k gold, silvered opaline dial | 18k white gold applied hours-makers and movement power-reserve indicator |
| Strap: Black Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator leather inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales | 18k white gold folding clasp, polished half Maltese cross-shaped |
| Price Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Symphonia Grande Sonnerie 1860: On request (probably more than $/€/£ 1,000,000) |
| Website: www.vacheron-constantin.com |