One of Vacheron Constantin’s most popular novelties at SIHH 2011, was the Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time. Their new world time watch features a specially designed complication that allows it to simultaneously display 37 different time zones (as opposed to 24). It also has an innovative day/night indicator that uses a map with a special translucent rotating disk overtop, with shading on half of the disk, therefore indicating in which part of the world it’s day and night, at a glance.
To create a mechanical timepiece capable of displaying 37 different time zones, Vacheron Constantin had to design a special cam and sensor that adjust for the difference between time zones, which was especially difficult because of the time zones that vary by either a half or quarter-hour.
According to the creative director at Vacheron Constantin, Christian Selmoni, this is the first mechanical watch to display all 37 timezones. The timepiece is so innovative, relatively speaking, that if a new time zone is ever added, a Vacheron Constantin watchmaker can make an adjustment to the watch will reflect these changes.
Adjusting the hours, minutes and seconds, as well as the World Time, is all handled via the crown. The single crown design simplifies the operation of this complicated timepiece (many word timers require two crowns), therefore adding to its elegance.
To indicate the day/night around the world, Vacheron Constantin created a world map in the center of the dial. Sitting over the top of the world map is a rotating translucent sapphire disk that features a partially shaded area to differentiate day/night. As you change the World Time, via the crown, the disk rotates over the world map, half is always shaded (indicating night) and the other half is clear (indicating day). This allows you to easily determine if it is day or night, anywhere in the world.
The 18k pink gold case is 42.5 mm in diameter and is fully polished. The back features a sapphire crystal, allowing a clear view of the new in-house caliber 2460WT. The self-winding movement runs at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) with a 40-hour power reserve. Water-resistance is 30 meters. It comes with a brown alligator with an 18k pink gold folding clasp.
World Time watches have long been a valuable tool to international travelers who travel frequently through numerous time zones. With the addition of the extra half-hour and quarter-hour time zones, and the highly innovative day/night indicator, wealthy travelers will now have the option to wear an even more precise World Time watch while traveling. And they can rest assured, that the time will be correct, even when traveling to cities like Caracas, Venezuela (half-hour zone), or the Chatham Islands, New Zealand (quarter-hour zone).
The retail price is $39,900. (Ref. 86060/000R-9640)
