Vacheron Constantin and the Louvre museum recreate Persian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations on watch dials.
In Paris, France at the end of May, Vacheron Constantin introduced four limited editions in the new collection – “Métiers D’art”, marking a collaboration with the Louvre museum (France). Inspired by antiquities stored in the Louvre, the designs pay tribute to prominent ancient civilizations including the Persian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires.
The company only produces five units of each model. The dials are crafted using different craftsmanship techniques, demonstrating the master talent of the artisans in the field of miniaturizing intricate details in limited spaces. The selected technical series partly reflects the artistry of the original museum piece.
Housed in a 42 mm diameter case is the automatic Caliber 2560 G4/2 produced by the brand. Hours, minutes, date and day are displayed in apertures around the edge of the dial. Each watch has an era-related engraving on the crystal, providing additional information to the owner.
The Lion de Darius line recalls Darius the Great and the Persian dynasty. The dial is crafted using marble inlay technique – a rare technique in the watch industry – to create a texture similar to the original work.
With cuneiform motifs, champlevé-glazed lion reliefs and other patterns taken from palace ruins in southwestern Iran, the clock is a symbol of power of the ancient Persian empire.
The design of the Grand sphinx de Tanis recalls a somewhat familiar specimen – the Egyptian Sphinx, born around 2000 BC and present at the Louvre museum since 1826.
The blue-black enamel dial is decorated with elements inspired by the necklace engraved on the sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian astronomer and scribe Nakht-khonsou-irou.
The Victoire de Samothrace honors one of the most famous artifacts at the Louvre – the statue of the goddess of victory Samothrace from the Antigonid dynasty, Greece.
The brown dial is somewhat simple, actually a mixture of six crystals and some rare enamel, coated on the outside in the style of ancient Greek vases.
The Buste d’Auguste line depicts the bust of Octavian Augustus – emperor of the Roman empire. Inspired by the emperor’s breastplate, the dial incorporates engraved gold for the central relief. Enamelled details and surrounding gemstone inlays are inspired by a famous 4th century painting.
According to the brand representative, similar to other designs in the “Métiers d’Art” collection, the Tribute to Great Civilizations quartet has the value of lasting over time.