The Metiers d’Art Fabuleux Ornaments Collection is a celebration of ornamental beauties of the world drawn from the decorative arts of several cultures. Two years after its first launch, the collection unveils four new models born of the art of open working and a combination of artistic crafts bearing the Hallmark of Geneva.
Ten different master artisans have provided reinterpretations of Ottoman architecture, Chinese embroidery, Indian manuscripts and French lacework. These creations are equipped with an ethereal hand engraved movement- caliber ultra thin 1003 in 18k gold. The finesse of the front facing décor is precise to the nearest tenth of a millimeter, while on the back Vacheron Constantin has opted for a hand drawn finish that preserves a restrained appearance.
It is truly an amalgamation of traditional arts of different cultures. The model “Indian manuscript” is created from the alliance of Grand Feu champlevé enameling and hand engraving. The “Ottoman architecture” timepiece is defined by hand chamfering and the purple mother of pearl base and a gold grid work studded with half pearl beads.
The “French lacework” model is adorned with a translucent hand guilloche Grand Feu enameled dial.
The “Chinese embroidery” timepiece is crafted in white gold according to the stone cloisonné technique with jade. The dial is sculpted from mother of pearl and features a pink opal shaped according to the glyptic art.
Vacheron has constantly enhanced the beauty of its creations through artistic crafts. Hand engraving is one such technique that is a demanding art that calls for patience and dexterity and a means of achieving ethereal lightness.