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Vacheron Constantin Brings Out the Big Guns for Updated Geneva Seal

written by A.Morgan - 5th Dec 2011

Created in 1886 by the State of Geneva, the Geneva Seal is granted by the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève for watches and movements that meet the stringent requirements they set.

It is not a credential given out lightly, and so any watch that receives it one to take notice of – especially since the recent change in approval criteria which now also includes the watch as a whole, as well as the movement.

For Vacheron Constantin – considered one of the top three major watchmakers alongside Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe – achieving the Geneva Seal is virtually a necessity to verify the calibre of their work. There must have been a great sigh of relief around the Vacheron Constantin offices when they received their first of the updated certification.

Although when you see the watch that achieved this prestigious award, it’s hardly a surprise. The Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillon is something that watch fans dream about; an elegant case, a traditional dial, and a movement that induces involuntary salivation.

The name is a giveaway to the movement’s abilities; two sets of paired mainsprings provide two weeks’ worth of juice for the hungry tourbillon. To give that power visual impact, it can be expressed thusly; the combined length of the four mainsprings is around 2.2 metres, and is all curled up tightly enough to fit inside a movement just 29.1mm across.

But talk is cheap – have a look through the slides above and see for yourself whether the Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-day Tourbillon is worthy of the highest honour in watchmaking.