The First Minute Repeater In The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Collection Chimes Into History

With the boundaries between watchmaking genres becoming increasingly blurred today, the world of horological complications is no longer confined to fragile, museum-quality timepieces – far from it. This is exactly what Vacheron Constantin is doing with the Overseas collection. Launching its first minute repeater in the Overseas collection the Overseas Grand Complication Openface is fitted with a spirit of exploration adapted to the adventures of everyday life. 

Commenting on the significance of this complication Christian Selmoni, Director of Style and Patrimony says, “With useful complications such as a chronograph or dual time-zone display, the Overseas also knows how to go beyond those boundaries. The collection already includes tourbillon and ultra-thin skeletonised perpetual calendar pieces that in no way detract from it – quite the contrary. Each of them is faithful to the Overseas spirit, respecting its codes while adding a new dimension to the world of complications, one of Vacheron Constantin’s great areas of expertise. The same is true of this new Overseas Grand Complication Openface. It is equipped with a complex calibre but in a form that honours the collection’s adventurous character.” 

A Contemporary Classic in Titanium

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Grand Complication Openface is the outcome of a long process to meet the challenge of integrating a grand complication mechanism into an elegant case. In addition to a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar, this movement incorporates a minute repeater, a first in the collection. Generally speaking, water resistance is difficult to achieve with minute repeater calibres due to the sliding mechanism in the case-side that activates the repeater. 

The challenge with this model was to ensure the water-resistance of the Overseas case, while adapting its lines to Calibre 2755 QP. This required a year and a half of research and development and involved a complete redesign of the caseback to create space for the minute repeater mechanism while maintaining the slender curves characteristic of Overseas watches.  With a diameter of 44.5 mm and a height of 13.1 mm, the proportions of this new Overseas case deftly balance the collection’s adventurous character with a spirit of elegance. 

An emblematic calibre 

One of Vacheron Constantin's emblematic movements, Calibre 2755 QP benefits from developments made for the Tour de l'Île watch presented in 2005 and brings together three major horological complications. With its 602 components contained within a diameter of 33.30 mm, it incorporates a perpetual calendar with date, day, month and leap-year cycle indications. In addition to this calendar mechanism, which requires no correction before 2100 – a non-leap secular year – there is a minute repeater.  

To govern the cadence of the repeater mechanism, which strikes the hours, quarters and minutes on demand, the Maison's watchmakers developed a centripetal regulator, a proprietary device that allows the hammers to be struck at the precise intervals required to obtain the correct musical sequences. Totally silent, this regulator features two centrifugal weights that act as a motor brake on the axis of rotation, smoothing the flow of energy released by the repeater spring.  

In keeping with Vacheron Constantin's attention to detail, particular attention has been paid to the aesthetics of this governing device, which is visible through the sapphire caseback. An arc-shaped bar secures the regulator; crafted in 750/1000 gold its rounded form requires a full day of meticulous hand-polishing. Beneath it, the circular-grained inertia weights are engraved with the initials of Jean-Marc Vacheron, who founded the Maison in 1755.  

The same high standards were applied to the finishing of the tourbillon bridges, which involved rounding the convex profile as well as tapering it towards the fixing screws, then hand-polishing each bridge to a perfect shine. Their architecture was also reviewed, particularly on the reverse side, where it has been made more open and visually lighter. This allows full appreciation of the tourbillon’s ballet, which is enhanced by the relatively slow tempo of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz). Commensurate with the complexity of Calibre 2755 QP, the movement finishes also include mirror-polished repeater hammers, bevelled and satin-brushed bridges, circular satin-brushed wheels, and bridges decorated with Côtes de Genève.  

A sporty and contemporary aesthetic 

With its grade 5 titanium case and integrated bracelet, the Overseas Grand Complication Openface watch remains true to the spirit of the collection. Its sporty, contemporary character is enhanced by the transparency of the sapphire dial, which reveals the beauty and complexity of the movement. Applied to the transparent sapphire, the 18-carat white gold hour-markers appear to be floating in space, amplifying the airy aesthetic.   

To enhance legibility and create a dynamic contrast with the grey and silver tones of the movement components, the circles surrounding each of the time and calendar indications are treated with a blue metallised finish. The surface of each metallised circle is then engraved in white with the various indications – dates, days, months, years and minutes. 

Viewed through the sapphire dial  the avant-garde spirit of the watch is highlighted by the contrast between the anthracite grey hue of the NAC galvanic treatment on the bridges and the silvery tone of the rhodium-plated wheels. This visual richness, combined with the technical feat inside, makes the Overseas Grand Complication Openface not just a collector’s piece, but a bold statement of contemporary watchmaking excellence.