Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253

Vacheron Constantin presents the Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253 timepiece, in pink gold case. Entirely constructed by Vacheron Constantin’s engineering department and developed over several thousands of hours, the Calibre 2253 provides information derived from Earth’s orbit around the sun, notably a perpetual calendar, the equation of time and the times of sunrise and sunset. It features as well a tourbillon escapement as well.

The equation of time is probably the most fascinating complication in this outstanding model. Its purpose is to indicate the difference in minutes between the variable solar time shown by a sundial and the constant mean time of clocks and watches. Making this complication work does indeed call for particular skill. It depends on the equation cam, a waisted oval, shaped like a figure 8 and calculated according to the daily declination of the sun observed from a given spot. The cam rotates once a year while a hand following its countour indicates the equation of time at between 10 and 11 o'clock on the dial of the Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253 timepiece.

This timepiece also displays other functions, including the times of sunrise and sunset throughout the year at a given locality – chosen by the client - the tourbillon carriage, as always in the shape of the brand emblem, a Maltese cross, rotates once a minute at 6 o'clock and it coupled to a small seconds indication. The indications of the perpetual calendar are symmetrically laid out with the days, the months and the dates at 9, 12 and 3 o'clock respectively. The leap-year indicator makes a circumspect appearance on the upper left.

Despite supporting extra mechanical complexity, the Calibre 2253 – bearing the Hallmark of Geneva - exhibits a breathtaking amount of power reserve – some 336 hours or 14 days of running time drawn from two pairs of coupled barrels. The power reserve is shown through the sapphire-crystal caseback.