New Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253 Wa

The new Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253 watch was released a couple of weeks ago by the the ultra-premium Swiss watch brand. The watch is a functional watch which featuring a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, a tourbillon and, omg, an equation of time complication.

Frankly speaking, I never really understood the equation of time complication. Sunrise and sunset indicators come in handy in January (at least, in the Northern hemisphere,) when you get the winter blues and only these little buggers assure you that everything is going to be alright, that day is getting longer and the Summer is on its way. Perpetual calendar is good for those suffering of Alzheimer's, and the tourbillon, as well as minute repeater, is just plain mesmerizing.

The logic of why does one need to know the deviation of the apparent solar time from the mean solar time, if he or she is not an astronomer or a skipper without a GPS navigation system, somehow escapes me. Perhaps, this kind of useless complications exists just for its own sake. Or, more likely, serves the purpose of telling the world that the owner of the watch can afford one.

Well, back to our sheep. Like all members of the Patrimony Traditionelle line, the ''Calibre 2253'' model sports a beautifully executed case with a transparent display back giving a good view at its gorgeous hand-wound movement.

However, its noticeably off-centered dial is ruined with three extra indicators: two for the sunrise and sunset indicators at 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock respectively and the equation of time indicator between 10 and 11 o'clock.

Well, to put it more clearly, the indicators are alright, it is the color of hands that spoil the things. Trying to increase the watch's legibility, Vacheron Constantin decided to make the small hands in bright blue while leaving the hour and minute hands in its original color of platinum. As a result, the seven small hands dominate the dial making it look busy and even messy. Perhaps, VC should have executed them of platinum or in rhodiumed gold and left them at that.

After the brief introduction, will you consider that the watch is really an interesting and desirable one? It is going to be a much thought-after collector's item even in 2050s as a valuable watch. It is a watch which will be produced in an ultra-limited edition of only 10 (ten) pieces. Just ten! It is sure that wearing such a watch would be something to be proud of.

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