Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix Watches
Combining classic details with daring design, Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix watches are imbued with an elegant and relaxed aesthetic. The collection exudes a cosmopolitan style and features a smart alligator leather strap. Investment pieces that will stand the test of time, this fantastic range of timepieces has been challenging convention for many years. Boasting a sophisticated façade and eye-catching dials, you are sure to stand out from the crowd with these exquisite wristwatches.
About Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix Watches
Unveiled at the 2018 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva, Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix watches were inspired by a timepiece that was very close to the manufacturer’s heart. To them, this brand new collection represents an important new step in its growth and development. As the name suggests, the Fiftysix is based on a model that was first released in 1956.
What makes this watch, the Reference 6073, so special is the fact that it was one of the manufacturer’s first timepieces to be equipped with a self-winding movement. This came at a time when most other models had to be wound by hand. The timepiece was distinguished by its precision and reliability, and boasted a water-resistant construction with a multi-sided caseback.
There is a strong sense of kinship between the Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix and its illustrious predecessor, and many ways in which the more modern iteration bridges the gap between past and present. Perhaps the most striking of these is the aesthetic nods to the Maltese Cross. Another example is the distinctive shape of the box-type crystal that rises above the bezel. While it was originally made with Plexiglass or mineral glass, the newer model has sapphire instead which offers a more scratch-resistant surface while still preserving the vintage aesthetic.
As you would perhaps expect from a timepiece that is based on one of Vacheron Constantin’s first self-winding timepieces, every model from the Fiftysix collection is powered by a self-winding movement — including a brand new calibre for the three-hand version. For the first time ever, the manufacturer has also decided to offer a classic range of wristwatches in both gold and steel, with both materials treated with the same high standards as each other.
Vacheron Constantin debuted three 40mm models at the 2018 SIHH event, each available in various steel or gold versions. The Fiftysix Self-Winding housed a brand new mechanical self-winding movement, the Calibre 1326, that boasts a 48-hour power reserve. Featuring an openworked Maltese cross-shaped oscillating weight, the timepiece has hours, minutes, and central seconds hands, and an aperture-type date indication equipped with a stop-seconds device.
Meanwhile, the Fiftysix Day-Date with power reserve indicator provides additional functions that are powered by its self-winding Calibre 2475 movement. It has three different display windows for the day, date, and power reserve — which appear at 9, 3, and 6 o’clock respectively. In keeping with the characteristic design of the collection, this model features a monochrome dial with double opaline sunburst effect. Gold Arabic numerals, hour markers, and hours and minutes hands also help punctuate the dial.
The final model launched by the manufacturer was the Fiftysix Complete Calendar with precision moon phase. Undoubtedly the highlight of the collection, its construction means that the moon phase function requires adjustment only once every 122 years — compared to once every three years for a standard moon phase. The timepiece’s dial features two rectangular apertures at 12 o’clock, which indicate the month and day of the week. The date is displayed by a central gold hand, while the moon disc features at 6 o’clock.
Classical Designs with a Modern Twist
As the name suggests, Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix watches are inspired by one of the manufacturer’s models which dates back from 1956. The defining features of this exquisite collection were its lugs, which were reminiscent of the Maltese Cross, the manufacturer’s logo. When creating the Fiftysix, Vacheron Constantin’s team of designers decided to add a modern twist on this historic design. As a result, the more recent collection features more rounder edges and lugs than the original vintage model.
The Fiftysix range is made up of simple automatic wristwatches with three hands and a date a display, models with a day-date display, and complete calendar editions. Complete calendar timepieces also include a moon phase display that will be accurate for 122 years. Whichever model you choose, you are guaranteed to turn heads.
A Role Model for Contemporary Watches
The Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix continues to assert itself as a role model for contemporary and classic round watches. As elegant as they are modern, this fantastic range of luxury wristwatches is especially well-known for its cosmopolitan style. Although the range is one of the manufacturer’s most recent creations, it effortlessly draws inspiration from the brand’s past and offers a more modern aesthetic.
With their harmonious proportions that are combined with an elegant leather strap, Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix watches exude style and sophistication. While its clear dial is meant to be purely functional, the sapphire crystal case back enabled the wearer to marvel at the mechanical movement inside. If you are a fan of classical wristwatches that have a distinctive modern twist, this is definitely something you should add to your collection.