Vacheron Constantin marks the centenary of its American 1921 watch with a faithful one-off recreation. The American 1921 Pièce Unique is an exact reproduction of the original, created using both historical and more contemporary tools.
The new watch adheres to the art deco design codes of the original, which was created mainly for the American watch market. Only 24 examples of the model were ever made, and just one remained in Vacheron Constantin’s private collection, adding to the complexity of the watchmakers’ task in reproducing it. Designed at a time when wearing a wristwatch was beginning to become more common, the watch encapsulates the brand’s ‘classic with a twist’ aesthetic in a teasing play on our perceptions. The unexpected placement of the numerals captures the optimism and experimentation that characterised the decade following the First World War. Coinciding with the release of more affordable cars, the offbeat placement was appreciated by drivers, who didn’t need to raise their hand from the steering wheel to view the time.
When recreating this piece, watchmakers in the brand’s heritage and restoration departments had to carefully adhere to the intricacies of the original, possible only with a return to the historical tools used then. The restoration workshop – an active department with more than 800 machine tools and watchmaking tools, all designed to bring the past back to life – worked on remaking the piece and keeping the original spirit. It marks the first time they have entirely reproduced an antique watch.
A facing lathe (to create a flat surface) from the late 19th century; an 18th-century upright drilling accessory to drill through the movement’s mainplate; and an early 20th-century staking tool used to set jewels were among the specialist vintage equipment utilised. Used in conjunction with contemporary tools created especially for this watch, such as custom-made milling-cutters and riveting tools, they ensured a faithful and detailed reproduction.
INFORMATION
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spotHeritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Discover midcentury treasures in Marylebone with Álvaro by AppointmentLondon is full of sequestered design havens, and Wallpaper* knows them all. Allow us to point you in the direction of Álvaro González’s shop window on Nottingham Place, home to a bonanza of beautiful 20th-century antiques
-
Beach chic: the all-new Citroën Ami gets an acid-tinged, open-air Buggy variantCitroën have brought a dose of polychromatic playfulness to their new generation Ami microcar, the cult all-ages electric quadricycle that channels the spirit of the 2CV for the modern age
-
Vacheron Constantin unveils the Historiques 222 to mark 45 years since the model’s launchVacheron Constantin restates its place in the pantheon of ‘sports chic’ watches
-
This Timex retro quartz watch is straight from the 1970sThe Q Timex 1972 Reissue watch stays faithful to the design codes of the original
-
Classic meets cool in Nomos Glashütte’s platinum grey watch designTwo new Tangente Neomatik watches draw on Nomos Glashütte’s clean German design codes
-
Girard-Perregaux goes back to the future with rethought Casquette watchGirard-Perregaux pays tribute to its original 1970s watch with the new and updated Casquette 2.0
-
G-Shock marks 40 years of youth culture with limited-edition watchG-Shock and the Museum of Youth Culture look to the archives for the new GW-M5610MOYC-1ER watch
-
Ten watch brands mark Mr Porter’s anniversary with special editionsTen watch brands, including Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and Bell & Ross, are celebrating Mr Porter’s tenth anniversary in style
-
Atelier Oï’s Louis Erard watch is inspired by a minimalist sundialAtelier Oï has rethought the Louis Erard Le Régulateur watch with a minimalist dial, engraved as if with rays of light
-
Nomos Autobahn watch is rethought by designer Werner AisslingerThree new models make up the Nomos Autobahn Director’s Cut Limited Edition watch series, in motoring-inspired hues
