A longstanding part of the Vacheron Constantin watchmaking heritage, the World Time complication made a noteworthy comeback to the collections from the Manufacture in 2011. The Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time model houses the new Calibre 2460WT bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin, this new mechanical self-winding movement is distinguished by its capacity to indicate the world’s 37 time zones, including those offset from Universal Coordinated Time (UCT) by a half – or quarter-hour – an exclusive mechanism patented by Vacheron Constantin.Despite its complex construction principles, the new mechanical World Time movement is extremely user-friendly. The wearer chooses the reference time and places it opposite the black triangle at 6 o’clock. The time in the reference location can then be read off either by the hour hand, or by the 24-hour disc, while the time in the other 36 time zones is simultaneously readable. The cities shown in black represent the full time zones, while the cities in red indicate half-hour or quarter-hour zones.Incorporating all the signature characteristics of the collection – a slender bezel, a knurled motif on the case-back, a screw-down sapphire crystal case-back, and dauphine hands – the new Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time comes with a 42.5 mm diameter 18K pink gold case that is water-resistant to 30 metres. It is fitted with a brown alligator leather strap secured by an 18K pink gold folding clasp.Due to the modern nature of this useful complication, along with the major innovations provided by its Calibre 2460WT, the Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time is destined to become an iconic model within the collection, and to perpetuate Vacheron Constantin’s pioneering role in the development of multiple time-zone watches.
