A milestone timepiece first shown at the Hong Kong “Watches and Wonders” fair and unveiled to most of the watch world at SIHH 2014, this Vacheron Constantin watch has a case that is slightly thicker than that of the Hybris Mechanica 11 (8.09 mm) but a minute-repeater movement that is a tad thinner (just 3.9 mm). Calibre 1731 is a manual-winding movement, as opposed to JLC’s automatic one, and it carries a 65-hour power reserve and bears the Geneva Seal. The movement also incorporates a flying strike governor, an innovative device that controls the speed and spacing of the repeater’s chiming tones and reduce the audible whirring sounds that can accompany the chimes. The watch comes in a rose gold case and retails for $369,300.
