Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège: Floral beauties

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Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art Florilège collection, launched in 2013. Shown above is the White Lily watch. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art Florilège collection, launched in 2013. Shown above is the White Lily watch. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

Vacheron Constantin’s Constantin’s Métiers d’Art Florilège collection launched in 2013 takes its inspiration from floral illustrations and paintings found in Robert John Thornton’s The Temple of Flora.

Said to be published in 1799, The Temple of Flora comprises 90 plates and three floral paintings have been chosen by Vacheron Constantin for its Métiers d’Art Florilège collection: the China Limodoron, white lily and Queen (the strelitzia plant). All three versions are made with ladies in mind.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège China Limodoron watch. The China Limodoron is a symbol of wealth and refinement. Bezel set with 85 round-cut diamonds of approximately 1.1 carats, limited to 20 pieces. © TANG Portfolio. Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège China Limodoron watch. The China Limodoron is a symbol of wealth and refinement. Bezel set with 85 round-cut diamonds of approximately 1.1 carats, limited to 20 pieces. © TANG Portfolio. Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

These floral prints which were recreated artistically on a watch, most noticeably on the dial, employed the crafts of enamelling, guillochage and gemsetting.

“We though it would be nice to create something typically feminine for ladies. Hand guilloché was used for the flowers and combined with the enamelling, the result was a translucent, shimmering effect,” says Christian Selmoni, artistic director, Vacheron Constantin.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège Queen watch (strelitzia plant). Limited to 20 pieces. Photo: © TANG Portfolio Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège Queen watch (strelitzia plant). Limited to 20 pieces. Photo: © TANG Portfolio Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

The floral engravings were created in-house by Vacheron Constantin’s guilloché engraving expert Supachai Wattaanakanoktham.

The Grand feu cloisonné translucent enamels are the work of famed master enameller Anita Porchet.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège White Lily watch. Limited to 20 pieces. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Florilège White Lily watch. Limited to 20 pieces. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie January 2013.

The three watches in this Métiers d’Art Florilège collection are powered by Vacheron Constantin’s Calibre 4400 manual-winding movements which bear the Geneva Seal Hallmark.

Apart from the beauty of such artistic timepieces, what we really like as well is how these watches perpetuate the cultural legacy of 19th century English botanical illustrations.

Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 Amagnetic: in demand, present “tense”

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Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 Amagnetic in a 35mm case, circa 1959. Sold for £28,750 at Bonham’s 4 December auction in London. Photo: © Bonhams

Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 Amagnetic in a 35mm case, circa 1959. Sold for £28,750 at Bonham’s 4 December auction in London. Photo: © Bonhams

The Ref. 3417 “Amagnetic” first launched by Patek Philippe in 1958 was initially equipped with the Calibre 12’’’400 AM movement. In 1960, it was replaced by the Calibre 27-AM 400 before it was discontinued in the late 1960s, according to auctioneer Bonhams.

Though models of Patek Philippe’s Ref. 3417 were last produced in the 1960s, they remain very much in demand.

As J. Michael Mehltretter states in his book Patek Philippe: Cult Object and Investment (published in 2012), the Ref. 3417 “Amagnetic” is “among today’s most sought-after watches” from the brand.

Interestingly, he adds that the Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 “Amagnetic” only came in a steel case.

One such Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 in stainless steel with the Calibre 12’’’400 AM and made in around 1959 was sold for £28,750 (including buyer’s premium) at Bonham’s 4 December 2013 auction only after a “tense” bidding war, states the auctioneer.

This backs the point that the Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 is still collectible in the “present tense” and not in the “past tense” (pun most definitely intended).

“The sale of the Amagnetic Patek Philippe caused a real stir,” notes Paul Maudsley, head of Bonhams Watch Department.

Another example of a Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 in steel which houses the Calibre 12’’’400 AM and made in 1958 sold for 25,000 Swiss francs or 28,583 euros in Geneva in May 2013, according to collectorsquare.com.

At the same Bonham’s 4 December 2013 auction, the Rolex Panerai 3646 (shown below), which was discussed in a previous article: Rolex Panerai 3646: Rare because few dared, sold for £56,250, way above its estimated valuation of between £18,000 and £22,000. Only 30 examples of this Rolex Panerai 3646 were made.

The Rolex Panerai 3646 was sold for £56,250 at the same Bonham’s 4 December auction. Photo: © Bonhams

The Rolex Panerai 3646 was sold for £56,250 at the same Bonham’s 4 December auction. Photo: © Bonhams