Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watch manufacturer in existence. Throughout its history, they created some of the most complicated and important timepieces in history, and the present watch exemplifies how proficiently they can exploit such an enormous know-how in today’s watchmaking.

In fact, this is a very unusual execution of one of the most classic of all complications: the perpetual calendar. Instead of opting for a usual 3-subdials layout, only two subsidiary counters are employed - for the day and month - positioned on the lower half of the dial, leaving the entire top half available for the retrograde date indication. A highly intricate complication, the retrograde date had at the time been approached only by a handful of the top tier watch manufacturers. As a matter of fact, beyond its aesthetic and technical interest, this is a nod to Vacheron Constantin’s history: in the 1930s they made a very limited series of unique pieces indeed featuring a retrograde date.

On top of such an unusual architecture, a digital 4-digit year display has been included at 6 o ‘clock. The result is an extremely attractive dial which offers perfect readability of all the many calendar indications. Furthermore, it is distinguished by its absolute balance: everything on the dial is perfectly symmetrical with the exception of the small leap year indication at 3 which, rather than disrupting the looks of the piece, acts as a “beauty mark” of sorts, further emphasizing the balance of the watch.