This bespoke piece from Vacheron Constantin's Atelier Cabinotiers service is playfully serious. Named Philosophia by the owner who commissioned it, the watch reminds us that we should not necessarily be controlled by time.
The original idea was based on the thought that we don't always need to know exactly what time it is, that an approximation would be good enough. That would seem to fly right in the face of fine watchmaking and the quest for excellence and precision, especially since the owner is a serious enthusiast and a major collector.
The solution lies in this one-handed timepiece based on a model from the Patrimony collection. A single hand indicates the hour on a 24-hour scale. At the 6 o'clock position is a tourbillion that rotates once every 60 seconds and acts as the seconds indicator, and at 9 o'clock is a customised moon phase indicator that shows the moon with its craters and with a single star shining near it. The name Philosophia appears at the 3 o'clock position. On the back of the watch, sapphire crystal allows you to admire the mechanical manual-wind Calibre 2755 and see why it is worthy of the Hallmark of Geneva.
You won't see all the work involved, though. The level of detail was such that some components, such as the plate with its hand matt-effect file-stroke treatment, will only be seen by the owner if he peers over the shoulder of the watchmaker during maintenance.
You will also see a power reserve indicator on which there is a small plaque stamped with the intertwined constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
Engraved in the 18k pink gold custom-made case is the coat of arms of the Atelier Cabinotiers and the phrase 'Les Cabinotiers'. You will also see another detail requested by the owner, the engraved words 'No UN/UN' rather than the '1/1' that usually marks such one-of-a-kind pieces.
