The unique tantalum/palladium Quai de l'Ile for Only Watch

On September 24 in Monao Patrizzi & Co will be holding the 3rd Only Watch auction, the proceeds of which will serve research for the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The game for participating manufactures is to offer for sale one off pieces, prototypes or n°1 of limited production pieces.

For the 2009 edition Vacheron Cosntantin will be offering a viciously aggressive and bold unique Quai de l’Ile prototype in tantalum (for case and bezel) and palladium (for the flanks) offering a very visual post industrial contrast.

According to Vincent Kauffmann head of design at Vacheron Constantin the choice of the Quai de l’Ile was an obvious one “the Quai de l’Ile is an experimental laboratory for us and here we experimented not only with a new metal never used by Vacheron (tantalum) but also with graphic elements. Tantalum is a great metal due to its anthracite-blue hue and we may see it in the future…”

The dial is also different than the regular production Quai de l’Ile models, its centre represents the logo of the Only Watch auction, the sapphire here has been engraved and filled with red ink. Furthermore the dial consists in reality of 2 sapphire crystals, each of the 4 sides treated differently (side 1: time telling indications, side 2: security printing, side 3: graphic elements, side 4: transparency treatment) giving the dial more depth but also a higher legibility.

This watch is just fascinating and VC have gone one step further in giving the QDI even more personnality and I truly hope that this unique piece is a hint of the direction this model is taking.

CASE Material Tantalum, Palladium 950
Diameter and height 41.00 x 50.50 mm,12.90 mm
Strap width 23.00 mm
Shape and construction Cambered rectangle, modular construction
Back Transparent, sapphire crystal, screwed-down
Finishing satin-finished
Crystal Sapphire with anti-reflective coating on under side, convex
Strap fastening Pivot screws; titanium tube spin-bar
Water resistance 3 Atm, equivalent to a depth of 30 meters

DIAL AND HANDS
Dial material Sapphire crystal
Finishing ° Sapphire crystal: galvanic growth of nickel, metallization, laser engraving and inking
Hours 3,6,9 and 12: galvanic growth of nickel, rhodium layer
1,2,4,5,7,8,10 et 11: engraving and black or white engraving
Material and kind
of hands Hours and minutes: satin-finished 18K white gold with white luminescent material
Seconds satin-finished pfinodal

MOVEMENT Reference 2460H410QH, Geneva Hallmark
Rhodiumized -coloured snail-shaped exterior ring
Energy Mechanical, self-winding
Diameter and height 25.60 mm , 5.70 mm
Number of jewels 27
Frequency 28'800 vibrations / hour (4Hz)
Power reserve Approximately 43 hours
Indications hours, minutes and central seconds
Additional functions date disc with optimal readability


OTHER ELEMENTS Strap Black hand-stitched, saddle-finish, square-scaled, high-shiny alligator leather
2nd strap Black vulcarbonised rubber
Clasp palladium triple-blade, folding clasp, polished half Maltese cross.

		The unique tantalum/palladium Quai de l'Ile for Only Watch	Alex Ghotbi	Jun 24, 09 15:39
		examples of designs which were finally not used	Alex Ghotbi	Jun 24, 09 15:44
		I like tantalum and palladium	Ling	Jun 24, 09 23:47
		Really cool design changes and I think V&C should consider the	timerider	Jun 25, 09 02:27
		Re: examples of designs which were finally not used	Alberto	Jun 25, 09 10:21
		The 'logo' is magnificent! :-) nt	Doc	Jun 25, 09 13:32
		The unique piece is magnificent...	Radek	Jun 25, 09 15:17
		amazing possibilities of personalisation! nt.	a.ler	Jun 26, 09 08:59
		The date function is different than the original QDI???	TXNicholas	Jun 29, 09 23:12
		Hi Nicholas, I believe THL masthead is incorrect,	dshao1	Jun 30, 09 02:02
		Dan is right! (nt)	Alex Ghotbi	Jun 30, 09 09:32