Certainly one of my earliest “questionable” articles that made the timepiece industry raise its brow was around the first discharge of the Vacheron Constantin Quai p l’Ile watch collection. I pretty much panned the idea and execution from the watch. But accomplished it in ways that permitted even Vacheron Constantin to understand and respect my feedback. This past year I had been told in confidence by them the Qaui p l’Ile (QDI) would be remodeled, and that i felt a minute of pride that my opinions are valuable to a minimum of a couple of people.
The initial QDI experienced (for me) on the couple of fronts. First was the attention pushing design making it difficult to read? Second were the “passport” protections from the dial, and third was the fallacy of “personalization.” Read about my ideas in the last article. Now, slated for release this year, Vacheron Constantin will to produce latest version from the QDI. I still can’t pronounce the title from the watch in order to save my existence, however i enjoy it much better. Maintained may be the situation design that we quite loved, and new is definitely an up-to-date movement and far simpler to see dial.
Besides the Overseas, VC (Vacheron Constantin) has pretty much no watches for casual put on, sport situations, or something that is not super classy or super complicated. Therefore the QDI was kind of intended to be it. VC wanted (still wants) to possess choices that attract more youthful watch purchasers. As the brand does very well using their core collection pieces, unsure how good that “age push downward” continues to be going. Do not get my wrong, you will find lots of VC watches I love, however i would not want to put on one while putting on shorts and consuming a beer.
The brand new QDI watch is known as the Vacheron Constantin Quai p l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar. As a result, you’ll observe that we have an annual calendar having a retrograde date hands. The movement is totally new, although not radical in the difference in the calendar movement in the old QDI. Essentially VC just designed a couple of changes, adding the moon phase complication, getting rid of the energy reserve indicator, and perhaps a couple of other activities. The movement may be the superbly in-house made Calibre 2460 QRA automatic movement. It features a Seal of Geneva onto it along with a pretty black/grey ruthenium plated 22k gold rotor. The moon phase indicator needs adjustment once each 122 years (presuming the timepiece is running constantly), and also the calendar must be modified only annually. The main difference between a yearly and perpetual calendar are just slight, and annual ones are a smaller amount costly.
The dial really is easy in comparison as to the the timepiece once had. It features a easy and easy look that’s enjoyable. It is not likely to win any honours when it comes to creativeness, but it’s something I’d happily put on. The dial has some pleasing vertical texturing too. I actually do such as the large applied gold hour makers and hands (despite the fact that both your hands continue to be perhaps too simple).
As the passport and strange dial have left, the “personalization” remains. Vacheron Constantin is careful this time around to suggest at this personalization means selecting from the couple of predefined options. I suppose during the last couple of years watch brands have recognized that individuals are really reading through the press announcements that barely put any effort into, and therefore are consequently inspecting them. As a result, the brand new QDI seven part watch situation could be built from the couple of metals, but you may also selectively pick the finishing (polished, blown, etc…) around the various situation parts. According the VC the situation has 700 possible combinations to select from.
Despite the fact that the brand new QDI is really a well developed-lower form of the initial one, it will feel a lot more like a Vacheron Constantin. To tell the truth, VC did not really much to alter the timepiece – it’s a lot more like a task refresh. The piece presently has a vintage feel into it, and also the situation still looks great after 2 yrs. This is actually the QDI which should come in 2008, but it’ll be around for 2011. Glad Vacheron Constantin listened to the recommendation I, and I’m sure others, gave them. The Vacheron Constantin Quai p l’Ile Retrograde Annual Calendar watch can have up available between 2011 and become formally revealed in the month of January.