Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Ode to the four Guardians “White Tiger”
Credit Vacheron Constantin
The awe-inspiring Artistry of the Les Cabinotiers Le Temps Divin Collection by Vacheron Constantin
Asian culture, seasons and wood marquetry, the Les Cabinotiers Le Temps Divin (divine time) series explores the notion of time in its various cultural and conceptual perceptions: physical and linear like a chronology; astronomical and cyclical like the seasons; metaphysical in the infinite stretching of the present moment. For each of these interpretations, Vacheron Constantin offers a journey towards different cultural horizons, a horological odyssey punctuated by the mechanics of time and staged by artistic crafts.
Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Ode to the four Guardians “White Tiger”
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin has opted for the succession of seasons to embody cyclical time, composed of alternating astronomical phenomena, declines and rebirths. Each of the latter is symbolized by a sacred animal from traditional Asian culture, highlighted by wood marquetry. The timepieces feature a tourbillon regulator driven by ultra-thin Calibre 2160.
Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Ode to the four Guardians “White Tiger”
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Ode to the four Guardians “Azure Dragon”
Credit Vacheron Constantin
The alternation of day and night, seasons and lunar cycles, was a very early incentive for humankind to seek regularity. Watchmaking was born of these observations, gradually infusing time with a scientific identity that has continued to progress. From cyclical time came physical time, which is sequenced and measured, followed by metaphysical time, which fuels deeper reflection on a concept inherent in the foundations of our universe. The theme of Le Temps Divin explores these different meanings of the term, expressing cyclical time through the seasons as generally expressed in Asian cultures and notably in Chinese culture.
Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Ode to the four Guardians “Azure Dragon”
Credit Vacheron Constantin
The marquetry artisan’s work involves using different types of wood in various shades that are cut, organized, assembled and applied according to the motif to be created. The process involves 150 types of wood covering around 60 sheets of veneer of natural colors and preserving them at the right temperature and humidity. For these Les Cabinotiers timepieces, and depending on the dial, ten to 12 types are selected: sycamore, padauk, hornbeam, tulip tree, blue myrtle, eucalyptus, maple, burl wood, oak, walnut… some of which are stained or even heated to obtain the right color.
Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Ode to the four Guardians “Azure Dragon”
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Ode to the four Guardians “Vermilion Bird”
Credit Vacheron Constantin
The rhythm of the seasons and years is highly symbolic in Asian cultures, often associated with mythological creatures and the zodiac signs. Within such a cosmogony, the celestial ecliptic – the imaginary line corresponding to the visible movement of the Sun as seen from the Earth – is divided into four sections of seven constellations, each represented by its sacred animal.
Credit Vacheron Constantin
The Azure Dragon is a symbol of strength and power for the East and spring; the Vermilion Bird is a symbol of luck and prosperity for the South and summer; the White Tiger is a symbol of seriousness and courage for the West and autumn; as well as the Black Tortoise, a symbol of wisdom and longevity for the North and winter. These animals took shape under the marquetry artisan’s hand, inspired by the murals in the Kitora burial mound in Japan, a circular tomb dating from the 7th century CE and depicting these mythical animals.
Metiers d’Art collection
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Metiers d’Art collection
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Metiers d’Art collection
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Metiers d’Art collection
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Metiers d’Art collection
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Metiers d’Art collection
Credit Vacheron Constantin
Metiers d’Art collection
Credit Vacheron Constantin
