You've probably never seen one of these before. This watch came out a few years (2008) ago under the radar in the United States (only) with just 10 pieces in the limited edition. It originally sold for well over $100,000 and was mostly unknown to people outside of the dedicated
Vacheron Constantin fan groups online and a few retailers (and their clients). Such tactics are smart when trying to appease collectors looking for exclusive pieces, and promoting future collectability. As such, one of these 10 pieces is going to be up for auction during
Antiquorum's Sept. 15th auction in New York City. Yield for this Malte Tourbillon is very conservative with an estimated price of just $60,000 - $90,000.
The piece itself is beautiful. Set in a Malte style case, it is made from palladium (very rare as a watch case material), and features a totally skeletonized dial that has a great looking "black platinum" finish. Such finishes assist with contrast, allowing you to identify elements on the dial much better, and further appreciating the craftsmanship (and being able to see the hands most easily). The movement features a massive tourbillon cage with a bridge that looks like Vacheron Constantin's logo. There is a dedicated scale for the time (which is nice on a skeletonized dial), and the movement has a date disc, and power reserve indicator. Decoration is a mixture of modern and classic aesthetic, with a masculine twist.
source:luxist.com
