As far as centuries-old Swiss institutions go, Vacheron Constantin is in a class of its own. The heritage house, which is the oldest extant watchmaker in the world, dating back to 1755, produces the ultimate in rarefied and complex timepieces, equipped with refined movements created by some of the most skilled watchmakers in the business. Nowhere is this unrivalled appreciation of beauty and craftsmanship more apparent than with the brand’s highly coveted, meticulously created métiers d’art watches, which feature intricate decorative techniques such as engraving, marquetry, gem-setting and enamelling.

Having previously spotlighted the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Greece, the Achaemenids and Rome in collaboration with the Louvre Museum in Paris, this year, Vacheron Constantin has expanded its métiers d’art offering once more with four new timepieces that pay homage to traditional motifs of ancient Chinese culture.

Created in partnership with the former associate research librarian of the Palace Museum in Beijing’s Forbidden City, each limited-edition design is decorated with a unique form of the “Seawater Cliff” – an ornamental motif derived from the imperial courts of the Ming (1368-1644 AD) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1912 AD). The depiction of mountainous cliffs being pummelled by the sea first appeared in the 14th century. The “Seawater Cliff” motif also features heavily throughout courtly architecture, furniture and porcelain as well as the embroidered silk ceremonial “dragon” robes, created under the rule of the Wanli Emperor (1572- 1620).

Two new Eternal Flow models have been introduced in 18k pink or white gold cases and feature dials created with cloisonné enamel, a technique that originated in China. Using more than 200 thin gold wires, which took over 50 hours to shape, the Eternal Flow recreates a vibrant, multi-hued mountain standing tall against rolling waves on both sides. Each dial has then been treated with layers of coloured enamel, with a kiln fire after each layer to achieve a flawless finish, taking over 70 further hours. After being polished to highlight the gold cloisonné, the dial is finished with a translucent enamel coating. Hand-engraved bats also adorn the bezel of the Eternal Flow models, a motif which symbolises happiness and good fortune.

Two further editions, the Moon Slivers, depict the famous “Seawater Cliff” motif with Grand Feu enamelling which has been used on an ocean-coloured dial and accented with tiny, hand-engraved volutes filled with dark-blue enamel. For added depth, the furrows have been filled with white enamel, while the mountains and cliffs are engraved and contrasted with blue champlevé enamel inlays. A total of 239 brilliant-cut diamonds embellish each dial, with a further smattering of 74 white diamonds on the bezel.

All four models are limited to just 15 pieces each and driven by Vacheron Constantin’s in-house automatic calibre 2460, which boasts an impressive 40-hour power reserve and, as a luxurious final touch, a 22k gold rotor engraved with waves.

POA; vacheron-constantin.com