Vacheron Constantin Malte Dual Time Regulator

With 250 years of solid Genevan tradition to build on, Vacheron Constantin's unrivalled technical and aesthetic heritage provides endless inspiration for its model lines.

A case in point is its Malte Collection. Assertive design and sophisticated technology come together here to give its models their truly unique character. They could even be said to embody the sum total of the company's achievements, rearranged into convincing interpretations of contemporary lifestyles. Typical of the Malte Collection's strong personality is the Malte dual time regulator. It is now available with a case in 18 carat pink gold. All the signature features of the Malte Collection are of course present: fan-shaped bracelet attachments, crown bearing a stylized rendering the "Maltese cross" corporate symbol, facetted swordblade-shaped watch hands, generous proportions... Originally developed for watch-rating purposes, the regulator owes a great deal to the inventive genius of Ferdinand Berthoud (1727 - 1807), watchmaker to the king of France and to the French Navy. This exceptional timekeeper's design inspired that of the marine chronometers of the period, conceived for navigation on the high seas, also featuring separate axes for the hour, minute and seconds hands. This construction reduced both the amount of mechanical energy required to drive the gears and friction, thereby much improving the movement's precision. Incorporating this unusual design, the Vacheron Constantin caliber 1206 RDT selfwinding movement fitted in the Malte dual time regulator is sufficiently precise to have earned the title of officially certified chronometer issued by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Authority (COSC). The Regulator's dial features at 9 o'clock a subdial with 24-hour graduations serving as a second-timezone indicator along with a pointer-type circular calendar arrayed around the rim of the seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. The movement's power reserve exceeds 60 hours. As with any calibre designed and built by Vacheron Constantin, the Malte regulator's displays "côtes de Genève" decorative ribbing and its bridges and bars are bevelled and polished by hand. The dial's frosted silvery surface features both Arabic and Roman numerals along with pink gold hour markers. The second-timezone indicator pushpiece is located at 11 o'clock on the round-shaped case while the calendar corrector is sunk into the case rim between 4 and 5 o'clock. The "officer" type case back is hinged and its internal surface can be engraved with a name or discreet message. The back opens on a clear sapphire plate through which the movement's oscillating weight in 18K gold can be observed in action. The Malte regulator comes with a padded and hand-stitched strap in alligator mississipiensis fitted with a standard clasp in gold, adding to the undeniable character of a wristwatch with unusually arresting dial face and particularly accomplished movement.