Four New Vacheron Constantin Egerie Moon Phases Come With Diamonds, And More Diamonds

Vacheron Constantin likes to live on the extremes of haute horology. If it’s not making watches with the world’s most complicated, it is creating decorative pieces that take years to make, involving a workshop full of top artisans. The latest result of this commitment to high watchmaking is the new Egerie collection of ladies’ moon phase watches set with diamonds and decorated with enameling, engraving, and a special gold filigree technique called tapisserie. The result is what Vacheron refers to as the art of Belle Haute Horlogerie.

There are four references, including a full diamond set version with 1,377 diamonds set into the dial, case and bracelet, totaling 12.35 carats (priced at $188,000); a version with a diamond-set dial and case, containing 845 diamonds totaling 5.45 carats, on an alligator or satin strap ($79,000); and an 18k pink gold bracelet version with 58 diamonds set into the bezel and another 36 set into the ring around he moon phase subdial, for a total of 1.10 carats ($52,500). The moons on each of them are tucked behind clouds made of mother-of-pearl., which obscures part of the moon as it rotates, revealing the phase of the moon.

The fourth reference is a special piece called the Egerie Creative Edition, with diamonds set into a floral-themed filigree overlay in a pattern that was inspired by Burano lace. Some of the white gold threads that make up the tapisserie overlay are as thin as an eyelash, which means it had to be handled with great care. It is one of five dial layers, and is laid over a dramatically contrasting background of black enamel. The piece required four different artistic crafts, including tapisserie, engraving, enameling and gemsetting – it is set with 585 diamonds, for a total of 4.46 carats. It is a limited edition, meaning limited in production, but not numbered, and each one will be slightly unique since the dials are made by hand. It is priced at $104,000. All four of the new Egerie moon phase watches contain the in-house automatic caliber 1088L The cases are 37mm.