135
Vacheron Constantin
Ref. 2400C
Les Cabinotiers
A unique and striking white gold wristwatch with miniature painting on enamel dial inspired by Francisco Goya
Full-Cataloguing
- Unique Piece
- Miniature enamel painted dial representing Francisco de Goya's El quitasol
- One of the very rare Vacheron Constantin Cabinotiers piece to come to market
- Fresh to market
The present unique Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers is a bespoke commission that perfectly illustrates the Manufacture's commitment to preserving the rarest métiers d'art. Conceived by its special-order department, the watch combines exceptional craftsmanship with a deeply personal artistic vision.
Its dial reproduces Francisco de Goya's El quitasol (The Parasol, 1777) in miniature enamel painting, one of the most demanding decorative arts in watchmaking. For centuries, miniature enamel painting has adorned the finest timepieces, requiring extraordinary patience, precision and technical mastery. Today, only a handful of artisans continue to practise this exacting craft.
Executed under magnification using brushes containing only a few hairs, each colour is applied in successive layers before the dial is fired repeatedly at temperatures approaching 900°C. Between six and twenty firings may be required, with every stage carrying the risk of irreparable damage. The result is a permanent, luminous image whose colours possess a remarkable depth and permanence that cannot be achieved by conventional painting techniques.
The exceptional dial is complemented by a white gold case fitted with an officer-style hinged caseback, a case design not found in Vacheron Constantin's regular production further reinforcing the uniqueness of the watch.
El quitasol (1777)
Painted in 1777 and now housed in Madrid's Prado Museum, El quitasol was commissioned by the future King Charles IV for the dining room of the Royal Palace shortly after Francisco de Goya's appointment as court painter. Intended to hang above a window, the composition depicts a young woman seated outdoors while a companion shields her with a parasol as dark clouds gather in the distance. A sleeping cat rests on her lap, adding a quiet sense of intimacy to the scene.
The woman's fashionable French attire, with its vibrant silks and elegant fan, contrasts with the simpler dress of her attendant, while Goya's masterful use of warm light and colour creates an atmosphere of serenity despite the approaching storm. The balanced, pyramidal composition reflects the influence of Italian painting, while the subtle treatment of light and shadow reveals the remarkable technical ability that would come to define one of Spain's greatest artists.
Vacheron Constantin
Swiss | 1755The world's oldest watch brand in continuous operation since its founding in 1755, Vacheron Constantin was the first watch company to manufacture movements with interchangeable parts beginning in 1839. Vacheron's watches are admired for their Latin-influenced case designs, well-balanced proportions and exquisitely finished movements of the highest quality. The Geneva-based manufacturer is known for their highly complicated masterpieces, including the King Farouk Grand Complication made in 1935, the Tour de l'Ile that was the most complicated serially produced wristwatch when introduced in 2005 and the 57260 — the world’s most complicated watch — made in 2015.
Key vintage models include minute repeating wristwatches such as the references 4261, chronographs such as the references 4178 and 6087 and the oversized Cioccolotone models such as ref. 4737. Collectors also appreciate Vacheron's Chronometer Royal pocket and wristwatches, as well as the '222,' the brand's first luxury sports watch produced from 1977 through 1984.