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by Yaseen Dockrat
How Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Inspired Vacheron Constantin’s Watch
14 Feb 2024
In November last year, Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin released its Les Cabinotiers collection, which included two watches that encapsulate the spirit of exploration and artistic appreciation that has characterised the Maison since its inception. The watches are a homage to Art Deco and Arabesque art forms, which have left an indelible mark on global culture. The second watch in the collection, the Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon — Tribute to Arabesque, features designs inspired by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The relationship between the Swiss manufacturer and the Middle East dates to 1800, when the Maison sought to expand its trade market. In 1817, Vacheron Constantin expanded in the Mediterranean to the cities of Smyrna and Constantinople, which were then part of the Ottoman Empire, and later, in 1865, to Egypt. In 1929, Vacheron Constantin presented a watch as a gift to King Fouad I at the request of the Swiss community in Egypt. The timepiece was “meant to showcase the pinnacle of watchmaking art”. Years later, the Maison again shipped a watch to Egypt, this time to King Farouk, who had inherited his father's love for fine watchmaking. At the time, the watch was heralded as the most complicated watch in the world. Many ruling families from the Middle East have since shown a penchant for Vacheron Constantin's creations, including King Abdelaziz al-Saudi of Saudi Arabia, one of the watchmaker's most well-known patrons. This relationship underlines the bond between Vacheron Constantin and the Middle East.
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The Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon — Tribute to Arabesque watch was inspired by motifs on the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque is known for its beautiful use of Arabesque and floral patterning that adorns the floor of the courtyard, the mosque's 82 domes, and its four towering minarets. Vacheron Constantin employed its best engraver to replicate the designs using engraving and intaglio techniques. The engraving process took three months, showcasing Vacheron Constantin's atelier's exceptional skill and attention to detail. The artisans achieved intricate detailing where each incision, measuring up to a tenth of a millimetre, captures the essence of Arabesque art.
“In the same way that devotees of exoticism have at certain times shown a genuine interest in the decorative arts from the Far East, particularly China and Japan, Vacheron Constantin’s heritage collection also contains numerous examples of objects inspired by Moorish art, inseparable from Arabesques and floral decoration,” said Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Style & Heritage Director. “As Vacheron Constantin established trade relations with countries to the east of the Mediterranean basin as early as the 1810s, pocket watches from the early 19th century notably feature finely chased Arabesque ornamentation, sometimes surrounded by rows of pearls or stones. This type of highly elaborate motif, which draws upon the art of engraving as well as champlevé, can be found on a number of Vacheron Constantin timepieces. Since the earliest exchanges with the region, Islamic architecture and richly illuminated Arabic manuscripts have been a favourite source of inspiration for the Manufacture's artisans. A new peak of this art is nonetheless reached in Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon — Tribute to Arabesque.”
The watch's dial features an open-worked, engraved white gold latticework cover placed on a finely chased black background. The design of the watch face is inspired by the aesthetics of mashribiyyas, which give depth and texture through intricate patterns.
The Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater — Tribute to Arabesque is a remarkable timepiece encased in 18K white gold, measuring 44mm in diameter and 13.5mm in thickness. While the outer case of the watch steals all the thunder, the inside packs just as much weight. The Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater — Tribute to Arabesque is powered by the manufacturer’s hand-wound Calibre 2755 TMR and features a tourbillon, minute repeater, and a 58-hour power reserve, with a power reserve indicator, which is visible through the transparent sapphire case back.
The Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater — Tribute to Arabesque is not just a watch but an artefact that bears the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. The watch has an alligator leather strap and an 18K hand-engraved white gold folding clasp, beautifully representing Vacheron Constantin's enduring legacy in the Middle East. This legacy perfectly combines the art of watchmaking with the rich tapestry of Arab culture and history.
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