Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch maison in continuous operation, has introduced three new precious gem-set timepieces that can be worn interchangeably in four different ways.
The Grand Lady Kalla, whose design is inspired by Art Deco, was first introduced in 2024 in an all-diamond version. The three new timepieces incorporate a choice of emeralds, rubies or sapphires, in addition to diamonds, and are offered in a set that can be converted into four separate configurations. In addition to being worn as a fully gem-set watch, the Lady Kalla can be suspended from a pearl and gemstone suitor necklace, with a separate jewel piece that can serve as an element of a three-row riviere-style bracelet or suspended from the sautoir.
The Art Deco design movement first appeared on the international stage during the groundbreaking International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts [Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes] held in Paris in 1925. A clear break from the Art Nouveau style, Art Deco featured angular geometric forms, and it influenced product design (including watches and jewelry), visual arts and architecture. Vacheron Constantin was an early adopter of this highly popular new style.
Design Driven
“The period from the mid-1920s onwards was a time of effervescent creativity for Vacheron Constantin, as it embraced the aesthetic codes showcased by the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris in 1925,” said Sandrine Donguy, Vacheron Constantin’s product and innovation director. “Watch silhouettes broke free from previous convention,” and the brand’s newer watches “gave way to sculptural forms, rigorous lines and pure colour palettes. Cases were oval, rectangular, square or asymmetrical in shape, generally set with stones in two-tone variations.”
The new Grand Lady Kallas are just as much intended to be high jewelry pieces as they are to tell the time, according to the brand. The Grand Lady sapphire, for example, comprises 259 diamonds, 44 sapphires, 199 akoya pearls and 23 blue chalcedonies. The emerald and ruby versions feature the same impressive stone count as the sapphire version.
The Grand Lady Kalla can trace its history back to 1979 with the one-of-a-kind Kallista watch set with 130 carats of diamonds. In 1980, the Lady Kalla was unveiled, set with 30 carats of diamonds. Several variations were introduced in the ensuing years, including a 2001 Lady Kalla, whose case was carved from a single block of 18k white gold, winning the Jewellery Watch award at the first Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. In 2010, the Lady Kalla Flame, featuring a diamond cutting shape called the flame, was developed wholly in-house by Vacheron Constantin.
A Commitment to Excellence
The new Grand Lady Kalla High Jewelry timepieces exemplify Vacheron Constantin’s dedication to handcrafting mastery. True to the brand’s motto “Do better if possible, and that is always possible,” every precious stone is hand-set. Only the gemstones meeting the highest quality standards are selected, following a tradition of excellence that was established 270 years ago.
“From the first women’s pocket watches created by the Maison at the end of the 18th century to contemporary wristwatches, Vacheron Constantin has a fascinating history of jewellery watches—brimming with creativity, innovation and expertise,” Donguy said. “By considering artistic sensibilities, aesthetic trends and technical developments in the context of changing social norms and customs, it has captured the constantly evolving spirit of the times while fulfilling feminine expectations and desires.” The new Grand Lady Kalla High Jewelry watches certainly fit the bill.