VACHERON CONSTANTIN – QUAI DE L'ILE

VACHERON CONSTANTIN – QUAI DE L'ILE Stainless Steel Automatic Calibre 5100 NEW

QUAI DE L’ÎLE
A modern take on watchmaking traditio

The Quai de l’Île collection, launched in 2008, welcomes a new stainless steel model, providing a contemporary expression of the proud Fine Watchmaking traditions upheld by the Maison Vacheron Constantin. A spirit evidenced in a comfortably sized 41 mm-diameter case mingling three iconic shapes from the aesthetic heritage of the Manufacture, enhanced by a subtle array of finishes. The Hallmark of Geneva-certified Quai de l’ìle stainless steel model is equipped with the new Manufacture self-winding Caliber 5100, displaying the hours, minutes, seconds and date on a silver-toned or black dial punctuated by luminescent indications ensuring optimal legibility.

Quai de l’Île, an urban location brimming with history

With its contemporary design, its distinctive character and its excellence attested by the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, the Quai de l’Île collection embodies an avant-garde aesthetic vision of watchmaking traditions. The name refers to the historical site of Vacheron Constantin. A symbol of Geneva’s watchmaking excellence and home to the famous 19 th century master cabinotiers, this centre of outstanding craftsmanship spread the fame of the Manufacture far and wide. Located at the heart of Geneva, this crossing place between the left and right banks of the Rhone has been transformed into a bustling urban hub. Imbued with this same spirit of innovation pervaded by history, the Quai de l’Île collection vividly reflects the art with which Vacheron Constantin reinterprets a technical and aesthetic legacy enriched by 260 years of uninterrupted history.

A structured stainless steel case

At once sturdy, comfortable and light, stainless steel makes a noteworthy entry into the collection. Enhanced with alternating polished and satin-brushed finishes, the 41mm-diameter case associates three iconic shapes from the aesthetic heritage of Vacheron Constantin: a round bezel, a cushion-type case and a tonneau (barrel) caseband. This harmoniously embedded "shape in shape" design creates an original aesthetic, accentuated by the light playing across the finishes. Intended to ensure optimal comfort, the split-level lugs reinforce the dynamics of this case with its transparent back and endow it with an authentic identity, the signature touch of Vacheron Constantin.

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An in-house movement for an active life style

This stainless steel exterior houses a state-of-the-art mechanical self-winding movement comprising 172 components. Caliber 5100, entirely designed, developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin, drives the hours, minutes, central seconds and date functions. Steadily beating at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and designed for an active lifestyle, this movement features excellent resistance to impacts as well as a comfortable over 60-hour power reserve guaranteed by its twin barrels.

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The oscillating weight is made of tungsten, a material rarely used in watchmaking and which ensures improved inertia of the rotor along with optimal winding performance due to its hardness and its weight. Visible through the sapphire crystal case-back, it is distinguished by its modern Quai de l’Île decor adorned with five raised decorative fillets. The particularly meticulous finishing of Caliber 5100 – chamfering, polishing, circular graining, Côtes de Genève – meets the demanding Hallmark of Geneva standards. Designed to achieve the best possible results in terms of both reliability and aesthetics, these hand-crafted finishes entail an up to 40% longer production time compared with a non-certified movement.

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A multi-level dial

The dial of the new stainless steel Quai de l’Île model is distinguished by a multi-level construction interpreted in two versions – silver-toned or black – with an opaline finish. Composed of three distinct parts, this display with its innovative depth effects ensures remarkable legibility thanks to its hour-markers and Arabic numerals entirely made of white luminescent material. Another distinctive feature is the replacement of the traditional aperture- type date by a two-level date indication. The dial construction includes a transparent mineral glass disc on which the dates of the month are inked. Beneath this glass, the date disc of Caliber 5100 appears and displays an indicator which points towards the correct date.

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This new stainless steel Quai de l’Île model, water-resistant to 30 metres, is delivered with two straps – one in brown alligator leather and the other in black rubber – with a steel folding clasp.

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model: QUAI DE L'ILE Stainless steel 41 mm Automatic Calibre 5100

Reference: 4500S/ 000A-B195 – Silver-toned dial 
Reference: 4500S/ 000A-B196 – Black dial

Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece

Movement
Reference: Caliber 5100/1  
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
    Energy: automatic
    Thickness (mm): 4.70
    Diameter (mm): 30.60  (13''' ¼)
    Number of parts: 172
    Number of jewels: 37
    Frequency: 4  Hz ( 28,800  v.p.h )
    Power-reserve (hours): 60 approx.
    Indication: center seconds, minutes, date in aperture, hours    
Certification: Hallmark of Geneva

Indications

Hours, minutes
Center seconds
Date

Case
Stainless steel
41 mm diameter, 11.75 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback 
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 meters)
Dial

• Silver-toned 
• Black opaline

Mineral glass disc with date indication
Arabic numerals and indexes crafted in white luminescent
material
18K gold hour & minute hands and date highlighted with
white luminescent material

Strap
Brown Mississippiensis alligator leather, black alsavel lining,
hand-stitched, large square scales
Delivered with a second strap in black rubber

Clasp: 

Stainless steel triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped

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Vacheron Constantin
Press Department
10, Chemin du Tourbillon
P.O. Box 95
CH-1228
Plan-les-Ouates/Geneva
Tel. +41 22 930 20 05
Fax +41 22 930 20 06
press@vacheron-constantin.com
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