ARCHANGEL MICHAEL - VACHERON & CONSTANTIN 1933
VACHERON & CONSTANTIN
Archangel Michael is the chief archangel and one of the most revered archangels in the Abrahamic religions. In Orthodox Christianity, he is called the Archistrategos, which means "the head of the holy host of Angels and Archangels."
According to church canons, he is the chief warrior in the battle between good and evil—he defeated Satan:
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."
– Rev. 12:7-9
According to Jewish tradition, Michael is one of the four angels who stand before the throne of the Lord, guarding the four corners of the world. In the Quran, the archangel is named Mika'il and is described as having emerald-green wings. He resides in the seventh heaven, at the border of a sea filled with countless angels.
In Orthodox Christianity, Michael is revered as the protector of the souls of the deceased. Besides battling evil forces, the archangel helps people in times of distress and misfortune. People pray to Archangel Michael for healing, guidance in everyday matters, assistance during long journeys, and, most importantly, protection from dark forces. Michael is also invoked for protection from thieves and robbers. He is the patron of those affected by war or natural disasters.
In other words, we faced the challenging task of creating an image of the revered Saint, primarily associated with being the leader of the angelic host and the conqueror of evil spirits.
After discussing the project details with the client, we formulated and approved the technical specifications, the main points of which are outlined below:
- Mechanism – an antique caliber produced by Vacheron & Constantin.
- The mechanism will be coated with gold plating.
- Case material – brass with gold plating.
- The crown will feature an image of the Maltese cross, the symbol of the Swiss watch manufacturer Vacheron & Constantin.
- The minimum possible thickness of the case.
- Sapphire crystals on both sides.
- Minimum water resistance of the case.
- Dial - 925 sterling silver plus enamel.
We offered several options of mechanisms from available stock, and Mikhail chose an ultra-thin, only 3.7 mm thick, nickel-plated vintage Vacheron Constantin movement. This is a well-known "Vacheron" caliber, which was registered as No. 1 among seven other designs in the Federal Bureau of Intellectual Property of Switzerland by "Ancienne Fabrique Vacheron & Constantin, Société Anonyme" on February 1, 1905, under No. 11718.
Quality finishing techniques such as "perlage" (French - perlage) and "Côtes de Genève" (French - Geneva waves), polished bevels on the bridges, an inset on the anchor wheel bridge, 17 bright clean rubies, polished steel parts - all these are signs of a high-class mechanism. The diameter of the movement is 17 ½''' (39.35 mm), with a power reserve of 30 hours. The serial number of the movement, 421389, is engraved on the barrel bridge, which, according to commonly accepted tables, corresponds to the year of production 1933.
It is worth noting that this project comes with our traditional historical report, compiled at the customer's request. It provides a detailed description of the mechanism, its construction features, authenticity justification, and the manufacturer's history.
If you want to obtain a similar document or learn more about the manufacturer of your watch, please contact our managers, and we will do our best to assist you.
Just a reminder, in our watch studio, you can order the production of wristwatches, both standard and skeletonized, based on antique, vintage, or modern movements available in our inventory. Moreover, our stock of movements is constantly updated. You can explore the variety of options available in the corresponding section of our website.
The selected movement has been carefully measured. Based on the obtained data, our engineer and 3D designer have developed a project for a classic round three-piece case with curved-shaped legs. Subsequently, the movement was partially disassembled (the watchmaker removed the most vulnerable parts and components), and together with the case drawing, it was sent to the lathe worker for further processing.
We would like to draw your attention once again to the finishing of the movement: the sunburst texture on the plate under the balance wheel is clearly visible, a type of decoration known as "Le Soleillage" in French. It features lines radiating towards the outer edge of the component and converging at a central point. This attention to detail, even on invisible parts, further underscores the manufacturer's craftsmanship and the quality of the movement itself.
Next, it was time for the dial – the central element of the future watch in our view. Taking the client's idea as a basis and listening to their preferences, our artist created several drafts of the future "face" of the watch. After consultations with the client and making some adjustments, we came up with this sketch. The figure of Archangel Michael is placed in the center of the dial, with the subsidiary seconds hand positioned at "9 o'clock". At the client's request, a circular inscription is placed around the dial, representing an invocation to Archangel Michael.
The diameter of the future dial will be 39.35 mm. After approving the dial sketch, we selected a suitable 1 mm thick 925 sterling silver sheet for it and sent it along with the model for laser engraving.
Meanwhile, the master machined all the components of the case from brass according to the developed design: the central main part and two rims for the crystals – front and back. A bushing for the winding crown is installed on the side surface of the case. The case turned out to be quite neat and compact – with a diameter of 45.5 mm and a thickness of 8.3 mm (the thickness with the crystals will be 10.25 mm).
The first fitting and adjustment of the mechanism into the case takes place.
The blank for the dial, which came after laser engraving, has a rather unattractive appearance. But it's like in a fairy tale: soon the ugly duckling will turn into a beautiful swan, it just takes effort and diligence.
After the dial was cut from the plate, we fit it into the case with the mechanism. The result is excellent – the dimensions are maintained, the holes for the hour and minute hands, as well as the subdial for the seconds hand, align perfectly with the axes of the mechanism.
Additionally, the dial, besides the described inscription on the front side, also contains a secret inscription on the reverse side. It is also an address to Archangel Michael, but we will not disclose its text for ethical reasons and out of respect for our client.
Following this, the mechanism, which required some repair and adjustment, is sent to the watchmaker. They replace the necessary wheels and gears, rectifying the consequences of previous incompetent interventions, lubricate the mechanism, and test its functionality.
Next, the mechanism was once again disassembled for skeletonization and engraving. The plates, barrel bridge, central bridge, and anchor bridge, along with the dial, were entrusted to the skilled hands of our engraver.
On the dial, it was necessary to cut out the background and refine the figure of the Archangel, giving it relief. Cuts were made in the platinum of the mechanism, following the contours of the figure on the dial. The bridges were slightly lightened and engraved with geometric ornamentation.
As always, the engraving work was done by hand using burins at the highest artistic level. The detail of the Archangel figure is breathtaking, especially the precise depiction of the feather structure in the wings. Our master has created another small masterpiece of applied art. Attention is also drawn to the original solution with the intertwining of the Archangel's right wing and the second ring.
The next stage of the project was the selection of hands. For one of our previous projects, we developed a set of hands with a unique shape, based on an original model that was installed by a Swiss manufacture on some pocket watches with complications. It was decided to make the same hands for this project. The hands were cut using laser cutting and then hand-finished. It can be seen that all the hands contain the same element: each of them includes the Vacheron Constantin logo - the figure of the Maltese cross.
Additionally, a suitable winding crown was selected, on the end surface of which the master made an engraving of the same Maltese cross.
When all turning and engraving work was completed, we polished each individual element of the case and the mechanism and coated them with a layer of high-quality gold plating applied by galvanic method. This procedure, besides its purely aesthetic purpose, also serves a strictly practical goal – it protects the parts from oxidation. In the photos below, you can see the results before and after gilding.
An important point to note is that over time, the winding crown of gold-plated watches tends to lose its gold coating due to frequent use, resulting in an unaesthetic appearance. Therefore, with the client's agreement, we decided to leave it un-gilded, in its stainless steel color. This is a practical and justified move, especially since it will harmonize with the color of the figure on the dial.
After gilding, the mechanism once again went to the watchmaker for final assembly and installation into the case. Sapphire crystals, resistant to scratches, will also be installed in the front and back bezels.
In addition to this, we need to work on the hands – they need to be blued, manufactured, and fitted with pivots.
We haven't forgotten about the dial either. After manual refinement and polishing, it was sent for coating. The dial will be attached to the case through through-holes using screws, which will be covered by the top bezel. This type of attachment is extremely reliable and was often used by watchmakers of the past, including Abraham-Louis Breguet himself.
First, the jeweler-galvanizer gold-plated the hour and minute markers, the ring with the text, and the small seconds sub-dial ring. Then, the jeweler-enameler applied black enamel to the recess of the minute dial, the engraved letters of the inscription, and the seconds markers on the small seconds sub-dial. The figure of Archangel Michael was coated with white and black rhodium, making it even more expressive. Overall, the dial turned out to be very beautiful – undoubtedly one of our best works.
So, the dial is ready, the mechanism is serviced and assembled. The steel components – overlays, thermometers, and screw heads – are polished. Final fitting.
After checking the assembled mechanism, the watchmaker attached the dial to it and installed it into the case.
For such exquisite watches, an appropriate strap is needed. We went further and ordered two premium-class straps made of black and brown crocodile leather. The straps are handmade and stitched with golden-colored linen thread (to match the case) with saddle stitching. Gilded buckles were installed on the straps.
We installed the black strap immediately, and we will send the additional brown one to the customer along with the watch.
The final stage of the project traditionally involves checking the accuracy and duration of the watch's operation when fully assembled, as well as conducting a review to ensure compliance with the technical specifications and our internally developed quality standards. In this case, during the testing phase, the watches demonstrated the following results: accuracy in various positions ranged from -12 to +1 second per day with a power reserve of over 24 hours. For a mechanical caliber that is 90 years old, these are excellent performance indicators.
It's worth noting that the final word always rests with one of the owners of our watch studio – they personally inspect and test each watch. Only after their signature on the inspection form can the product be sent to the customer.
A completed project is not just a finished product. It's the result of a well-coordinated effort by a team of professionals, embodying unique design crafted based on the client's wishes, who plays an active role in creating their own timepiece. Such watches become more than just accessories; they reflect the individuality of their owner, symbolizing prestige and status.
Your description eloquently captures the significance and beauty of this project. The figure of Archangel Michael, occupying a central place on the watch, not only symbolizes his protective role but also serves as a reminder of the spiritual significance of time. Every detail, from the masterful engraving to the choice of materials and technologies, adds uniqueness and luxury to this project.
Overall, the combination of gold and black colors is always a winning one – the watches turned out bright and attractive. The transparent caseback allows one to appreciate the craftsmanship of both the watchmakers of the past and our contemporary engravers and jewelers. Observing the work of the antique mechanism, measuring the fleeting time, inevitably leads to philosophical contemplation.
Vacheron & Constantin watches are always recognizable by the original logo in the form of the Maltese cross. The emblem, which has become a symbol of the company's perpetual quest for perfection, is present in this project as well: on the hands, the winding crown, and of course, on the mechanism itself, in the form of the trademark Vacheron & Constantin, registered with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property on December 20, 1880.
Every custom watch project combines not only watchmaking technology and craftsmanship but also a deep understanding of the client's needs and desires, as well as a creative approach to design. At the initial stage, our team of designers and engineers conducts a detailed analysis of the client's requirements, studying their preferences and style. It is important to consider all the details: from the choice of materials to the functional characteristics of the watches. The client can choose various options: the type of mechanism, the materials of the case and strap, the color and shape of the dial, as well as additional functions such as a chronograph or water resistance.
If after reading this article you have an irresistible desire to create your own unique timepiece – don't hesitate to contact us! Drawing on our many years of experience, we can confidently say that we are capable of meeting the most exquisite demands of our clients and creating truly unique pieces. You can always order a personalized project in our watch studio, conceptually based on your ideas and thoughts, and our craftsmen guarantee high-quality execution.
Whether it's elegant Vacheron Constantin dress watches or everyday timepieces, or even Vacheron watches adorned with diamonds, we are ready to listen to you while the rest of the world listens only to the voices of brands.
