As watchmakers produce more and more special editions for their own boutiques, models dedicated to third party retailers are becoming less common. Harrods, however, is an exception, with Vacheron Constantin unveiling a pair of limited edition timepieces for the Vacheron Constantin corner in Harrods’ Fine Watch Room.

The famed Knightsbridge department store redeveloped its watch retail space two years ago, doubling the floor area by expanding into the basement to create a two-floor watch shopping experience.

The Fine Watch Room at Harrods. Photo – Rundell Associates

Within the Fine Watch Room are various mini-boutiques, including one for Vacheron Constantin on the upper level.

The Harrods editions are both part of the Traditionnelle collection, differentiated by the guilloche dial and strap, which is in the trademark Harrods green.

More important is the engine-turned dial, a feature rarely found on basic Vacheron Constantin watches.

Engraved by a hand-operated rose engine, the old fashioned way in other words, the guilloche motif is inspired by the Maltese cross. In fact, it’s essentially a Maltese cross tessellation, resulting in a pattern that resembles closely packed snowflakes.

One for the men

The Traditionnelle Self-Winding Harrods is 18k pink gold and 38mm wide. The baton hour markers on the dial are also in 18k pink gold to match.

The guilloche dial gives the watch a strikingly different look from the stock version, which has a finely grained silver dial. And apart from the guilloche, two other elements differentiate the Harrods edition. One is the 18k pink gold frame around the date window, and the other is the pink gold ring around the sub-seconds.

The watch is powered by the in-house, automatic cal. 2455 that’s certified with the Geneva Seal, or Poincon de Geneve.

Bejewelled class

The 36mm Traditionnelle Moon Phase Harrods is a more extravagant watch, but for ladies. Its bezel, lugs and crown are set with 82 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 1.15 carats.

Here the guilloche replaces the mother of pearl dials that are found on the standard Moon Phase models.

All the elements on the dial – the stars and moon on the moon phase, the hands, hour markers, and power reserve scale – are in 18k pink gold.

The Traditionnelle Moon Phase is powered by the manual-wind cal. 1410AS. The movement has a 40 hour power reserve, and is similarly hallmarked with the Poincon de Geneve.

Key facts Traditionnelle Self-winding

Diameter: 38mm
Height: 8mm
Material: 18k 5N pink gold
Water resistance: 30m

Movement: Cal. 2455
Frequency: 28,800bph, or 4Hz
Power reserve: 40 hours

Bracelet: Green alligator

Key facts Traditionnelle Moon Phase

Diameter: 36mm
Height: 9.1mm
Material: 18k 5N pink gold
Water resistance: 30m

Movement: Cal. 1410 AS
Frequency: 28,800bph, or 4Hz
Power reserve: 40 hours

Bracelet: Green alligator

Price and availability

The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Self-winding Harrods (ref. 87172/000R-B608) is priced at £25,600, or US$32,300, and is limited to just 20 pieces.

The Traditionnelle Moon Phase Harrods (ref. 83570/000R-B609) is priced at £37,600, or US$47,500, and is also limited to just 20 pieces.

Prices include 20% VAT. Both watches are exclusively available at the Vacheron Constantin boutique at Harrods Fine Watch Room.