Vacheron Constantin has a full suite of Métiers d’Art timepieces featuring lavish decoration in enamel and other artisanal techniques, but the Métiers d’Art Villes Lumières centres on an unusual theme: nighttime aerial views of New York, Paris or Geneva.

Each of the Villes Lumières – which translates as “city lights” – depicts the cityscape with champlevé enamel in varying hues of blues, greens and greys. The technique starts with a solid gold dial base that’s engraved with the motif, then hand-painted with vitreous enamel that has to be fired in an oven to set.

Paris with its distinctive network of streets and palace gardens

This creates the cityscapes bordered in gold, with the nighttime illumination done by Japanese artist Yoko Imai. Using tiny diamonds, pearls as well as flecks of gold and platinum – the technique is similar to that found in traditional Japanese lacquerware known as maki-e – Imai creates the impression of lighted streets and boulevards.

Manhattan depicted on the New York watch

Like the other watches in the Métiers d’Art line, the Villes Lumières timepieces are 40mm in diameter and equipped with the self-winding calibre 2460 SC. The trio is only offered in 18k white gold for now.

Price and availability 

Three cities are offered, Geneva (ref. 86222/000G-B101), Paris (ref. 86222/000G-B104), and New York (ref. 86222/000G-B105).

The Métiers d’Art Villes Lumières will be available at Vacheron Constantin boutiques only, priced at S$154,200 in Singapore. That’s equivalent to about US$107,000 for other markets.