Vacheron Constantin Unveil Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse Timepieces

On the occasion of the tricentenary of the École Française de Danse, luxury watchmakers Vacheron Constantin have unveiled three new one-of-a-kind creations. Part of the new Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse collection, these creations revisit the ancestral art of Grand Feu grisaille enamelling in designs honoring the Degas’ ballet masterpieces.

Vacheron Constantin has strong ties to the world of ballet, having been a patron of the Opéra National de Paris since 2007. These three watches reinterpret the works of Degas, capturing within a 40mm polished white gold frame the artist’s beloved ballerinas gliding gracefully beneath dancing hands. The master enamel artist drew inspiration from three paintings: Ballet Room at the Opera in Rue le Peletier, 1874, oil on canvas on display at the Musée d’Orsay (Paris, France); Ballet Rehearsal, 1873, oil on canvas exhibited at the Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, United States) ; and Two Dancers on Stage, 1874, oil on canvas on show at the Courtauld Gallery (London, United Kingdom).

The finesse of Grand Feu grisaille enamel painting reveals the slightest details of the protagonists: the tiniest fold of the tutus, the lace adorning their décolleté, the smooth velvet of the ribbons encircling their neck, the petals of the flowers in their hair, the transparency of tulle and muslin. Whereas grisaille enamelling is generally applied to black enamel, the House artisan decided to work with a translucent brown enamel base serving to accentuate the depth effect while lending a soft nuance to the painting. After applying this base, the enameller adds touches of Limoges white enamel that is then drawn out out using needles, extremely fine brushes and even cactus thorns so as to create graded shades and play on the various pigments.

The Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse collection will be presented at the gala evening for the tricentenary of the École Française de Danse, held on April 15th 2013 at the Palais Garnier, in Paris, France.

Photos courtesy Vacheron Constantin. 

Adrienne Faurote

Editor in Chief · Haute Time

As a former New Yorker, now a “Miamian,” Adrienne Faurote joined Haute Living in August of 2021. She currently serves as the Haute Media Group Editor-in-Chief, overseeing all editorial platforms within the Haute Media Group while also maintaining her role as Fashion, Jewelry & Watch Director. Prior to her position at Haute Living, Faurote was the Market Editor at Marie Claire Magazine US, amassing over ten years in the industry, becoming an authoritative voice in all things fashion, jewelry, and watches.