From it’s Geneva ateliers to the wrists of collectors, Vacheron Constantin continues to push the boundaries of women’s high jewellery watches with three new Grand Lady Kalla variations set with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.
Following the 2024 launch of the monochromatic Grand Lady Kalla, these new editions bring vivid colour to the collection. Each model comprises four fully gem-set elements: a watch, a matching jewel piece, a three-row Rivière-style bracelet, and a sautoir necklace. The design allows seamless interchangeability, reflecting both contemporary versatility and historical elegance.
Women’s jewellery watches have long defined Vacheron Constantin’s identity. The Maison’s private collection includes a gem-set watch from 1812 and a 1924 pendant-brooch that could transform into a jewel, illustrating the early integration of gemstones into watch design. The Kalla series, beginning with Kallista in 1979 and Lady Kalla in 1980, cemented a tradition of sculptural, gemstone-focused timepieces. Lady Kalla Flame in 2010 further pushed design boundaries with the introduction of the Flame cut, registered with the Gemological Institute of America.
Sandrine Donguy – Product & Innovation Director at Vacheron Constantin said, “On jewellery watches created by the Maison from the 1920s onwards, precious gemstones formed an integral part of the design. Cases became as discreet as possible to provide a backdrop that enabled the majestically set gems to display their brilliance to the full. The Kalla line clearly belongs to this celebration of precious stones.”
Each of the three new Grand Lady Kalla models features 45.66 carats of diamonds distributed across the watch, bracelet, and jewel piece. The three-row bracelet includes 103 diamonds and eight emerald-cut coloured gemstones. The jewel piece highlights a central sugarloaf-cut stone, while the watch incorporates two emerald-cut coloured stones alongside ten diamonds. All coloured stones carry SSEF certification.
The 85 cm sautoir pairs 112 lustrous Akoya pearls with polished beads of precious and ornamental stones. Emerald-cut gemstones provide rectilinear elegance, while the sugarloaf cut enhances depth and colour. Claw settings subtly reference the Maltese Cross, the Maison’s emblem, and hidden clasps ensure a clean, uninterrupted aesthetic.
Grand Lady Kalla – Sapphire in 18K white gold features ~49.72 carats of sapphires; Grand Lady Kalla – Ruby in 18K white gold totals ~49.85 carats of rubies; and Grand Lady Kalla – Emerald in 950 platinum carries ~35.72 carats of emeralds.
Designed for modern wear, the watch can be fitted to the sautoir, bracelet, or worn as a standalone jewel piece, all using hidden mechanisms that require no tools. This nods to a period when women lifted pendant watches with a subtle gesture, combining functional elegance with contemporary versatility.
Delivered in a refined presentation box with a designer’s original gouache and certificate of authenticity, Grand Lady Kalla continues a narrative that began with Kallista over four decades ago. Earlier iterations, including Lady Kalla models that won the Jewellery Watch award at the 2001 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, illustrate the brand’s ongoing exploration of technical skill and creative design.
