This October Vacheron Constantin held its high-complication exhibition in Taipei, with pieces spanning 1829 to the present. The display covers enamel painting, hand engraving, guilloché and gem-setting, alongside perpetual calendars, minute repeaters and tourbillons.

The centrepiece is the 2026 Traditionnelle Twin Beat perpetual calendar, shown in Geneva earlier and now in Taiwan for the first time. Its significance lies in power management: a patented dual-frequency system lets the wearer switch modes. Daily wear runs at 5Hz for stability, while a 1.2Hz low-frequency mode reduces consumption when the watch is off the wrist.

The new version refines the spring-loaded twin-gear winding mechanism and uses two coaxial barrels in series, lowering the energy needed at the instant the perpetual calendar changes date. Power reserve extends to 70 days, so the watch can sit unworn far longer before the calendar needs resetting.

The openworked dial has a dark grey NAC coating that adds a modern metallic feel and makes the mechanics part of the design. Antique pieces displayed alongside show more than 270 years of continuity, from precision mechanics to decorative arts.