VACHERON CONSTANTIN | LADY KALLA PAGODE, REF.15542, A STUNNING YELLOW GOLD AND BAGUETTE DIAMOND-SET BRACELET WATCH, CIRCA 1990

Footnotes

In 1979, Vacheron Constantin etched its name deeper into horological legend with the Kallista, a singular masterpiece carved from a 140-gram ingot of 18K gold, encrusted with 130 carats of pear-shaped diamonds in a geometric rivière bracelet, taking eight years to craft and commanding a then-unprecedented $1.1 million. This opulent one-off, designed by French artist Raymond Moretti, celebrated the Greek "kallista" (the most beautiful) and redefined jewelry watches as wearable art. Just a year later, in 1980, the maison unveiled its "little sister": the Lady Kalla, a more accessible yet equally audacious evolution, sculpted from solid 18K yellow gold and sparkling with 108 emerald-cut diamonds totaling around 30 carats. This benchmark collection fused Haute Joaillerie with haute horlogerie, spawning variants like the 2001 GPHG award-winner on satin strap, the 2010 Flamme with innovative 57-facet cuts, and the 2024 Grand Lady Kalla's transformable 45-carat marvel—each a testament to Vacheron's unwavering pursuit of "Do better if possible, and that is always possible."

Enter the 1990 Lady Kalla Pagode reference 15542, a pinnacle of the lineage's early sophistication. This 18K yellow gold wristwatch, individually numbered and certified, measures a delicate 22 mm wide by 26.5 mm long, with an overall bracelet length of 165 mm, perfectly scaled for feminine grace without sacrificing presence. Its manual-winding Caliber 1052, a 22-jewel mechanical heart beating at 19,800 vph, its crown discreetly integrated to preserve unbroken diamond flows. The dial, a grid of 24 baguette-cut diamonds, pairs with a bezel of 24 more baguette and shaped stones, all crowned by a corundum crystal—the second-hardest natural material after diamond itself.

But the true highlight of this timepiece lies in its opulence: 234 meticulously matched F-color, VS-clarity diamonds, weighing a collective 44.56 carats, cascade across the integral bracelet and deployant clasp in 186 baguette cuts, forming a seamless pagoda-inspired cascade that evokes ancient Eastern temples reimagined in Genevan ateliers. Entirely conceived and fabricated in-house, this Pagode, homage to the collection's architectural motifs, transforms the wrist into a canvas of light. With its original certificate, and in excellent condition, the Lady Kalla Pagode is a truly rare and mesmerizing timepiece that highlights the jewelry and gem-setting prowess of the world's oldest watchmaker.