Vacheron Constantin sponsored New York City Ballet’s 2014 Spring Gala for a second year on 8 May. The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of the David H. Koch Theater and the company’s residence at Lincoln Centre. Guests included actress Kristin Bell and singer Alicia Keys, and began with a private reception hosted by Vacheron Constantin followed by a series of performances and finally a candlelight dinner and dance on the Koch Theater’s Promenade.

In celebration of the evening, Vacheron Constantin showcased three one-off additions to its Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse collection, each drawing inspiration from a work by French artist Edgar Degas, who captured ballerinas in different mediums including painting and photography. The timepieces capture the various stages of a ballerina’s life, from dance school to the backstage of a dress rehearsal to the moment of the performance itself. The watches’ dials are finished with Grand Feu grisaille enamel painting, on a translucent brown enamel base instead of the traditional black, in order to soften the images while accentuating their depth. The enameller’s skill is clearly evident here – notice the folds in the ballerinas’ tutus and the transparencies of the various fabrics being depicted, all from just the interplay between the brown enamel base and the Limoges white enamel applied on it.

Housed in a white gold case 40mm across, the watches are driven by Vacheron Constantin’s in-house, self-winding Calibre 2460 movement. Each watch bears the Hallmark of Geneva, and comes with a magnifying glass and a brochure detailing the skills and techniques involved in its creation.