Ever found something to be so beautiful but don’t know why? Chances are high that the reason for this goes back to the Fibonacci Sequence, a set of numbers discovered by the Italian mathematician, Leonardo Bonacci. The Fibonacci Sequence is the basis of Johannes Kepler’s famous Golden Ratio, which is also known as nature’s formula for perfection. In numerous instances, the perfect anything is somehow associated with the Golden Ratio. As it is found often in nature – for what is nature but perfect – some of the most memorable examples include the arrangement of sunflower seeds inside the flower’s corolla, the flowering pattern of an artichoke, the spiraling shell segments of a nautilus, and the arrangement of a pine cone’s bracts.

Of course, the Golden Ratio is also prevalent in numerous works from the fields of design, art, and architecture, but by choosing it as the design motif for a dial, Vulcain honors this extraordinary formula in a completely different way.

With its iconic bestseller, the 50s Presidents’ Watch, as the medium, Vulcain took inspiration from the art of traditional Swiss guillochage to produce a new series of dials, all of which bear a circular motif reminiscent of the Golden Ratio in nature. It is as if the center of the dial is the corolla of a sunflower, while the outer area where the Golden Ratio ends and its hour markers reside is where the flower’s petals ought to be. Vulcain offers two dial variations, one in silver and another in charcoal grey, as well as two case variations, full stainless steel and bi-color pink gold with stainless steel.

Contrasting against the sharp mirror-polished indexes and hands, the guilloché dials add a good measure of sophistication to the watch, which is a familiar one to many watch connoisseurs. Indeed, the Cricket Manufacture V-11 proffers one of the most unique alarm functions on the market. Already tempted to acquire the Vulcain 50s Presidents’ Watch? These updated models might just be what you’re looking for.

Specs

• Dimensions: 42mm
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, alarm
• Power Reserve: 42 hours
• Movement Manual-winding Calibre Vulcain Cricket Manufacture V-11 with Cricket alarm function
• Material: Steel or bi-color steel and pink gold
• Water Resistance: 50 meters
• Strap: Brown, greystone, sandstone, or black Louisiana alligator leather with steel pin buckle or steel folding clasp

Story Credits

Text by Celine Yap

This story was first published in World of Watches.