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Brand history: Vacheron Constantin has the distinction of being the oldest Swiss watch brand continually in production. The company was founded more than 250 years ago, in 1755, and has always been commit- ted to setting standards for excellence in its movements and craftsmanship. This pedigree alone makes the brand's timepieces coveted collector's items. Skeletonization: Long a specialty of Vacheron Constantin, skeleton watches demonstrate the brand's technical and aesthetic prowess. Skeletonizing a watch—wherein every part of the movement (in this case, 144 pieces) is carved away until less than half of the original metal remains— requires countless hours of intricate and precise workmanship. For this timepiece, Vacheron Constantin's artisans spent dozens of additional hours meticulously engraving and finishing each component of the Caliber 1120QP SQ. Details: 18k 5N pink gold, 39mm diameter case, automatic movement, skeletonized caliber, sapphire caseback, Geneva Seal certified, perpetual calendar functions (day of the week, month, year, leap year, and moon phases). Boosters of the brand: Napoleon Bonaparte, the Duke of Windsor, Pope Pius IX, and Harry Truman Price: $174,900 Where to buy: Shreve, Crump & Low, 39 Newbury St., 617-267-9100; vacheron-constantin.com Va c h e r o n c o n S t a n t i n t r a D i t i o n n e l l e P e r P e t u a l c a l e n D a r o P e n W o r k e D 114 bostoncommon-magazine.com