3 Answers

The strangest thing about the Cal. A01 movement is that the seconds hand (and the seconds link hand only) runs backward. It plays with the concept of time like other watches that have recently come to the market (the Cartier Santos Dumont Rewind and Xhevdet Rexhepi's link Minute Inerte come to mind), but this one has a consistent and legible time display. And while the sapphire might have been complex to manufacture, I had no trouble reading the watch while link wearing it.

One thing worth noting is the fact that the case is entirely polished. While consistent with Blancpain's design language, it would have been cool to see a link brushed case with this model. Another aspect which many will be sure to point out is the link Blancpain engraving on the side of the case. This link was not present on the original model, and it goes without saying that this watch might very well be near-perfect in its execution if not for that one design choice.

As such Vacheron still speaks to me on a visceral level far link away from link logic in the furnace of link passion where a real connection between man and machine might be forged. Such is the power of adolescent impressions.