Vacheron Constantin Métiers d'Art Les Univers Infinis Dove 86222/000G-9689

Les Univers Infinis is Vacheron Constantin's tribute to the Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher, whose woodcuts and lithographs explored infinity and tessellation. Fish, shells and doves made up the first set, shown at SIHH 2012, each limited to 20 pieces and sold through Vacheron Constantin boutiques. The Dove brings four crafts together on an 18-carat gold dial base. The motif had appeared the year before on a unique dove dial Vacheron made for Only Watch 2011, with red birds in translucent enamel and white birds in opalescent enamel set into engraved champlevé.

The case is 40 mm of white gold and 8.9 mm thick. Inside is the automatic calibre 2460 SC with sweep seconds, stamped with the Geneva Seal. Other Métiers d'Art references are cut differently: the Elégance Sartoriale Prince of Wales (1400U/000G-B215) is a thinner 8.2 mm, while the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac pieces such as the Year of the Snake (86073/000P-9752) come in platinum or pink gold cases 12.74 mm thick, in runs of 12.