A human adventure, an invitation to discover new horizons and to explore a new place where craftsmanship and innovation meet at their zenith, the Metiers d'Art 'La Symbolique des Laques' series relates the encounter between the men of one of the oldest Japanese lacquer firms - Zohiko, located in Kyoto since its founding in 1661 - and those of Vacheron Constantin. While chance and luck play a role in every meeting, a true relationship can be built only on the basis of deep affinities and shared values. These are immediately evident between these two companies, which have the same respect for traditions. The 'Kame Kaeru Koi' watches, dedicated to the aquatic realm, present animals selected from the vast symbolic legacy of Far Eastern artistic traditions. Incarnations of longevity, luck and strength, the turtle, frog and carp disclose their attributes in stylised waters on the enamelled dials. No fewer than four months were required to make each one. Each animal lends a powerfully symbolic face to the passing of time orchestrated by the skeletonised version of the ultra-thin Calibre 1003 calibre.Vacheron Constantin