Vacheron Constantin aren’t presenting anything overly innovative with this timepiece, but perhaps they do not need to. The comprehensive calendar disadvantage supplies a lot of the functionality included with their Perpetual Calendar versions in almost half the cost, and it is a fair trade off for having to place the date each other month. As a limited edition run of 100 pieces, I doubt that the brand will have difficulty finding buyers. The name “Overseas” immediately calls to mind traveling and foreign places, and with a well-executed dual time zone display, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Replica Watches Replica Overseas Dual Time is perhaps the most suitable traveler’s watch in the group since their World Time 7700V watch published last year. This latest release is arguably even more wearable than the World Time, with a slimmer profile, an impressive fabrication quality, and a much more approachable sticker price (for the steel models, anyway), while remaining just as useful for regular flyers.Vacheron Constantin was founded in 1755 in Geneva, Switzerland by Jean-Marc Vacheron. Even though the company changed hands many times over recent years (culminating in the brand’s buy in 1996 from the Richemont Group, subsequently called the Vendôme Group), it’s stayed in continual operation throughout its entire 262-year history. A half centuries of watchmaking from a single company is remarkable. Vacheron Constantin is regarded by many to be one of the world’s best watchmakers, and it is a position they continually defend with bits like the Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication (hands-on here) or the nondescript Reference 57260 (discussed here).
The new Historiques Triple Calendrier watches are equally suspended in Vacheron’s 4240 watch from what the brand calls a “golden era” for watches with those complications — and aesthetics. The 4240 has been popular, and such triple calendar watches are believed to have greatly contributed to Vacheron Constantin’s reputation at the time. While the original was 35mm, which would be considered very small for a modern men’s watch, the remakes are bigger but remain average in size for contemporary tastes. In fact, both the 1942 and 1948 watches share exactly the same dimensions of 40mm wide by 10.35mm thick, water-resistant to 30m. The Vacheron Constantin Gold Watches Prices Replica Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 and 1948 watches also have trendy (in my opinion) textured case sides that I will explain as ribbed, for want of a better term. Each version also shares the increased “box-type glass” over the dial — since the manufacturer’s info does not create any further reference to the material used (and they do mention that the caseback’s display window remains sapphire), I wonder whether they moved with some sort of mineral crystal to maintain it more straightforward to the vintage originals.The Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1948 comes in a more familiar case in 18K pink gold with traditional lugs — also, of course, includes a moonphase indicator integrated into the 6 o’clock sub-dial. Discrete pushers at the side of the instance are used to adjust the various calendar (and moonphase for the 1948) data.
Geneva-based manufacture Vacheron Constantin have been releasing platinum dress watches as part of their Collection Excellence Platine since 2006. The collection has ranged from very simple models such as the time-only Patrimony from earlier this year, to the Patrimony Perpetual Calendar from 2016. The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Collection Excellence Platine watch offers a cumbersome name and some of the key functionality of the previous perpetual models at a less eye-watering, albeit still top tier luxury price point.
The use of platinum as a pinnacle precious metal is very much the focus of this collection. “Platine” in the model name and a not-so-secret “Pt950” signature on the dial at 4:30 give ample indication that this is most certainly not a steel nor even a white gold watch. Pt950 stands for “Platinum 950” and indicates both the dial and case is 95% platinum and 5% alloying metals, which is significantly purer (and thus more expensive) than an 18ct white gold case, which only uses 75% gold – though, to be fair, Pt950 is the industry standard alloy. As such, the “Platine” variant is as heavy as it can get, an attribute some find to be luxurious, while others to be annoying.
The dial of the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Collection Excellence Platine is quite clean and legible for a full calendar, thanks to the symmetrical placement of the apertures for the day and month above the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock hour markers, in place of the more commonly used sub-dials. A blued hand for the pointer-style date further assists legibility and reduces dial clutter, keeping the overall design simple and elegant.
The dauphine-style hands, Maltese cross logo and “bâtons de Genève” hour-markers (a fancy name for sticks) are notably not made of platinum, but rather 18ct white gold. The main reason for this might be that the machines used to produce hands and indices are set up for gold and not platinum – such small pieces would be incredibly difficult to craft from platinum, possibly the most challenging metals to work with in the luxury watch industry. Still, at this price point it could have a been a small, but neat touch of added attention, that would have worked well with the Pt950 bloating on the dial.
An 18K 5N pink gold plated variant is also available (reference 7900V/000R-B336), which dresses up this version even further. The golden choice omits the bracelet completely in favour of a brown leather and leather strap. A tool-free fitting system enables the wearer to switch between strap choices easily, providing on-the-go fashion flexibility. The hour markers, hour hand, and second hands are made of 18K white gold for the steel-cased variations, or a matching 18K pink gold to the gold-cased version.With a case size of 41mm by 12.8mm, the more Vacheron Constantin Quartz Watches Replica Overseas Dual Time is stylistically versatile yet contemporary in proportion, and ought to occupy that sweet spot of sense substantial on the wrist without wearing too big. The case is water-resistant to 15 bar (or approximately 150m), making it suitable for wearing during most water, although this isn’t a diving watch and isn’t designed for sporting over a wetsuit. A soft iron casing ring around the movement also provides improved magnetic immunity, but unlike the normal Faraday Cage, it allows for viewing the movement via the sapphire exhibition caseback.The high water resistance combined with soft iron casing ring make this a somewhat durable timepiece, in particular the steel cased variations, which is quite unusual from high-end watchmakers such as VC. Many of Vacheron Constantin’s peers have a tendency to produce beautiful yet delicate works of wrist art, which I can’t help but believe shackle their owners into sporting their watches quite carefully, or worse, keeping them in the secure for fear of damaging them. A watch is supposed to be wornout, and the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time is one of those rare pieces that unites beauty and pedigree with a certain nonchalance about the lifestyle of its wearer.
A railroad minute track runs the periphery of the dial, with a well-proportioned minute hand reaching all the way to said track and the hour hand sitting comfortably just inside the hour markers. Too often manufacturers compromise legibility with hands that are just a tad too short or too long, a minor qualm perhaps more aesthetic than practical in nature, but one we thankfully don’t have to quibble about with the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Collection Excellence Platine. The hands and hour markers are bi-faceted, which should provide a play of light and some visual interest on the otherwise sandblasted platinum dial.
At prime position near 6 o’clock on this dial is the moon phase indicator, which uses a mechanism more precise than the standard ones, as it takes over 122 years for it to be off by a full day. We know that’s an arbitrary way of determining the accuracy of a moon phase display, but accuracy certainly isn’t the real reason for the popularity of this “poetic” display.
The moon face itself is made of platinum (like most aspects of this timepiece) and the indicator also displays the age of the moon in 5-day intervals. This is a rather unusual feature and provides a measurement of exactly how many days the moon has progressed through its 29.53-day cycle. The background of the disc is adorned with applied stars, presumably also in platinum although Vacheron Constantin haven’t specified as such.
Vacheron Constantin aren’t presenting anything overly innovative for this timepiece, but perhaps they do not have to. The comprehensive calendar complication supplies a lot of the functionality as well as their Perpetual Calendar models at almost half the price, and it is a fair trade off for having to set the date each other month. As a limited edition run of 100 pieces, I doubt the brand will have difficulty finding buyers. The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Total Calendar Collection Excellence Platine view, reference 4010T/000P-B345 comes with an asking price of $68,500. The name “Overseas” immediately calls to mind traveling and foreign places, and with a well-executed dual time zone display, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Double Time is perhaps the most suitable traveler’s watch at the group since their World Time 7700V watch published last year. This newest release is arguably much more wearable than the World Time, with a thinner profile, an impressive fabrication caliber, and a much more approachable sticker price (for the steel versions, anyway), while remaining just as useful for frequent flyers.Vacheron Constantin premiered in 1755 in Geneva, Switzerland by Jean-Marc Vacheron. Although the company changed hands many times over the years (culminating in the brand’s purchase in 1996 by the Richemont Group, subsequently called the Vendôme Group), it’s remained in continual operation during its complete 262-year history. A half centuries of watchmaking out of a single firm is remarkable.
