Foreshadowing the big anniversary, Vacheron Constantin re-launched its luxury sports watch replica , the Overseas, in 2004 with the weight of history providing the just right context for the introduction of what would become a new classic among casual wristwatches.
One year before Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest uninterrupted manufacture, celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2005, it erupted with yet another milestone – one that deserved to be celebrated almost as lavishly.
But before I recount that story, let’s go back a little more in time to find out why that re-launch took place at all.
In 1977, on the occasion of its 222nd anniversary, Vacheron Constantin created a watch replica aptly named the 222. Following Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak (1972) and Patek Philippe’s Nautilus (1976), the 222 represented the last of the “big three” models meeting the then modern client’s demand for casual luxury. The 222 was produced in 34 and 37 mm case sizes in stainless steel, gold, and two-tone steel and gold.
The 222 was powered by automatic Caliber 1121, a movement based on a development by Jaeger-LeCoultre specifically for Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, all three of which have enjoyed an intimate shared history.
While Jaeger-LeCoultre never used this movement (called Caliber JLC 920 in its home factory) in any of its own watch replica es replica, Caliber 1121 also powered Patek Philippe’s Nautilus (as Caliber 28-255), meaning that it was the movement for all three of these 1970s luxury sports watch replica es replica – and continued to be that until the mid-1980s.
Unlike the sportier watch replica es replica made by Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, both of which were designed by Gérald Genta, the 222’s design emerged from the drawing board of Jorg Hysek.
As Vacheron Constantin was (and remains) a brand known for its elegant design, its clients were more than a bit surprised by the 222’s sheer masculinity: its notched bezel looked like part of a mechanism; a Maltese cross emblem was engraved directly on the lower right corner of the 70s-style case; and an integrated metal bracelet completed the sporty new look.
Produced until 1985, the 222 was the chief inspiration for the Overseas, which was introduced 11 years later in 1996.
Overseas I
The first generation of Vacheron Constantin’s stainless steel luxury sports watch replica es replica was introduced in 1996, with the line’s first chronograph making an overdue appearance in 1999.
The design team for the first Overseas model comprised independent designer Dino Modolo (for more of his work, see Get Ready For Amazing: Corum’s Golden Bridge Ronde) and Vincent Kaufmann of Vacheron Constantin, who today heads the brand’s entire design department, which was officially founded in 2001.
The first Overseas model, arriving in a classically sized 37 mm case, was powered by Caliber 1310, which was based on Girard-Perregaux Caliber 3100. Two more sizes – 35 mm and 24 mm – were subsequently offered. The chronograph of 1999 was powered by the Frédéric Piguet-based automatic Caliber 1137.
Overseas II
Vacheron Constantin decided to launch a new, improved, and above all larger Overseas in the noughties to cater to the rising demand for bulkier watch replica es replica. Christian Selmoni, now product marketing and product development director at Vacheron Constantin, was part of the team in charge of the key re-launch.
Naturally, the most obvious changes were visual. The masculine dimensions of the 42.5 mm chronograph case remained simultaneously angular and beguilingly soft in stainless steel thanks to the interplay of the brushed case and the satin-finished bezel purposefully reminiscent of the shape of Vacheron Constantin’s hallmark Maltese cross.
Doing away with the obvious crown and button protection streamlined the look of the right flank as did lessening the curvature of the case, making it more pronouncedly masculine in appearance. The crown remained screw-locked for 150 meters of water resistance.
“This launch was quite controversial,” Selmoni remembers today. “Shifting from 37 to 42.5 mm really made it a different watch replica .”
One of the most stunning outward differences was the new bracelet, however, which suggested more motion as well as a large amount of attention paid to it by its designers. The broad links were shaped like half Maltese crosses, continuing in the central design theme of the timepiece.
Perhaps the most obvious new feature of the 2004 Overseas, though, was its updated dial. The chronograph was face-lifted with a stamped guilloché pattern in either galvanized black or silver-plating and graced with 18-karat gold hour markers and hands inlaid with lume. The chronograph also featured a strikingly large date display – a crowd favorite unlike the uneven chronograph totalizers – while the magnified date on the automatic three-hand watch replica was coolly inserted at 4:30.
Though they were not visible through the specially engraved Overseas case backs, the finely finished movements powering these models were based on movements of reputable reliability and prestige. Caliber 1137 continued to power the chronograph, an aesthetic mechanism based on Frédéric Piguet’s classic 1185 caliber.
The men’s three-hand watch replica with date was powered by Caliber 1126, based on a Jaeger-LeCoultre movement, Vacheron Constantin thus forgoing the previous alliance with Girard-Perregaux in favor of its new Richemont sibling.
Hidden underneath the new dials was also another new feature: a soft-iron non-magnetic cage under the dial that surrounding the movement, which provided added protection against potential electro-magnetic disturbances to the watch replica ’s rate.
Parallel to the two masculine models in stainless steel, Vacheron Constantin also launched a female Overseas in a 34 mm version. Its dial was available in a silver-plated guilloché pattern with eight 18-karat white gold markers and four Arabic numerals or in natural mother-of-pearl with twelve brilliant-cut diamond hour markers (0.144 ct).
As a tribute to the feminine predilection for sparkling aesthetics, the irregular shape of the Overseas bezel secured to the case with eight hidden screws was also available set with 94 diamonds (0.53 ct).
Overseas III
At the 2016 SIHH, Vacheron Constantin rolled out its refresh of the whole Overseas collection. I reviewed the new models – a time-only version, a chronograph, a “small model,” an ultra-thin perpetual calendar, and an ultra-thin model – in The New Vacheron Constantin Overseas Reflects Travel, Companionship, And Extremely Easy Strap Interchangeability.
“Even if the Overseas II was still successful – we have produced about 60,000 pieces of this collection over the course of its 20-year history – we still had some improvements to make,” Selmoni explained. “The most obvious improvement was in the movements: we were still using some external movements in this collection, and Vacheron Constantin’s strategy is now to have 100 percent in-house movements for mechanical watch replica es replica. Overseas was the last collection to be upgraded, and that was the key reason for this third generation.”
So on the twentieth anniversary of the Overseas collection, the brand finally reached its goal of 100 percent in-house mechanical movements – all of which are certified by the Seal of Geneva.
And while they were at it, the designers at Vacheron Constantin decided to overhaul a few different design points. “The Overseas was already successful, but at the same time its design was quite rooted in the 2000s: bulky and ‘brutal,’ if I may describe it that way,” Selmoni explained the remains of the last decade’s design preferences. “We thought it would be nice to reconnect this collection more with where we come from. So we have recreated the link between today and the historical pieces, which is challenging because with a new generation [of watch replica es replica] there is certainly a moment where people don’t really appreciate what you have done.”
If you read or re-read this review, you’ll see I was enthusiastic about the model refresh – and with good reason. This really good casual chic timepiece was made even better with the addition of not only in-house movements, but also the intelligent strap-change system and – very importantly – the reworked bracelet.
“We tried to simplify and balance the design, getting back to the feel of the 222,” Selmoni explained the starting point.
Vacheron Constantin added a delicious worldtimer to the lineup in the spring of 2016, and in honor of it the brand invited a few journalists to spend a couple of days wearing the watch replica es replica during a short trip as well as to spend time with Selmoni to learn more about the design process.
What Selmoni meant with this is that the brand’s design team has incorporated codes and finishes in the sporty casual Overseas that are normally associated with dress watch replica es replica. This includes shiny dials and finishes that are usually found on more elegant timepieces. “We did want to create that tension between sports casual and elegant, which is a challenge,” the designer smiled.
The dials now exude maximum contrast with matte and shiny interplay, which is usually not something found on a sporty watch replica . The dials even boast a new font adapted for the Overseas derived from an existing one in use at Vacheron Constantin.
The three-part case design is not only dynamic, it also allows the use of other materials to perhaps enter the mix in future evolutions.
The bracelets were additionally a large part of the change. “We wanted something that was a mix between the Overseas I bracelet and that of the II. The challenge with an evolution is to bring something new without ‘breaking’ the design that came before,” Selmoni continued. “We ‘improved’ the luxurious feeling, but kept the same construction. The links are now very complicated to manufacture.”
The previous bracelet was simpler in it geometry, while the Overseas III bracelet is much more sophisticated with its various levels, polishes, and finishes. And not to forget the genius way that it reveals its Maltese cross design; the Maltese cross is Vacheron Constantin’s emblem.
Currently, the Overseas comes in three dial colors and Selmoni assured me that more colors are on the way.
The worldtimer
The worldtimer is one of Vacheron Constantin’s most famous complications: the traditional Genevan marque introduced its first world time wristwatch in 1932 according to a patent by Genevan watch replica maker Louis Cottier – who, coincidentally, also worked with Patek Philippe – which utilized the standard 24 time zones according to the 1884 International Meridian Conference as its base.
And now it is available in the Overseas collection – a great addition!
Though the case of the worldtimer is larger than the other Overseas cases at 43.5 mm in diameter (versus 42.5 mm for the chronograph, for example, the next largest member of this line), it remains quite wearable even for small wrists thanks to its lower height (12.6 mm versus the 13.7 mm of the chronograph) and extremely good design allowing it to hug the wrist.
I know that the dials of worldtimers can often look confusing, but I truly think that this dial is the least confusing version I have seen. And one of the most stunning from an aesthetic point of view. It is available in blue tones and brown/grey tones.
At the 2011 SIHH, Vacheron Constantin made a distinctive mark in world timing by introducing the Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time with 37 time zones.
Its display was made up of three superimposed dial parts: a sapphire crystal dial with day/night shading and 24-hour display for easy reading of home time; a metal dial with a “Lambert” projection map that allows all 37 time zones to be seen at a glance, including Daylight Savings Time and reference city indication; the third, outer part is a metal chapter ring for the local time (main hands), which stays fairly unobtrusive.
This complicated system stays incredibly clean and fairly legible, therefore representing a real milestone for providing globally related timing information.
The spirit of the new Overseas is perhaps best understood from the rotor gracing its new automatic movements: the design of it was inspired by a windrose, symbolizing the spirit of travel.
Apparently, it will guide you anywhere.
Quick Facts Overseas World Time
Case: 43.5 x 12.6 mm, stainless steel, soft iron ring around the movement for extra protection against magnetism
Movement: automatic Caliber 2460 WT with 40 hours of power reserve, Seal of Geneva
Functions: hours, minutes, sweep seconds; world time (37 cities), day/night indication
Price: $37,000, comes with three bands (metal, alligator skin, rubber)