In Paris With Vacheron Constantin For The New Models Of The Historiques Collection

On the 4th of October the legendary Hotel de Crillon in Place de la Concorde, Paris, opened its doors to guests and journalists invited from Vacheron Constantin, for the world premiere of the new Historiques collection models.

A neo-rétro atmosphere, animated by jazz music and a master watchmaker introduced and made us try the new Historiques creations.

Inspired by the Maison’s creativity from the 20’s and 40’s, the new models Historiques Triple Calendrier 1948 and 1942, together with the American 1921 – 36,5 mm, revisit the aesthetic and vintage complications of those times with a touch of modernity.

Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942

The Historiques Triple calendrier 1942, made of steel, is inspired by reference 4240 from 1942. In keeping with the original, this understated and elegant model drives the hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock, along with hand-type date and day and month by aperture. The calendar indications appear in a choice of burgundy or dark blue, on a two-tone silvered dial typical of the era. The sunburst satin-finished centre and the outer zone punctuated by Arabic numerals clearly enhance the legibility of the respective functions and accentuate its retro-chic elegance. (price € 19.800)

Historiques Triple Calendrier 1948

The Historiques Triple calendrier 1948 is crafted in 18K 4N pink gold, and issued in two limited series of 200 pieces each, it revives the reference 4240L presented in 1948: a triple calendar enriched with a sophisticated astronomical complication – the high-precision lunar cycle (hence the L in its name) – along with small seconds at 6 o’clock. The dial features a silvered opaline centre with a sunburst satin-finished external zone. This subtly nuanced display is interspersed with applied Roman numerals and triangle-type hour-markers swept over by slim baton-type hands. Its calendar functions and its moon disc appear in a choice of burgundy or dark blue. (Price € 36.600)

Both are the results in design codes reflecting those of the original models, but with a contemporary twist. The 40 mm-diameter case crafted in the Vacheron Constantin style features a number of character traits typical of the era, such as the distinctive “triple gadroon” caseband bearing “claw-type” lugs.

Topped by a box-type glass of which the slightly thicker nature enables the use of an extremely slender bezel, the case which is water-resistant to 30 metres, reveals through the caseback the Fine Watchmaking finishing of the new complete calendar calibre, with 65 hours of power reserve. The two watches are completed by an alligator strap and deployant buckle.

Historiques American 1921 | 36,5 mm

Reading the time while keeping one’s hands on the steering wheel, or during a speech without having to twist the wrist. Such was the extremely practical historical vocation of this watch with its diagonal read-off, created by Vacheron Constantin in the 1920s for an American client with a passion for cars.

Today, after almost a century, the Swiss Maison proposes again this model with a 36,5mm cushion-shaped case in 18K 5N pink gold, finely grained silver-toned dial with its black painted Arabic numerals and minute track, slender open-tipped hands in black oxidised 18K gold, and a baton-shaped hand on the seconds counter. Fitted with a lightly domed sapphire crystal, this model houses the Vacheron Constantin 4400 AS manual-winding caliber, driving hours, minutes and small seconds indications while ensuring a comfortable 65-hour power reserve. The transparent caseback reveals the hand-crafted finishing of the movement, a true signature of Fine Watchmaking. Setting the perfect final touch, the hand-stitched dark brown alligator leather strap with large square scales is fitted with a pin buckle shaped like a half Maltese cross, the historical emblem of the Maison. This watch will be also delivered with a second red alligator shiny leather strap to match a feminine style. (Price € 30.500)