DateGMTLuminous handsPower Reserve DisplayScrew-Down CrownLuminous indices
Description
Today we have the pleasure of presenting to your attention another representative of the so-called “Holy Trinity” in the art of watchmaking. And while Patek Philippe has the honor of being the prerogative of the most affluent and established admirers of this art, and Audemars Piguet is assigned the role of satisfying the pursuits and desires of the more sporty and "nonchalant" gentlemen and ladies, Vacheron Constantin is undoubtedly bestowed the honor of satisfying the pursuits of that segment of watch lovers who seek the different, the beautiful, and the perfect in everything they own. And so, ladies and gentlemen, for your attention – Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time Rose Gold 47450/B01R-9229 Limited Edition.
We will not hide that for us, this brand is one of the most beloved, and I always approach every offer that reaches us with awe and hidden excitement. Audemars Piguet has its Royal Oak, Patek Philippe has its Nautilus, and at Vacheron Constantin, the honor of playing the role of the "sporty player" in the collection falls precisely to the Overseas. And while a tremendous amount has been written about the first two, and all sorts of known and unknown connoisseurs, admirers, and mere "journalists" have practiced describing the models' histories and their virtues, almost nothing has been written about this "saint," and thus it remains overshadowed. Unlike the Royal Oak and Nautilus, Gerald Genta did not have a hand in the creation of this watch (What a surprise?!), but the name of its creator is no less famous – this is Jorg Hysek, who created quite a few remarkable models from the end of the 20th Century. Let's examine this luxurious "overseas foreigner" in more detail and "see what it's all about."
All models in the Overseas line have a crisp, hand-engraved dial with distinct rhomboid shapes on it. Also, around the edge of the crystal, there is a bezel in the form of brackets with the relief of the Maltese cross from the brand's logo. All of this is inspired by the remarkable progenitor of all Overseas – the Model 222. The model presented today is part of the second generation of the Overseas – which began its life in 2004 and continued until 2016. The present version is very special, as it was launched in 2006 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Overseas series, crafted in a solid rose gold case with an incredible brown dial in a very limited run of only 250 pieces!!!
In 2016, VC launched a new, more modern Overseas series, and this immediately sparked numerous polemics and disputes, but one thing is undeniable – the model presented today will never be produced again, and this makes it even more attractive, and the fact that it is a very limited series only reinforces this fact.
In the heart of the watch beats the automatic in-house masterpiece – Vacheron Constantin caliber 1222 SC – a dual time modified version of the renowned 1121 (which in turn is based on the JLC Caliber 920 – a movement used in quite a few models by Patek and Audemars Piguet). Made of 153 parts and 34 jewels, it ranks among the thinnest automatic movements ever with its thickness of only 3.25 mm! The rotor is crowned with an arc of 21k gold – but do not think its purpose is purely artistic; no, the manufacturer pursued purely technical goals, and the gold is used for its specific gravity (it is for this very reason that it is in the relatively rare density of 21 karats). The movement is a fine little workhorse, offering a dual time, date, day/night indicator, and a power reserve indicator, and the fact that it proudly wears the crown of one of the most trouble-free and reliable movements suggests why the brand has not changed it for decades.