Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin

The Overseas watch is an evolution of the 1977 Vacheron 222 sports model. Designed by Jorg Hisek and coinciding with the brand’s 222nd anniversary, the 222 is Vacheron’s interpretation of the luxury sports watch. After extensive modernization in 2016, Overseas is in the third stage of its life. In 2016, the Overseas collection was reinterpreted in order to explore new horizons. New aesthetic codes and new Calibers were introduced.

One of the latest incarnations of this approach is the ultrathin perpetual calendar model, introduced in 2020 in a rose gold version and awarded the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in the same year. Perfectly embodying the technical and aesthetic experience of the House, this watch is now presented in a new interpretation in white gold, available exclusively in the boutiques of Vacheron Constantin.
Vacheron Constantin has unveiled a pair of ultrathin perpetual calendar watches, this time in an 18k white gold case. In the first sample, the dial is completely skeletonized, and in the second, a more traditional solid blue dial. The skeletonized 18k white gold model is a stunning demonstration of Vacheron’s watchmaking prowess.

The 2021 new items technically slightly repeat last year’s ones, when the Swiss manufacturer introduced the same pair of dials, but in an 18k rose gold case. The watch is presented in a case with a diameter of 41.5 mm and a thickness of only 8.1 mm. Inside the case there is a caliber of our own production 1120 QP. The watch combines sophisticated watchmaking with external practicality. Skeletonizing an ultra-thin perpetual calendar mechanism with a height of only 4.05 mm out of 276 components is an art mastered by very few watchmakers. The finish is immaculate: the surfaces are decorated with a matte finish, the straight lines are beveled to reflect the light.

Wearing Overseas Ultra-Thin on your wrist is an absolute pleasure. Part of this comfort is the wristband integrated into the case. The ultra-thin Overseas perpetual calendar demonstrates its technical sophistication with all the elegance and originality inherent in the collection. This model with its timeless design is immediately recognizable: a hexagonal bezel resembling a Maltese cross, a fluted crown, a polished and matte finish, a translucent lacquered dial with faceted and luminescent gold hour markers and hands. This watch exudes a feeling of complete harmony wherever it is.

Both models are available with an 18-karat white gold bracelet secured with a triple 18-karat white gold folding clasp with buttons and a convenient adjustment system, as well as a blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap with blue stitching and a blue rubber strap complemented by an 18-karat white gold buckle. White gold is not as eye-catching as yellow or pink, so the new models from Vacheron Constantin are ideal for everyday wardrobe.

If we compare the two new products, then their functionality is identical. The only difference is the delicate dial, which undoubtedly attracts more attention than the traditional one. The mechanism, consisting of 276 parts, is on display. To finish the Caliber, the craftsmen of the manufactory used almost all known techniques – from beveled edges, perlage and hand polishing to radiant guilloche, Geneva waves and snow engraving. Meanwhile, on the skeletonized version of the 4300V / 120G-B946 model, the places where the Caliber of the Vacheron Constantin 1120 QPSQ / 1 is trimmed and decorated in such a way as to emphasize the functional beauty of the mechanism are visible on both sides. The 22-carat gold winding rotor also has an openwork shape to highlight its stylized design inspired by the shape of the Maltese cross. You can get aesthetic pleasure by looking at the back of the case, which is hidden under the sapphire crystal.

The rich dial remains readable. Partly due to the xiphoid arrows protruding into the foreground. The main indicators are marked with blue circles, which allows you to visually separate them from the background of the delicate dial. The blue ring at 12 o’clock indicates the months, the days of the week at 9 o’clock are balanced by the date at 3 o’clock, and the phases of the yellow gold moon are placed in the window at 6 o’clock. The white gold hands and the overhead hour markers are treated with luminescent material.

The balance frequency of the mechanism is 2.75 Hz, with a power reserve of 40 hours. Since this is a perpetual calendar from Vacheron (remember that the “full” or annual calendar requires periodic annual adjustments, but the perpetual calendar does not), it is designed to work without adjustments for the next 80 years. The Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin 4300V / 120G-B945 watch with a blue dial in an 18k white gold case costs $88,000. This price increases to $115,000 for the exclusive ultrathin Overseas Perpetual Calendar 4300V/120G-B946 skeleton.

Technical Characteristics of Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin

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