WHL, a respected member of the Vacheron Constantin forum, shares his annual 'state of the collection' report for 2013, offering a candid look at the Vacheron Constantin timepieces that entered and exited his collection. His detailed post provides a valuable snapshot of a collector's journey, highlighting the dynamic nature of high-end watch collecting and the emotional connections formed with each piece. This retrospective offers insights into specific Vacheron Constantin references and the motivations behind a collector's evolving preferences.
For the past several years I’ve been giving annual state of the collection reports about what has come in and out of my collection over the past year. Please indulge me in my 2013 edition of my year in VC.First in was the Overseas Chronograph North American edition, 
This watch was made in a series of 100 pieces in 2007 and was offered on both a black alligator strap with red stitching that nicely highlighted the red tones on the dial as well as the standard black rubber strap. I especially like the fact that it was a limited edition, that a couple of other PuristSPro.com Vacheron Constantin Forum participants had the watch, and that I could also put the beautiful stainless steel bracelet on it.
I finally parted with my Patrimony Contemporaine Excellence Platine this year:
This is one of my all-time favorite watches, but it found a good home, and allowed me to pick this gem:
The Historiques Chronograph in platinum with black dial, made in an edition of 25 pieces for the Taiwan market. The movement, of course, is the stunning caliber 1141:
It was a pleasure to own this reference again (long ago I had a yellow gold Historiques Chronograph with silver dial), but it too found a good home on another forum member’s wrist.After parting with the vintage piece I was no longer with a VC on the wrist because I had to send my vintage XXL:
In for service, and as you all should know, servicing a vintage Vacheron Constantin means the piece goes back to Geneva and it takes a long time to get the watch back. While at the spa I will have a Certificate of Authenticity issued for the watch as well. I am very much looking forward to getting it back into the collection. I’m planning on having a black alligator strap with rolled edges put on the watch. Any other suggestions?I plan on keeping this one for a long time, as I want to always have a vintage Vacheron Constantin timepiece in my collection, and I would be hard pressed to think of any other model that I would rather wear more on a daily basis, for its 38 mm diameter makes it just as great a dress watch today as it was back in 1950 when it was made.With that reality I scrambled to find another VC, and I switched gears in a major way by choosing a pocket watch,
I need to thank tick-talk for being my source for this gem, which I did actually wear and enjoyed, but alas, I have no idea how this happened:
This one went back right away (and I learned that it too has to go back to Geneva for service, which I did not expect). So I am currently without a VC in my possession though I own a pair. Boo.This is not to say I am without a watch, but it just isn’t a Vacheron Constantin right now. I look forward to getting my two VC’s back into my possession and seeing what 2014 has in store for my collection.I did not get enough VC ephemera to make a special post: but I did get my Vacheron Constantin truffles just before Christmas, and (alas) shared them with my greater family, which devoured them in one sitting. ?Happy New Year to all my forum friends and readers!BillVC Forum Moderator
