Collection
Massimo Dalla Costa shares his long-awaited acquisition of a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ref. 42042, detailing his journey to find this specific model. His post offers a passionate review, comparing it to other luxury watches he's owned and highlighting why this particular reference holds a special place in his collection.
When I started collecting watches almost 10 years ago, I
soon fell in love for two pieces in particular: Vacheron Constantin Overseas
and Glashutte Original Panomatic Lunar. I’ve speen spending many years since
then, buying and selling tons of watches, even pricier than them (Audemars
Piguet 15300 or Breguet Marine, among the others) but the VC and the GO had
always their little spot on my mind. Here in Italy it’s basically IMPOSSIBLE to
find them pre-owned in mint conditions so I’ve been looking for them a long
time but never been successful. Some months ago I decided at last to buy a new
Panomatic, since I couldn’t wait for it anymore and it’s sooooo beautiful I
didn’t mind to spend a couple of thousands Euros more, to finally get it in my
hands. And then… a couple of weeks ago… when I had almost lost any hope to find
a proper deal… a 42042 Overseas showed itself in Munchen!!! I couldn’t wait a
single day: it was exactly what I was looking for (I really can’t stand the
newer reference: it has a wonderful bracelet but i do hate the numbers on the
dial and the size ir ridicously large -42mm- for a time-only watch), the right
color (blue dial, which in my opinion fits the best: white is too elegant and
black is too sporty) and most of all, from the pictures it looked it was in
very good conditions. Just a quick call to the seller and then, the next day I
took a day-off from work and had a 5-hours drive (luckily my company pays my
fuel and highway tolls 
) to Deutchland to buy it. Guys I’m madly in love
with it!! As I wrote before, I had an AP15300 and I think that the finishes on
the Overseas are almost at the same level (I think it can be compared to the
AP14790) for a fraction of the price. The case has a nice shape and the
bracelet is extremely comfortable (I know that many people prefer the newest
bracelet, but the more I see it on my wrist, the more I like it: it’s very
different from what we are used to see on the other watches and it fits like a
glove). The bezel with its trade-mark Maltese cross shape is a sight to behold.
The dial is simply stunning: very understated (it doesn’t have the sporty look
of the following reference), with classy stick markers and straight, slim
hands. The color of the diali s mesmerizing: it isn’t the usual flashy blue
that seems to be so trandy these days; instead it’s a dark shade of blue,
almost grey. The movement is top notch (sadly not an in-house one, but a thin
and finely finished Girard Perregaux anyway). I had/have many watches but this
is the first I think that can be the almost perfect everyday-watch: it looks
fine both in t-shirt/jeans and in shirt/trousers. I really really really really
love it J
Show time, folks… 
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak reference 15300 represents a significant evolution within the Royal Oak lineage, succeeding the 15202 "Jumbo" and preceding the 15400. It introduced a slightly more robust case and an in-house movement, distinguishing it from earlier models that often utilized Jaeger-LeCoultre base calibers. This reference maintained the classic Gérald Genta-designed aesthetic while offering a contemporary update in terms of its mechanical heart and wearability for a broader audience. It is often considered a transitional reference, bridging the gap between vintage and modern Royal Oak interpretations.
This reference features a 39 mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 9.4 mm, maintaining the characteristic octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal screws. The watch is powered by the in-house Audemars Piguet Caliber 3120, an automatic movement known for its robust construction and a power reserve of 60 hours. A sapphire crystal protects the dial, and the watch offers a water resistance of 50 meters. The integrated stainless steel bracelet is a hallmark of the Royal Oak design, ensuring a cohesive and comfortable fit.
For collectors, the 15300 is appealing due to its balanced proportions, which are often preferred over the larger 41 mm cases of subsequent references. Its in-house movement also adds to its desirability, marking a period of increased manufacturing independence for Audemars Piguet. The reference was produced with various dial colors, including blue, black, and white, offering collectors choices within this specific model run. The production period from 2005 to 2012 makes it a neo-vintage piece with a distinct place in the Royal Oak's history.
You said everything, it's still one of those watches to buy; affordable, snobbish and high end I truly love integrated bracelets watches, and VC made a great job with this one. The only con i could find is the central link that's not as impressive as the successive overseas, but IMHo it was too big, 42 mm (they'd've chosen 40 mm).
Unlike yourself, I prefer the 47040, although there is a version similar to yours that has a full compliment of arabic numerals on the dial, and lumed, which I really like.
Congratulation! Best Blomman
It\'s always VERY satisfying to get a log awaited piece. I hope it lives up to your anticipation Wear in good health! PS we won\'t tel the boss about your 5hour drive on the company\'s cost. Let\'s hope he/she is not a PURISTSPRO reader (would be a bit awkward if they recognised the watch on your wrist from this post)
Thank-you for taking the time to share your Gen 1 OS. I hope you were able to get the original boxes and chronometer certificate. Your enthusiasm led me to realize that I've had six of these beauties pass through my collection over the years (42042/42040/42052/49140) and will always have at least one on-hand. Positives, as you mention, are more reasonable size and now iconic style. There were so many dial colors with baton markers (blue/gray/white/salmon/black) and military-style Arabics (blue o
Hi - I'd like to ask the OP and others on the sizes of these watches and variants. I've seen versions for sale that state they are 42052 but 37mm width. And others that offer the 42052 as 35mm And 42040 as 36mm. And that the 42042 is the version with 37mm. It's quite confusing and of course without handling the watches difficult to realise true size. What are the dimensions of the first image in this post? I'm search far and wide for this version with arabic military style dial in blue or black.
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