Vacheron Constantin

Survey of the Historiques Collection

 

Vacheron Constantin originally developed the Historiques collection in the early 1990’s during the mechanical watch renaissance. These watches drew on Vacheron Constantin’s rich heritage of design, bringing classic designs such as the 4072, 4178, and Cioccolatone to a new generation of watch collectors. The collection faded from the catalog as the brand developed a better defined product lines (eg Malte, Overseas, Patrimony Contemporaine), but was resurrected as its own collection in 2007 with the Chronometer Royal 1907, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the original Chronometer Royal pocket watch.

The initial run of 100 watches are distinguished by a red enamel 12 on the dial. Current models have all black Arabic numbers on the white enamel dial.


This is the only watch in Vacheron Constantin’s production that carries both the Geneva Hallmark as well as the COSC certificate.


This new design used Vacheron Constantin’s in-house automatic caliber, a characteristic that every subsequent entry into the Historiques collection would follow. (The Toledo 1952 is a holdover from the earlier generation of Historiques timepieces).

In 2008 Vacheron Constantin gave us the stunning American 1921, inspired by a design from 1921 that was created for the American market. Insert photo This watch was the first to employ the caliber 4400, Vacheron Constantin’s larger companion to the caliber 1400.


At the end of 2009 Vacheron Constnatin announced a set of two ultrathin models, the Historiques 1955, using the manual winding caliber 1003, the thinnest movement in production for the past 55 years

and the Historiques 1968, using the automatic winding caliber 1120, the thinnest full rotor automatic winding movement when it was introduced in the 1960’s.


At SIHH 2011, Vacheron Constantin gave us the Aronde 1954, a watch with a beautifully sculpted rectangular case and a striking dial separated into four quadrants with a linear guilloche.




Final Thoughts

With the exception of a platinum Toledo 1952, the red 12 Chronometer Royal 1907, and NY Boutique edition 1921, the models in the Historqiues collection are not limited edition. But the production of these models is limited. They are also priced at a premium to any roughly comparable model that is in Vacheron Constantin's standard production. The American 1921, for instance, has a retail price of $32,400 at the time of this writing, while the Patrimony Traditionnelle, which is also a three hand watch using the same caliber 4400, is $18,500. Rationally speaking as a collector of watches it is hard to justify the discrepancy. But when has rational thought determined what a collector of wristwatches does? Sometimes you just want the watch. When it comes to the American 1921 or Aronde 1955, I would pay the premium.

For some of these other models, I would either pursue something else from current production or carefully seek out a vintage watch with similar characteristics. For instance, getting the best of the 1955, with its Maltese Cross lug design, and the Chronometer Royal 1907, with its precise movement, I would choose a vintage reference 6161 Chronometer Royal with caliber 1008/BS.


Bill