Vacheron Constantin

Two great 38 mm timepieces from Vacheron Constantin, both with distinctive lug designs.

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If you could have only one of the above, which would you choose for your collection?

Bill

  This message has been edited by WHL on 2014-07-21 13:36:29

Hard choice to make.

THAT vintage case is so Vacheron. Elegant, refined. Exquisite. With soul.

The Patrimony, in 38 mm, is a nice Watch, but cannot beat that colored gold one.

It is a nice normal Watch, if I may say, while the vintage is a Vacheron.

There are some coomparisons which are really cruel...

Best,

Nicolas

Perfectly stated, Nicolas.  Apart from the vintage, the Patimony is a winner.  Next to it is a different story.

A total knockout and VC did such a fab job.  No comparison for me

...for me anyway.

I cannot have all of the watches I want -- I guess that is true for many of us -- and this becomes acutely problematic with respect to Vacheron Constantin.  So, I have to make tough choices such as the one you have posed. 

Now in this particular instance, are we confined to the WG Patrimony Traditionelle you have shown or may I substitute in the gray dial platinum version, in which case decision made!  I really admire your vintage candy, Bill, especially in the delicious XXL 38mm size.  But the gray dial of the Patrimony Traditionelle has me under its spell. Actually, as you know, VC gray dials all seem to get under my skin. 

In any case, it is best, if at all possible, to have both vintage V&C and modern VC.  If you cannot do that, then I recommend getting something from the Historiques line. 

By the way, Happy Birthday, Mr. Moderator!

Best,

respo

More appealing than the Patrimony line. The cqse of Les Historiques, and the lugs, that was something!

Best, Respo.

Nicolas

...and everything for me!  But I am a greedy boy, as you know.  ;-)

Best,

Respo the Greedy

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and your thoughts on collecting VC's. It is definitely true that for me to get one watch means that I have to pass on other desirable pieces, and is the reason that I move on from one watch to the next, so that I can enjoy what so many have to offer.

With the XXL it is going to be hard to find a piece I want more, at least on the vintage side.

Bill

I generally like White pieces and the Patrimony is no exception.  Also, I prefer the slightly heftier profile.  I know, this is unusual.

This is the weirdest case of radial flip that I have ever seen.
The upper numbers (10, 12 and 2) are pointing with their lower end to the center of the watch, and with the upper end towards the bezel.
For consistency's sake I would expect the lower numbers (4, 6 and 8) to be consistent among themselves, i.e. either all three pointing with their upper end inwards or all three pointing with their upper end outwards.
Now the 4 and 6 obviously point with their upper end inwards, but the 8 looks like the upper end (smaller circle of the two circles that make up the 8) is pointing outwards.
So overall there are 4 numbers with their upper end pointing to the bezel and 2 numbers are positioned in the opposite direction.

Are my eyes misleading me here, or do you see the same?

VC rotated it during service: it was not that way it was when sent in as you can tell from the "before" photo. I don't want to send it in for a fix as I have been without the watch for a year and it doesn't bother me now. 

I didn't read that post. To be honest, I was drawn to this post due to the picture of the Patrimony Traditionelle, not because of the vintage piece.
So with respect to your question which one I'd add to my collection, it would be the modern piece.

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hard to choose both are a beauty. technology taken into consideration i would choose the modern

And would love to see one in metal

time, the market was a few hundred globally and VC probably made only a few hundred. It was probably whipped up without any real market knowledge or research and VC made only a few pieces of each model.

The new one has to take into account a global clientele. The Patrimony has to satisfy the Chinese and the American for example. It also has to brutally compete with the likes of PP, AP, ALS, and many others. It will be made in 'significant' numbers compared to the probably few of the Vintage. 

Each is an excellent VC of the era in which they belong. But there is an 'x' factor to the Vintage which could only be possible then - not now.  Now, even the Independents have to behave and think like 'established' brands.

 

The vintage one looks more charming! It has the style of VC all over it I feel. The lugs and case are to die for!

The Lugs!!!! Case!! And it's vintage...

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