Historiques By Vacheron Constantin
The Historiques collection, dedicated to Vacheron Constantin’s creative archetypes,highlights the wealth of the technical and aesthetic heritage of the Manufacture through con temporary reinterpretations. New models are now reviving three icons much sought after among collectors. Inspired by a legendary 1955 chronograph, the Cornes de vache 1955 model is interpreted in pink gold, while the emblematic cushion-shaped American 1921 and the remarkable Ultra-fine 1955 with its 1.64 mm-thin gold caliber appears clothed in platinum. These models bearing the Hallmark of Geneva and issued in highly exclusive production runs are enriching an exceptional collection dedicated to connoisseurs and devotees of vintage watches.
Cornes de vache 1955, American 1921 and Ultra-fine 1955. Three legendary models much coveted by collectors are now reborn arrayed in new finery within the Vacheron Constantin Historiques collection. These pink gold or platinum modern reinterpretations of legend ary models give new life to the iconic creations punctuating the history of the Geneva-based Manufacture since 1755.
Historiques Cornes de vache 1955
Embodying a singular blend of creative boldness and rigorous technical standards, this classic watch fitted with its distinctive ‘cow horn’ lugs is inspired by the first water-resistant chronograph designed by Vacheron Constantin in 1955. As one of the three references most sought-after by collectors, the vintage icon born amid the effervescence of the post-war period is reinterpreted here in pink gold, in keeping with the spirit of the era that sparked its creation.Combining tradition, disruptive design and absolute technical sophistication, the Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 chronograph – named after its evocatively shaped lugs – embodies a stylistic originality typical of Vacheron Constantin. On the one hand, it expresses the unconventional creativity of the Manufacture in the 1950s through its stylised lugs creating an aesthetic tension with the traditional chronograph construction with two round push buttons. On the other, it also conveys Vacheron Constantin’s ancestral expertise in the measurement of short times. Equipped with a column wheel shaped like a Maltese cross, the emblem of the Manufacture, Caliber 1142 powering the Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 drives the hours,minutes, small seconds and chronograph functions while ensuring a 48-hour power reserve. This entirely hand-decorated manual-winding movement is revealed through the transparent back of the 38.5 mm-diameter case that is water-resistant to 30 metres. The model’s silvered opaline dial is punctuated by applied numerals and hour-markers swept over by slender gold hands. The deep blue direct-drive seconds hand, 30-minute counter hand and tachy metric scale enhance the optimal legibility of this complex yet airy display.
Historiques American 1921
Crafted in precious platinum, the Historiques American 1921 is inspired by an original cushion-shaped model with a crown placed between 1 and 2 o’clock, created by Vacheron Constantin inthe 1920s for the American market. Combining the daring style characterising the era of its birth and the rigorous technical standards of a Fine Watchmaking creation, this contemporary reinterpretation of an icon from the Roaring Twenties remains loyal to the original version through an imposing cambered case diagonal time read-off, offset ball-shaped crown and small seconds between 4 and 5 o’clock. The classic yet original finely grained silvered dial bears 12 blue painted Arabic numerals and a black railway-type minute track, swept over by blued Breguet-type hands. Fitted with a lightly domed crystal, the 40 mm-diameter case water-resistant to 30 metres houses Vacheron Constantin manual-winding Caliber 4400 AS. This movement adorned with particularly finely hand-crafted finishing and endowed with a comfortable 65-hour autonomy drives hours, minutes and small seconds indications. There strained and timeless elegance of this ‘dandy chic’ watch is complemented by a dark blue alligator leather strap fitted with a platinum buckle.
Historiques Ultra-fine 1955
Testifying to Vacheron Constantin’s ancestral expertise in the making of ultra-thin watches, the Historiques Ultra-fine 1955 model is powered by the mechanical manual-winding Vacheron Constant in Caliber 1003, presented in 1955. In its exclusive new interpretation, this pure,restrained timepiece accommodates its legendary movement inside a round 36 mm-diameter case made of platinum. A micro mechanical masterpiece comprising 117 components and yet measuring a mere 1.64 mm thick, it reveals its 18K gold bridges and plate adorned with exceptional hand-crafted finishes through the sapphire crystal back of the case that is water-resistant to 30 metres. This classic watch with its 31-hour autonomy is one of the thinnest in the world, at just 4.13 mm thick. Its hours and minutes functions are displayed on a silvered opa line dial featuring a pure, minimalist style and bearing gold baton-type hands and painted blue hour-markers matching the dark shade of the strap with its platinum buckle. A slender bezel,distinctive lugs and a resolutely uncluttered dial display compose the refined personality of this timeless model.
