Vacheron Constantin Unveils 3 Historiques Watches in Gold and Platinum: Destined to be Collector Items

By Roberta Naas June 28, 2016

Vacheron Constantin Cornes de vache 1955 now in rose gold. — Vacheron Constantin
Cornes de vache 1955 now in rose gold.

Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques collection is the line that is dedicated to the brand’s rich heritage. It consists of watch designs that are resurrected, from the brand’s 261 years of archives, but with slight updated modifications. Now Vacheron Constantin unveils three Historiques models, offered for the first time in either gold or platinum. All of the watches bear the Hallmark of Geneva certification.

The Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 watch is now being built in a case crafted in 18-karat 5N rose gold. Heretofore, a rose gold version of this watch did not exist. A legendary watch – the brand’s first water-resistant chronograph — made by Vacheron Constantin more than half a century ago in 1995, inspires the new model. That version (from the 1950’s-‘60’s) was crafted in 18-karat yellow gold with a tachymeter scale and “cow horn” lugs. The movement was protected from magnetism via a soft iron inner dome.

The original Cornes de ache 1955 gentleman's wristwatch Chronograph with tachometric scale and “cow’s horn” lugs, was crafted in 18K yellow gold, — The original Cornes de ache 1955 gentleman’s wristwatch
Chronograph with tachometric scale and “cow’s horn” lugs, was crafted in
18K yellow gold,

The new Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955, as mentioned, is crafted in 5N rose gold and offers a blend of bold beauty and technical prowess. It features the much-loved cow horn lugs like its forefather, and is equipped with the caliber 1142, with hours, minutes, small seconds and chronograph functions, as well as power reserve to 48 hours. It is further equipped with a column-wheel shaped like the Maltese cross, the brand’s emblem. The beauty of the finishing is visible via a transparent caseback, and the 38.5mm watch is water resistant to 30 meters.

The movement of the new Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 was developed in house by the brand and is a mechanical manual-wind with 48 hours of power reserve.

The new version also features a silvered opaline dial with applied numerals and hour markers and slender gold hands. The 30-minute counter hand and the tachometric scale yield optimum legibility. Like the original Historiques Cornes de vache watch, this new rose gold version is destined to become a true collector’s timepiece.

Moving to platinum as the metal of choice for the other two versions, Vacheron Constantin unveils the Historiques American 1921 ($44,000) and the Ultra-fine 1955 ($38,500).

Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921, now in platinum.

The Historiques American 1921 watch is an emblematic cushion-shaped timepiece that is indicative of the 1920’s when it was first born. The initial watch, which was made for the American market, was crafted in 18-karat yellow gold with an enamel dial offset to 45-degrees and with the crown set at 1:00. It was part of a very small series the brand had created in the 1920’s to enable fast reading of the time when the hands are on the steering wheel. The watch fast became a collector’s item and is one of the most sought-after on the market today.

The original Americaine watch was in 18K yellow gold,with enamel dial offset 45° to the right, with crown set at 1 o’clock. A variation with the crown on the left-hand side also exists. — The original Americaine watch was in
18K yellow gold,with enamel dial offset 45° to the right, with crown set at 1 o’clock. A variation with the crown on the left-hand side also exists.

Vacheron Constantin has reintroduced the Historiques American 1921 – but never in platinum until now. The Roaring Twenties design is loyal to its origins with offset dial and crown. The silver dial is finely grained and features 12 painted blue Arabic numerals and a black railway minute track. It is finished with blued Breguet-type hands and fitted with a domed sapphire crystal. The 40mm diameter watch is powered by the manual wind caliber 4400 AS in-house made movement with 65 hours of power reserve. Water resistant to 30 meters, it is finished with a dark blue alligator leather strap and platinum buckle.

Platinum is also the new addition for the Ultra-Fine 1955 watch, inspired, like its name says, by a 1955 watch created initially in 18-karat yellow gold. The 9’’ 1003 movement and this watch model (6099) were initially built to celebrate the Vacheron Constantin bicentenary (1755-1955).

The Ultra thin 1955 movement measures 1.64mm thin and the entire watch cased is just 4.13mm thick. — The Ultra thin 1955
movement measures 1.64mm thin and the entire watch cased is just 4.13mm thick.

The new 36mm platinum version houses a movement comprised of 117 parts and measuring just 1.64mm thin. Its 18-karat gold bridges and plate are exceptionally hand crafted and visible through the sapphire caseback. The watch offers 31 hours o power reserve and is one of the thinnest in the world at just 4.13 meters cased. It is water resistant to 30 meters.

The original ultra-thin Historiques Ultra-thin was made in 18K yellow gold, silvered dial The 9’’ 1003 movement was created specially for the Vacheron Constantin bicentenary (1755-1955).Each lug represents a branch of the Maltese Cross — The original ultra-thin Historiques
Ultra-thin was made in
18K yellow gold, silvered dial
The 9’’ 1003 movement was created specially for the Vacheron Constantin bicentenary (1755-1955).Each lug represents a branch of the Maltese Cross

These new Historiques models come on the heels of the brand’s total revamp of the Overseas Collection and demonstrate a renewed commitment to Vacheron Constantin watch lovers and collectors.