Vacheron Constantin 1566 Chronometre Royal Vintage

Antiquewatchfinder · 2023-12-06T17:41:06Z

Explore the Vacheron & Constantin Chronomètre Royal Ref. 1566 Naval Deck Watch and its WWII Royal Navy service. Discover its history and collector insights.

Antiquewatchfinder's discovery of a Vacheron & Constantin Naval Deck Watch, reference 1566, offers a rare glimpse into the brand's military contributions during WWII. His meticulous research, including an Admiralty Ledger Card, illuminates the watch's service history aboard Royal Navy vessels. This article delves into the historical significance of these robust timepieces and the broader context of Vacheron Constantin's role in horological precision for military applications.

Hi All,

This Naval Deck watch made by Vacheron & Constantin was purchased by the Royal Navy in February 1942 and sold in August 1961. (See image of Admirality Ledger Card)

The naval watch was procured for the mighty sum of £16 in 1942.

This watch served on the below Vessels:

HMS Upright -- 'U' class submarine

HMS Elfin -- depot ship

HMS Lingay -- trawler/minesweeper

I found the history to be fascinating as found it interesting V&C were producing great watches for the military.

V&C - Naval Deck Watch

HMS Upright

HMS Elfin

HMS Lingay

Admirality Card -

Key Points from the Discussion

The process of obtaining historical records for these watches has evolved, and it's notable that this particular Chronomètre Royal saw service in submarines, a detail that aligns with other known military-issued Vacheron Constantin chronometers.
Vacheron Constantin continued the legacy of the Chronomètre Royal with modern iterations, such as the 86122 model, which incorporated special adjustments for enhanced accuracy, demonstrating the enduring importance of precision in the brand's heritage.
The Royal Observatory proved to be an excellent resource for historical details, providing comprehensive information that enriched the research process and highlighted the fascinating history of these military watches.
The full narrative of Vacheron Constantin's military-issued Chronomètre Royal movements, including specific references like the 8850, remains an area ripe for further historical exploration and documentation.

The Discussion

amanico

Dec 6, 2023

Thanks for sharing this great piece of History.

patrick_y

Dec 6, 2023

The Chronometre Royal line was also a specific line for high accuracy watches...

You probably already know this: VC even made a modern Chronometre Royal that had special "adjustments" made to make the watch even more accurate. Here is a review of the modern 86122 model

Antiquewatchfinder

Dec 6, 2023

Thanks Patrick, that's awesome! Those wrist watches look so timeless and elegant.

TeutonicCarFan

Dec 6, 2023

Thanks for this

Love these historical pieces and the back story

montres1

Dec 7, 2023

Did not know VC did produce such chronometers, thanks for sharing !! Woud you have pictures of the movement, must be spectacular !

fmc000

Dec 7, 2023

Me neither.

I also would like to learn more about the movement of this piece.

Vacheron Constantin 1566 Chronometre Royal Vintage

Key Points from the Discussion

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