Vintage
WHL celebrates the 1950s as a 'golden decade' for Vacheron Constantin, sharing his passion for collecting vintage pieces from this era. He highlights the unique blend of design, craftsmanship, and wearable sizes that define VC watches from this period. WHL's personal collection showcases iconic models like the Chronometer Royal and various self-winding pieces, underscoring the enduring appeal of 1950s Vacheron Constantin.
Collecting vintage Vacheron Constantin watches has been one of the high points of my collecting history. I had focused on round watches from the 1940’s through the 1960’s, but it is the middle part of that era that I think I would call Vacheron Constantin’s golden decade. The combination of design with craftsmanship, along with what I find to be a number of watches of good size, even in the modern era, make this a special period. Some of my favorites from my vintage Vacheron Constantin collection included the Chronometer Royal (from a case design started in 1955 that celebrated the brands 200th anniversary:
Several self-winding pieces:
And my XXL:
There were many more!
I don’t think it is any coincidence that the1950’s are the most represented period in Vacheron Constantin’s current Historiques collection with three models, the Toledo 1951, the Aronde 1954, and the Ultra-fine 1955, the years denoting the date of introduction for a particular design.
One drawback in collecting vintage watches is having to worry about both the authenticity and service history of any particular piece. Buyer beware applies, with the safest bet being those few pieces that Vacheron Constantin has restored and sold through selected VC boutiques. Servicing vintage pieces can be expensive, and it is certainly time consuming (That late 1950’s XXL will have taken one year to return to me). For that reason I appreciate Vacheron Constantin giving collectors the opportunity to get the best of vintage design in new watches and have all the advantages that modern manufacturing can bring.
The Toledo 1951 is my latest infatuation, primarily due to my coming to appreciate form watches (all my watches to date have been round). I spilled a lot of words and got some good photos of it on it with a recent review: vacheron.watchprosite.com , so I won’t repeat myself
But I have had the chance to get it side by side with the next model (by timeline) in the Historiques family, the Aronde 1954.
The Aronde 1954 is a sexy piece, with the curves along the sides of the case giving the watch another nickname: Lips!
This watch doesn’t get the attention it deserves, and it is rarely seen either in retail showcases or on the the watch forums. So in my attempt to remedy this neglect, some photos:
The dial is is a silvered gold base, with hand guilloche linear stripes that divide the dial into four quadrants which reflect light in a hypnotic way.
The movement inside is Vacheron Constantin’s calibre 1400, which is hidden behind a solid case back. It is one the most satisfying of movements to wind up as it most closely captures the sound and feel of winding up Vacheron Constantin’s vintage calibre 453, the brand’s workhorse movement of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Though I wish I could have gotten the Ultra-fine 1955 next to the other two above for the Historiques 1950’s trifecta, I’ll have to settle for some older photos.
I would be thrilled with any or all of these three watch. Does anyone out there have all of them?
Bill
The Les Historiques Aronde 1954 reference 81018 was introduced in 2010, initially as a limited edition in white gold for the Japanese market. This model draws inspiration from four historical Vacheron Constantin timepieces from the 1950s, with its name "Aronde" being an Old French term for swallow, referencing the distinctive wing-like lugs of the case. It represents a revival of mid-century design aesthetics within the brand's contemporary offerings.
The case of the Aronde 1954 measures 31.20 x 44.5 mm with a thickness of 9.8 mm. It houses the manual-winding caliber 1400 AS, a round movement known for its reliability. The watch features a sapphire crystal, providing clear visibility of the dial and protecting the intricate mechanics. The initial white gold version was followed by a non-limited rose gold variant in 2011.
This reference appeals to collectors interested in Vacheron Constantin's heritage designs and those who appreciate historically inspired pieces with modern craftsmanship. Its limited initial release and subsequent non-limited variant offer different collecting opportunities. The Aronde 1954 stands as a testament to the brand's ability to reinterpret its past for a contemporary audience, maintaining a connection to its rich design archives.
which I agree deserves more attention. I like it especially for its dial and case. But all other watches shown aren´t that bad as well ... :-) Thanks for sharing! Oliver
;-) Your former Chronometre Royal makes me salivate. I got it bad and that ain't good. That black dial automatic is a pure beauty. It is always such a disarming pleasure to see black dials on vintage V&Cs. Now, as for the Historiques models...I know you have it bad for the Toledo 1951. Understandable. But the Aronde 1954 is the one the does it for me between those two. I had a chance to try one on a couple of weeks ago (I think the first time I actually had one on my wrist). Sorry for the po
Well done Bill, Once again you have made my heart race. I have an unnatural infatuation with the 1954. The love the curved crystal and contrasting case shape that showcase "The Lips". The dial patterns add an unmatched elegance to any tank shaped watch. On the wrist it sits beautifully and its curvature fits perfectly under any cuff. This is defiantly a competitor to the 1921 when my collection is ready for it, today my collection is simply not worthy. Best, BTWatchguy
I must say that the re-editions are fantastic watches that holds their own! Thank you for sharing, Bill. Best Blomman
Bill, you are the Vlad for VC! Spreading VC poison here!! Love your photos of the various Historique pieces. The Toledo is still my favorite :) Like you I am starting to like non-round watches more and more cheers robin
and I am happy to play that role......and considering the number of VC pieces I have owned over the years there is a certain amount of self-enabling going on too! :-) Looking forward to seeing photos from you with the 1951 on your wrist. Bill
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