Vacheron Constantin Vintage Ref. 4538 Service

WHL's reflection on his 2014 Vacheron Constantin collecting year provides a candid look at the realities of vintage watch ownership, particularly the importance of servicing. His experience with a vintage XXL reference 4538 highlights the brand's dedicated vintage service in Geneva and the value of official authentication. This article delves into the nuances of maintaining a high-end vintage collection.

I had one of my quietest years ever with respect to collecting Vacheron Constantin watches in 2014. In fact, I did not purchase any new or vintage pieces for my collection last year. Like the biblical sabbatical year, the break in accumulating allowed me to take care of the pieces I owned by sending them in for service.

Near the end of 2012 I picked up a gorgeous vintage XXL, reference 4538, in yellow gold. The case and serial numbers all checked out with the archival records of the brand so I felt safe in buying it. I knew that it was going to need service on the sooner side (there were some faults that I could live with in the short term, so I could wear and enjoy it during the honeymoon period that accompanies all new purchases), but my hand was forced for sending it in when I dropped the watch and the crystal popped off! I hope it never happens to any of you because it is a horrible feeling.

The timing was not bad, as it happened the day before I was due to go to NY to meet with VC as well as have lunch with a number of other VC forum participants in the late spring of 2013. I visited the Vacheron Constantin Boutique on Madison Ave and the watchmaker there inspected the watch in person. Fortunately there was no internal damage, though the movement was a little dirty. In fact, I could have waited longer to send the watch in for service, but I decided to get it done, and the staff took in the watch for service and off it went to Geneva, where all vintage pieces go for service.

As many of you may know, service on vintage Vacheron Constantin watches take considerable longer than it does with the modern pieces. In mid-2014, I finally got the call that my watch was ready to return to me. They took my credit card (the fee on servicing vintage watch is not inexpensive) and the next day the watch was back on my wrist, looking better than I had ever seen it, running perfectly, and with the beautiful Certificate of Authenticity. In addition to servicing the movement, new hands were installed, as was a new crown and crystal. Vacheron Constantin, per my request, put on a new strap, and the curved lug pin was a nice surprise.

In 2013 I purchased a modern era pocket watch, reference 57101, from a fellow Purist, and I tried to rock the pocket watch look. More than the look, however, I found myself enjoying the feel of the watch in the hand. Unfortunately, I would have a crystal problem with this watch as well:

though I could not point to any event or impact that would have caused this damage.

Needless to say, it went in for service immediately, taken in at my local Vacheron Constantin point of sale. Being a newer model, I would have expected it to be serviced domestically, but it had to go back to Geneva. The good news was that the time for it to return was more in line with contemporary pieces (about 3 months), as well as in terms of cost.

I have nothing but good things to say about the work that Vacheron Constantin performs in their after sales service department. While I wish that the turnaround would be faster on vintage timepieces, and less expensive, I don’t see myself ever using any other resource for servicing my Vacheron Constantin watches in the future.

Bill