Vacheron Constantin Cornes de Vache: Reference Guide
Reference Guide

Vacheron Constantin Cornes de Vache: Reference Guide

By quattro · Sep 28, 2025 · 52 replies
quattro
WPS member · Vacheron Constantin forum
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quattro, a respected voice in the WatchProSite community, undertakes a significant horological endeavor by meticulously cataloging and comparing 11 identified variants of the vintage Vacheron Constantin ref. 6087. This deep dive into the 'Cornes de Vache' chronograph, a legendary reference that inspired the modern Historiques collection, offers an unprecedented visual and historical comparison. His research provides invaluable context for collectors and enthusiasts seeking to understand the subtle distinctions and provenance of these iconic timepieces.

Vacheron Constantin's ref. 6087, with its cow horn lugs, has become a legend and was the source of inspiration for the 2015 Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 ref. 5000H.

But, as far as I know, its different versions have never been collected and compared.

So here are, presented together, the 11 variants I've been able to identify (out of 36, according to Christie's), organised by increasing movement number.

Hopefully, you will find this research and comparison interesting: in my previous thread, Did you say "Cornes de Vache"?, I had only scratched the surface of the different vintage variants.

Case size is 35 x 11.5 or 12.5 mm (information varies) and the movement is calibre 492.

1/ MOVEMENT NO. 466825

This first example is unique in a very strange way, as it is the only one to have been presented for sale three times, each time with a different dial.

a/ Silver dial, arabic numerals, dot indexes, no chrono scale sold in 1991



b/ Silver dial, arabic numerals, stick indexes, tachymeter scale sold in 1994



c/ Black dial, Roman numerals, stick indexes, tachymeter scale sold in 2011









Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Vacheron Constantin^

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Vacheron Constantin^
credit: Antiquorum (1-2), Christie’s (3) & Amsterdam Vintage Watches


2/ MOVEMENT NO. 466826

Silver dial, Arabic numerals, dot indexes, no chrono scale

Sold in 1994, 1997, 2003 & 2022

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955
credit: Antiquorum (1-3) & Phillips


3/ MOVEMENT NO. 466828

Silver dial, Arabic numerals, dot indexes, no chrono scale

Sold in 2007 & 2015

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955
credit: Sotheby’s & Phillips


4/ MOVEMENT NO. 466829

Silver dial, Arabic numerals, dot indexes, no chrono scale

Sold in 2014

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955
credit: Christie’s


5/ MOVEMENT NO. 469954

Silver dial signed "Milos", Roman numerals, dart indexes, no chrono scale: this configuration is very unique.

Sold in 1990, 2005 & 2006

Watch by Vacheron Constantin, Historiques, Cornes de Vache 1955




credit: Antiquorum


NB: EXAMPLES NO. 6 TO 9 SHARE THE SAME DIAL CONFIGURATION WITH THE WORD "TELEMETRE" AT 12 O'CLOCK & ARABIC NUMERALS WITH OPEN 6

6/ MOVEMENT NO. 469999

Silver dial, Arabic numerals, stick indexes & "telemeter" scale

Sold in 1994 & 2024


















credit: Antiquorum (1), Sotheby’s & Hairspring (two last photos)


7/ MOVEMENT NO. 470022

Silver dial, Arabic numerals, stick indexes & "telemeter" scale

Sold in 1990 & 1992




credit: Antiquorum 


8/ MOVEMENT NO. 470023

Silver dial, Arabic numerals, stick indexes & "telemeter" scale

Sold in 2005 & 2021










credit: Antiquorum


9/ MOVEMENT NO. 470026

Silver dial, Arabic numerals, stick indexes & "telemeter" scale

Sold in 2005 & 2006




credit: Antiquorum


10/ MOVEMENT NO. 470072

Silver dial, Roman numerals, stick indexes & tachymeter scale

Sold in 2003




credit: Antiquorum, FHH & Perezcope


11/ MOVEMENT NO. 470084

Silver dial, no numerals, stick indexes, no scale

Sold in 2006, 2007, May 2011 (strangely, Antiquorum presents the piece without any movement or case number), June 2011 & October 2011: yes, this piece seems to have been sold 3 times during the same year...


































credit: Antiquorum (1-3 & 5), Christie’s (4), Swiss Watches Magazine (5-7), Monochrome (8-9) & The Naked Watchmaker (10-16)


Do you have a favorite among them? 

My personal favorite is no. 10 (and no. 1 with second dial, but I prefer the Roman numerals of no. 10). 

I personally don't respond to the design of the Arabic numerals on the four "telemeter" versions (no. 6 to 9).

Thanks for reading.

Best, Emmanuel

About the Vacheron Constantin Phidias Ref. 6087

The Vacheron Constantin Phidias reference 6087 represents the brand's approach to classic dress watch design within the Phidias series. This reference features a white dial configuration that provides clear contrast against the precious metal case construction.

The watch houses an automatic movement within a 33mm case crafted from 18k yellow gold. The white dial is protected by sapphire crystal, and the timepiece offers 30 meters of water resistance. The fixed bezel maintains clean lines consistent with traditional dress watch proportions.

Reference 6087 appeals to collectors seeking a precious metal dress watch from Vacheron Constantin's catalog. The 33mm case size reflects period-appropriate sizing for formal timepieces, while the yellow gold construction and white dial combination offers a classic aesthetic. This reference suits those prioritizing traditional materials and understated dial presentation within the Phidias collection.

Specifications

Caliber
1126
Case
18k Yellow Gold
Diameter
33 mm
Dial
White
Water Resist.
30m
Crystal
Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
HT
htinoco
Sep 28, 2025

There is something about that balck dial

QU
quattro
Sep 28, 2025

but I have mixed feelings about it, because it isn't original and it isn't known when and how it was added. Even aesthetically, it gives the watch a completely different identity to which I'm personally less sensible. That said, it is definitely very eye-catching and appealing. Best, Emmanuel

AR
ArmisT
Sep 28, 2025

All the above are colored gold. I am curious to know if there were past platinum releases. Regarding relatively recent/modern releases, the only dark dial was the steel Hodinkee version with grey dial, which was beautiful. I haven’t seen any for sale recently. Besides that, the platinum release is my favorite, then the others.

QU
quattro
Sep 28, 2025

www.watchprosite.com Afaik, there was no pt version in the 1950s, but I might very well be wrong. And, even if my preference goes to rose gold/roman numerals variants, both vintage and modern, I certainly understand the appeal of the dark dials and steel or pt case. Best, Emmanuel

GO
Goh
Sep 28, 2025

aren't any white metal variants of the originals. Coloured gold are not to my taste, so my favorites would come from the reissues - either in PT or the ST one for Hodinkee.

MA
Marc Obermann
Sep 28, 2025

I usually prefer darker dials but with the watches presented here this is not the case as I really don't find the black variants at all appealing. Also whilst I usually like and appreciate vintage over modern most of the time in this instance I would much prefer a modern version over any of the ones presented here. Marc

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