Vacheron Constantin 2014A Dial and Case Authenticity

Er.Win · 2019-01-20T05:53:05Z

Expert analysis of an early 1970s Vacheron Constantin ref. 2014A dial and case. Discussing authenticity, movement K1014, and finishing details.

Er.Win seeks expert opinions on a newly acquired early 1970s Vacheron Constantin, focusing on the authenticity of its dial and the finishing of its case. This post delves into the intricate details of vintage watch authentication, particularly concerning Vacheron Constantin's production practices and movement sourcing from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Hello,

It's my first post here, I'd like to ask for your expert opinion.

I bought this elegant, early 1970s VC and am actually very happy with it.
I took it to my watchmaker to look at the movement (1014, made by JLC) and everything seems fine.

I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding the dial. It does seem crisp to the naked eye and catches light rather nicely. I do know that VC (very much like PP) were, back in the day, not very consistent regarding the accent grave in GENEVE.

What do you think? All legit?

Key Points from the Discussion

The absence of an 'accent grave' on 'GENEVE' on the dial suggests it may have been cleaned or refinished, as original factory dials from this period typically included it.
The case of the watch appears polished, which might not be original, as many Vacheron Constantin references from this era were originally brushed or satin-finished.
Authenticating vintage Vacheron Constantin dials is complex due to inconsistencies in production, including varying fonts and suppliers over time.
There is a debate regarding the quality and finishing of the Vacheron Constantin K1014 movement, which is based on a Jaeger-LeCoultre ebauche, with some arguing it shows cost-saving measures compared to earlier movements.
While the base movement is JLC, Vacheron Constantin refined it to their standards, making it a Vacheron Constantin caliber, not merely a JLC movement.
The owner presents examples of other Vacheron Constantin cases from the same era that appear to have polished finishes, suggesting that polished cases might have existed originally.

The Discussion

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jan 20, 2019

Hi ..welcome here and can you please post pictures of case back and movement

Cheers D

blomman Mr Blue

Jan 20, 2019

Welcome!

As D said - please add some more photos for us to base an evaluation on. Best Blomman

Er.Win

Jan 20, 2019

Two more pictures

Hi, Thanks for the replies. I attach two more pictures: case back and side view. I removed the case number as it seems to be the common practice. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the movement – but I do count on my watchmaker's judgement regarding it. If necessary for the evaluation of the dial, I could go back to him this week and take a picture of the movement. Thanks again!

blomman Mr Blue

Jan 20, 2019

Well, I am no expert ...

And do not know if VC ever made dials without the apostrophe or not, but the rest looks to be the real deal. Let's hope the VC experts will chime in on this one. Best Blomman

Rogi

Jan 20, 2019

I believe in the 70s the Geneve accent dissapeared on some models, again no expert but my VC from 1970 doesnt have it, the only

other piece that I could find similar to yours didnt have it either, it looks good to me, my VC says hi also a K1014 brother

Er.Win

Jan 21, 2019

Nice white dial, Rogi.

I feel that leaving off the accent makes for a much cleaner dial (no wonder it has become commonplace ever since). I find this case shape to be extremely elegant – there's something "tankish" about it, but somehow more satisfyingly understated.

Vacheron Constantin 2014A Dial and Case Authenticity

Key Points from the Discussion

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