Vacheron Constantin

It's time for the Overseas!

 

Summer brings a more relaxed feel to life. School is out of session, the weather is warm, and dress is more casual. The watches we wear should follow the spirit of the season. Larger cases, stainless steel heads, and either stainless steel bracelets or rubber straps all point this more casual feeling. As regards Vacheron Constantin, this means it is time to pull out the Overseas!

Vacheron Constantin originally launched the Overseas line in 1994 with the Overseas Chronometer, and expanded it a few years later with the Overseas Chronograph. With the Overseas, Vacheron Constantin finally had a hit in the market for luxury sports watches, after false starts with the 222 (now a cult classic) and the Phidias.

The Overseas Chronometer used a Girard Perregaux caliber 3100 as its base movement, and is a COSC certified chronometer. It was offered in two sizes for men, 35 mm and 37 mm, and with a variety of dial colors: blue, silver, black, and salmon with stick markers, and black and blue with Arabic numbers.

One touch that I appreciate in these older models is the case back having the shape of the bezel.


The caliber 1137 used in the Overseas Chronograph is based on the Piguet 1185 to which Vacheron Constantin added the large date function. This watch is 40 mm in diameter and a worthy competitor to the Royal Oak Chronograph. It came with either a silver dial with stick markets or black Arabic dial.


Gold cases were an option for both references.


For the tenth anniversary of the line in 2004, Vacheron Constantin redesigned the Overseas. Now offered in three references, Overseas (Automatic with Date), Overseas Chronograph, and Overseas Dual Time, the diameter of the case expanded to 42mm for all models, the bracelet incorporated Vacheron Constantin’s signature Maltese Cross in its design, and the movement was encased in a soft iron core to protect it from magnetic fields.

Vacheron Constantin moved away from the GP caliber for the new basic Overseas, employing the JLC 889. For a detailed review of this watch from Jack Forster, click here.



The Overseas Chronograph kept the same caliber as it’s predecessor, and, like the base model, added a textured dial.


Complementing the voyaging theme inherent in the Overseas collection, the Dual Time model is a welcome addition to the line. Like the base model, the Overseas Dual Time has a JLC movement inside. The screw down crown at two o’clock is for quick correction of the date. The subdial at six o’clock indicates the second time zone, distinguishing between AM and PM. The power reserve is the fan at between 8 and 11 o’clock.


The Chronograph and Dual Time models are available in gold, either on a strap or with the bracelet.

In 2009 Vacheron Constantin offered a new variation of the Overseas and Overseas Chronograph, incorporating titanium in the bezel as well as in the screws of the chronograph pushers and capturing the grey of the titanium in the color of the dial. The bracelet was replaced with a grey alligator strap along with a grey rubber strap.




In 2010, the Overseas Dual Time gets this update look:



New for the summer of 2010, Vacheron Constantin is making a limited edition of 100 Overseas Chronograph watches for the Greek market. The distinguishing characteristics are the blue dial with black subdials, the matching blue rubber and leather straps, and with the engraved Greek Trireme on the case back replacing Amerigo Vespucci’s ship



The Overseas remains a sophisticated and sporty watch 15 years after its birth.

Bill