Comments:
Congratulations, Matthew! Wear it in the best of health. Your photographs are superb. Thank you for sharing.
Bill
Wow, your first VC?
I did the same choice than you, with my " Les Historiques " Chrono:
And I can tell you that I'm completely crazy about mine!
How can we resist to these beautiful lugs, this lovely dial , these perfect volumes???
Enjoy, as it deserves!
Looking forward to hear more from you, here,
Best,
Nicolas
a beautiful watch- I have try it on and it is much better in metal than on the photo
I will have to disagree with you on the hit and miss.
I think, for eg, the Quai d'Ile is a very successful watch and quite unique
I personally like it very much
Cheers
My First Vacheron Constantin - Les Historique Chrono
Dear Purists,
I'm delighted to share a few amateur shots of my first Vacheron Constantin with you. Enjoy!
Another one,
Have a wonderful weekend!
Matthew
I'm delighted to share a few amateur shots of my first Vacheron Constantin with you. Enjoy!
Another one,
Have a wonderful weekend!
Matthew
Now that is a great way to begin your VC journey!!
Congratulations, Matthew! Wear it in the best of health. Your photographs are superb. Thank you for sharing.
Bill
Hi, Matthew, Welcome here!
Wow, your first VC?
I did the same choice than you, with my " Les Historiques " Chrono:
And I can tell you that I'm completely crazy about mine!
How can we resist to these beautiful lugs, this lovely dial , these perfect volumes???
Enjoy, as it deserves!
Looking forward to hear more from you, here,
Best,
Nicolas
Great choice!
I'm glad you chose the YG as IMO it imparts a sense of timelessness and warmth. A classic!
Perfect Symmetry
The two sub-dials spaced towards the outside are, IMHO, perfect in form and symmetry. Unfortunately, I can't say I like the look of the newer oversized cases where the subdials are crowded into the center.
I agree.
The new VC Patrimony Chrono is a nice watch, a very nice watch.
But a major new chronograph release by Vacheron Constantin needs to be more than just "nice". It needs to be heartbreakingly beautiful, compellingly desirable, unique and unforgettable, as are these Les Historiques chrono designs from the 90s.
If there is any one thing which makes VC stand out from the crowd, it's the aesthetics of their watches. Look back over the past 100 years of VC wristwatches and you find very little that isn't aesthetically stunning and original.
These days it appears that new VC watches are a hit-and-miss affair, with (alas) a little more miss than hit. If they wish to maintain their position among the "top three", they need to come up with more stunners like the gorgeous Americaine 1921:
Now this is a VC to inflame the soul of any watch-lover.
Cheers
Tony P
But a major new chronograph release by Vacheron Constantin needs to be more than just "nice". It needs to be heartbreakingly beautiful, compellingly desirable, unique and unforgettable, as are these Les Historiques chrono designs from the 90s.
If there is any one thing which makes VC stand out from the crowd, it's the aesthetics of their watches. Look back over the past 100 years of VC wristwatches and you find very little that isn't aesthetically stunning and original.
These days it appears that new VC watches are a hit-and-miss affair, with (alas) a little more miss than hit. If they wish to maintain their position among the "top three", they need to come up with more stunners like the gorgeous Americaine 1921:
Now this is a VC to inflame the soul of any watch-lover.
Cheers
Tony P
this is...
a beautiful watch- I have try it on and it is much better in metal than on the photo
I will have to disagree with you on the hit and miss.
I think, for eg, the Quai d'Ile is a very successful watch and quite unique
I personally like it very much
Cheers
Quai de L'ile...
Successful? As an exercise in innovation (customisation and security features), yes. Unique? Yes, for the same reasons.
The design of the Quai de L'ile is not derivative, which is a good thing. But is it drop-dead gorgeous? Hardly. It's...."nice". Svelte. That's about it.
VCs need to be more than just "nice". They can't compete with AP on innovation (not with Renaud et Papi lurking in the background), and they can't compete with Patek on resale value. So what are the core strengths of VC? I believe it is the inherent desirability of their watches, which comes mainly from the beauty of their designs (and of course, the quality of the manufacturing, which is not in doubt).
VC fans need to be secure in the knowledge that each new release is guaranteed to produce gasps of awe and wonder. Yet VC keep getting it wrong - not the whole design, just some fine detail - like chronograph subregisters being too close to the centre of the dial. (I know, I know, they are restrained by the basic layout of the Lemania ébauche, but how come PP, using the same movement, can come up with a classic and much-sought-after design like the 5070? No criticisms of crowded subregisters have been levelled against that model.)
I'm not saying that recent VCs are without merit. They are lovely watches. But when you are at the absolute top of the game, when you are recognised as one of the Big Three, and when your position within that triumvirate is seen to be just a little shaky - with potential usurpers such as Breguet, Lange, Chopard LUC and the like, nipping at your ankles - "lovely" doesn't cut it. Your product has to be astonishingly gorgeous.
The Americaine 1921 is such a watch. Would that all of VC's new releases could inspire such wonder.
Cheers
Tony P
The design of the Quai de L'ile is not derivative, which is a good thing. But is it drop-dead gorgeous? Hardly. It's...."nice". Svelte. That's about it.
VCs need to be more than just "nice". They can't compete with AP on innovation (not with Renaud et Papi lurking in the background), and they can't compete with Patek on resale value. So what are the core strengths of VC? I believe it is the inherent desirability of their watches, which comes mainly from the beauty of their designs (and of course, the quality of the manufacturing, which is not in doubt).
VC fans need to be secure in the knowledge that each new release is guaranteed to produce gasps of awe and wonder. Yet VC keep getting it wrong - not the whole design, just some fine detail - like chronograph subregisters being too close to the centre of the dial. (I know, I know, they are restrained by the basic layout of the Lemania ébauche, but how come PP, using the same movement, can come up with a classic and much-sought-after design like the 5070? No criticisms of crowded subregisters have been levelled against that model.)
I'm not saying that recent VCs are without merit. They are lovely watches. But when you are at the absolute top of the game, when you are recognised as one of the Big Three, and when your position within that triumvirate is seen to be just a little shaky - with potential usurpers such as Breguet, Lange, Chopard LUC and the like, nipping at your ankles - "lovely" doesn't cut it. Your product has to be astonishingly gorgeous.
The Americaine 1921 is such a watch. Would that all of VC's new releases could inspire such wonder.
Cheers
Tony P
Very well stated Tony!
I hope that VC understands the dangers of chasing trends rather than leading them. The oversized case is not only chasing a trend, but also lagging behind and perhaps too late. Elegance of design, thinness of construction, and quality of craftsmanship are the historic traits that placed Vacheron at the pinnacle of watch manufacturers. They NEED to maintain this vision to succeed in what will be very challenging times ahead.
1943 Ref. 4178 © Tick-Talk 2009
Dramatic Departure, Dramatically Beautiful
The Patek equivalent of this watch is the 5070, which is large, and recently (due to the amount of speculators trying to buy this piece) known to be sometimes bought for less than noble reasons.
This watch is very different from the 5070 we seem to hear so much about, as it is much more classically sized and much more elegant. First time I've really paid attention to the widening lugs. The beautiful proportions, the classic design, and overall beauty will make this a watch that will stand the test of time.
Beautiful watch and congratulations on the new acquisition!
This watch is very different from the 5070 we seem to hear so much about, as it is much more classically sized and much more elegant. First time I've really paid attention to the widening lugs. The beautiful proportions, the classic design, and overall beauty will make this a watch that will stand the test of time.
Beautiful watch and congratulations on the new acquisition!