Vacheron Constantin

Following up on Bill's entertaining "Pair of pairs" thread the other day, here is a pair that has been on my mind way too much and for way too long.

The question is simple:  Which one?

(The photo on the left is courtesy of our esteemed Moderator, and it is one of the best photos of the gray Patrimony I have seen;  the one on the right is not my wrist, but it is my photo.  Both photos were taken on nice sunny days.)

Using the new VC nomenclature, it is a Patrimony v. Traditionelle smack-down. 

I have a feeling I know what the consensus is going to be, but I thought I would ask the Forum anyway. 

I hope you enjoy looking at these side-by-side as much as I do, torturous as it is.

Cheers,

respo

But if I could only pick one it would be the Traditionnelle when it comes to these gray dials (if the choice were between these two references in rose gold and I'm choosing the 81180).

Right, Bill?  ;-D

I asked this question actually not so much to get help with making my personal decision, but just to see what the current opinions are on these two watches.  The Patrimony with the slate dial has been out now since 2010 while the gray Traditionelle has been with us for a much shorter time, although a decent enough interval for initial enthusiasm to have died down if it is has at all.

As I suspected, while we have not had a ton of responses here, the Traditionelle is beating out the Patrimony by about 2 to 1.  Your point, Bill, about the change of the metal affecting one's preference for the model is well made. I prefer the Patrimony over the Traditionelle, if only slightly, in every metal and dial color except when it comes to the platinum and gray combination -- and there I get stuck between the two gray dials, unable to come down on a clear preference. 

I hope others will chime in.  4Js has not participated, for instance, but I suspect that is because he is tired of discussing this exact topic endlessly with me.  ;-) 

Best,

respo

You can get the gray dial Overseas and rose gold Patrimony for less than the platinum Traditionnelle.

You may find yourself, looking at a VC watch
You may ask yourself, how did I get here?
Letting the days go by, respo will get a VC watch
Into the blue again, after the money's gone
Respo will have a VC watch.

Bill

Good one, Bill!

Tina Weymouth, the bass player for the band, and I had the same music teacher in Connecticut.

Bill

Wow, how to choose?! Patrimony (Contemporaine) just edges it for me. Super clean, super understated; minimalism at its best!

No message body

I'll go for the Patrimony.

Gets my vote. I like the case design better, and the colors on the dial really work, making it pop, as much as something gray can pop!

will state my view ! :P :P

.... as nobody will fight me for the PATRIMONY!!!!

...but I am sure VC will make enough for both of us!  ;-)

Best,

respo

simply because I like the tones, the recessed seconds dial and that I can tell when it's moving....of course doesn't help that it has been on my list of "to get" for the longest time now

small seconds sub-dial it give life to the watch.

Cheers

Francois from Down Under

Contemporaine. The reason is you already have the 1921, which has the caliber 4400, and you have the 1955, which has caliber 1003. The Patrimony Contemporaine will complete your troika of three different VC manual movements.  I am saying this as an owner of the Traditionelle in PG.

a gorgeous timepiece. I just saw the Platinum slate grey version last week, and I saw two VC honchos (one a pretty woman VC executive) wearing the PG version.  The only downside is that there is no sapphire caseback, but think you will have platinum resting on your wrist.

 

...and that has crossed my mind since collecting the movements is as important to me as the watches themselves.  Thanks for this observation and recommendation.

Best

respo

not make sense to own two watches with the same movement. At least that's what I feel, though many would disagree.

And the Patrimony Contemporaine is a beautiful timepiece. The 'regular' version in PG and also the boutique edition with Black Dial are both breathtaking.

Another piece you could consider is the Patrimony Contemporaine automatic with date (At 6 o clock), either in PG, or if you can find it, Black Dial boutique edition. The latter is a rare bird, and these have sapphire caseback.  Putting the date at 6 is a nice touch and gives good balance.

...as the Talking Heads song goes.

I see your point, but I also would consider it perfectly sensible to collect every version of the Vacheron Constantin Historiques Chronograph.  The movement is so lovely, as is the watch, and I find every metal and dial combination compelling.  I feel like a complete set of those chronographs (about 5 main variants, I think) would make a wonderful collection all by itself.  I know, it does not make sense. ;-)

There is a collector here among us who owns at least four variants of the Patrimony (manual wind, no date), and odd as it may seem, I totally get that collecting craziness. It makes perfect sense to me. 

As for the Patrimony automatic with date at 6 o'clock, that is a gorgeous model. I really want that caliber in some VC watch one day.  But when it comes to the Patrimony, I really love the purity of the dial without the date.  That and I also want a cal. 1400 in my small collection because it is such a beautiful manual wind movement. 

Best,

respo

Traditionelle in Platinum to go with my PG version. I agree that sometimes it does not have to make sense.

VC did make the Contemporaine automatic without date but discontinued it two-three years ago. I think the reason is not enough capacity and they need that movement for the Metier D Arts pieces etc.

I never thought about the short-lived ref. 86180 you mention being discontinued due to capacity reasons, as you say, with VC needing the movements (cal. 2460) for the Metier D Arts and other pieces. I always thought that the model was discontinued due to lack of popularity. 

For me, the 86180 is, or rather was, a very interesting alternative to the 81180: no date, so retaining the pure dial, a sweep seconds hand enlivening the dial in the way that the seconds subdial does this for the Traditionelle Small Seconds, and a very nice automatic movement viewable from the caseback. 

In fact, maybe a bespoke Cabinotiers piece is a solution:  an 86180 in platinum with the slate gray dial.  Perfection!

Thanks for your continued comments.

Best,

respo

reasons. I always felt the version without date looked better than the version with date.

Yes, a special order the way you have described would be a splendid timepiece.

I fully recommend this option.

Get both (LOL)!
You can't go wrong with either one.
Joseph

Choosing between these two watches would be difficult.  And depending on one's collection and resources, I could see someone getting both.  That won't be me, unfortunately.  :-(    Tough choices must be made!

Best regards,

respo

Traditionnelle...