Welcome to vintage VC!

May 09, 2018,22:28 PM
 

The watch looks great.  Do you know what movement is inside?  A VC from 1955 with an automatic movement is a rare bird. Congratulations!

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My first vintage watch arrived today..............

 
 By: TonyR : May 9th, 2018-16:43
A 1955 Vacheron Constantin sub-second automatic watch in rose gold and I couldn't be happier with it! I want to give a shout out and special thanks to Tick-Talk. The article you did below a few months ago really helped me a lot with this purchase and I ca...  

Now that's how you do vintage!

 
 By: g_schroder : May 9th, 2018-16:51
Well done and congratulations. Wear it in good health.

Thanks! [nt]

 
 By: TonyR : May 9th, 2018-17:05

Thanks Nicolas.........

 
 By: TonyR : May 9th, 2018-17:08
I'm not an expert buying vintage as a matter of fact the first one I tried to buy was a fake so I know there are plenty of pitfalls to avoid. In any event, a lot of your articles have been very helpful as well. Thank you my friend! Tony

You really couldn't do much better!

 
 By: Brandon Skinner : May 9th, 2018-16:56
HUGE CONGRATS!!!

Thanks......

 
 By: TonyR : May 9th, 2018-17:09
I was super excited to get the watch and wasn't disappointed when I first strapped it on today!

Look at those lugs and dial condition, just wow and congratulations...

 
 By: Clueless_Collector : May 9th, 2018-17:15
Like you, I never tread in the vintage market for fear of fakes or not previously loved watches...but this looks great. Rgds Raymond

I'm with you Raymond..........

 
 By: TonyR : May 9th, 2018-17:28
I have avoided the vintage space for those same reasons. It's a lot of work to get up to speed as well so I just never really got involved. When I saw this piece I thought it was so damn sharp looking that I did care so much if I didn't get every detail r... 

Wow, did not think it was 36mm

 
 By: jayeyedoubleemmwhy : May 9th, 2018-17:38
Looks much larger than that on your wrist. Great taste with your first vintage choice!

Yea it looks fairly large there because its an up close shot...........

 
 By: TonyR : May 9th, 2018-17:47
Here is another wrist shot a little further away. The long lugs definitely help the watch appear to wear larger though. Thanks! Tony ...  

It really suits you! [nt]

 
 By: Brandon Skinner : May 9th, 2018-22:44

Thank You! [nt]

 
 By: TonyR : May 9th, 2018-17:49

Very nice! [nt]

 
 By: patrick_y : May 9th, 2018-18:28

Welcome to vintage VC!

 
 By: dshao1 : May 9th, 2018-22:28
The watch looks great. Do you know what movement is inside? A VC from 1955 with an automatic movement is a rare bird. Congratulations!

Nevermind Tony, I just read the link in your original post.

 
 By: dshao1 : May 9th, 2018-22:33
And see that Tick-Talk mentioned the details. Congrats again!

Thanks!....It's a calibre 498 which was VC's first automatic movement that used a central rotor.............

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-04:29
According to Tick-Talk's article, the movement was only used for 2 years so I don't think there are many of these in existence with this movement that were made in pink gold. One day I will get an extract for VC and try and get more info. Tony

Haute Horology and Good hunt

 
 By: mohammad : May 9th, 2018-23:03
Wow does not get better than this . looks from modern era . well done . enjoy it.

Thanks, the watch was in great condition..........

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-04:34
If Vacheron did a limited edition re-issue of this piece one day I think it would do pretty well. They just would need to upsize the case a little to today's sizes of 38mm-40mm then shorten the lugs some to account for the larger size.

Really a beauty ,congrats [nt]

 
 By: Passionata_george : May 9th, 2018-23:13

Thanks Mike! [nt]

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-04:50

Thanks Geo! [nt]

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-04:55

Oh wow, couldn't have started my day any better

 
 By: Tick Talk : May 10th, 2018-07:58
What a sweet example of the ref 4956 sub-seconds automatic. Indeed, a rare bird! I've admired the photos on the seller's site and glad it found a good home. Any plans to service it for regular wear?

Thanks again for all of the guidence you provided within the above article.................

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-12:33
Your insight was extremely helpful and the main reason I was comfortable enough to purchase the watch! I don't know if you have ever dealt with Wanna Buy a Watch in W. Hollywood before (they sold me this watch as you know) but they were outstanding to dea... 

I'm very greatful

 
 By: Tick Talk : May 10th, 2018-20:30
that the stories I enjoy writing also helped a fellow enthusiasts. You are, sir, now a Vachonista

Oops, misread your post

 
 By: Tick Talk : May 11th, 2018-08:02
thought it was your first but I gather you have contemporary VC as well. Still, a real leap forward when you graduate to vintage ;-)

Yes I have a few pieces in the Overseas line......

 
 By: TonyR : May 11th, 2018-09:57
and your right, vintage is a whole different animal!

Stunning Vacheron Tony!

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : May 10th, 2018-09:28
A huge congrats!! Cheers, Anthony

You picked a great watch for your first "oldie"!

 
 By: TheMadDruid : May 10th, 2018-12:19
That is beautiful and appears to be in superb condition. Congratulations, Tony.

A pure marvel...

 
 By: foversta : May 10th, 2018-13:23
Sometimes I wonder why brands don't manage to create such beauties now. Did they lose the recipe? the mojo? Big question mark. Fx

+1 ! I concur

 
 By: Mike H : May 10th, 2018-14:20
Even the large "small second" is just perfecton this dial, a just perfect elegant design imo

Thanks Mike H!..........

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-16:19
The other thing that jumped out to me in regards to this watch was the different hour markers. I thought it made the dial very unique looking.

Totally agree about the hour markers but to add to its charm...

 
 By: Mike H : May 10th, 2018-17:09
...I also love the minute track with these subtle golden pearls, simply discrete but so elegant... It reminds me of a treasure I was luky to own and that I stupidly let go, I still regret it terribly after many years... ...  

Your right about the minute markers as well...........

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-17:15
But more importantly, how in the world did you let that one go?!

Please forgive me, I told you I bitterly regret it...

 
 By: Mike H : May 10th, 2018-17:29
It was part of Les Collectionneurs series and was with a special certificate from Julien Marchenoir, the former head of the VC patrimony department. Rose gold case 36mm, fantastic condition with brushed and polished parts on the case, it was simply perfec...  

You never know... ๐Ÿ˜‰

 
 By: Mike H : May 10th, 2018-17:50
No message body

Superb watch

 
 By: Tick Talk : May 10th, 2018-20:52
case style appears the same as the 4958. Do you recall the reference and caliber?

Thanks FX, I agree with you on all of your points above...............

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-16:15
In the year 2000 Vacheron did a Jublie edition that carries somewhat of a resemblance to the vintage watches that Tick-Tock and I have. It was done in yellow gold and is 3mm's smaller then our pieces from the 1950's. Im not sure what they were thinking ma...  

The FiftySix is ready for it

 
 By: Tick Talk : May 10th, 2018-20:17
the base caliber already has the jewelled pivot for sub-seconds. Just a matter of time methinks...

If they re-issue these watches...........

 
 By: TonyR : May 10th, 2018-21:10
Hopefully they do it with a Jublie or through the Historiques line. It would be a total shame if they wasted the opportunity on the FiftySix line.

Have to agree

 
 By: Tick Talk : May 11th, 2018-08:06
although VC say the FiftySix design is based on a 1955 bicentennial model, it really isn't apparent to my eye. A more faithful vintage homage piece under the Historiques line would be just the thing.