By Jovan Krstevski
When it comes to suits and ties, nothing beats a shiny watch that’s manly enough to show-off but still remains a gentleman’s best friend for subtle simplicity. After all, every gentleman deserves a clean design with not a lot of electronic grease. The last line is meant for an electronic watch filled with digital mumbo jumbo that’s totally divergent from the minute screws and extremely precise gears that drive work-of-art hands and indices.
If your preferences sounds more like mine, then the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ultramarine Blue Limited Edition and the Time-Date Edition answer the demand for highly precise watches verging on the classical concepts whilst subtly providing the complexity that computers can easily do — almost infinite timezones. From the name itself, the Overseas Ultramarine takes you to different countries without using your smart phone to determine precision timing.
Reference 47040/000A-9008
So, enough hype let me go down to the details. If you remember the beautiful collectible legendary Vacheron Constantin 222, you’re going to love the new Vacheron Constantins. It doesn’t replace the old one per se at least when it comes to the main designs, for me it just brings back the excitement left by the defunct Vacheron Constantin 222. The most prominent characteristic of the new watch is the blue dial and the blue strap. If you fancy elegant watches that subtly goes with suits and JB-like attires, then you already know the drill. Blue dial-watches blends in the background pretty well and adds more elegance to your posture. It kinds of makes you say, “whatcha lookin’ at pal?” It also comes in a typical 42 mm-diameter steel case showcasing the brand’s refined machining excellence. It has a dynamic design and the lugs are built-in. The bezel keeps their classical look. The screw-lock crown looks very manly though and it totally goes with the main design. Oh and there’s an integrated soft-iron case protecting the watch’s internals from magnetic fields ensuring stable precision. If you look behind, you’ll just see branding so the movement is out-of-sight.
Reference 47450/000A-9039
The deep-blue dial invites interest, subtle attention if you must say. Personally, I like blue dials for their immediate classic feel and they kind of bring back the good old days. The Ultramarine hosts the different timezones and other complications by strategically placing sub-dials at the 2, 6, 7, and 10 o’clock positions. The Time-Date version presents the subtle date between 4 and 5 o’clock and the extra large printed 3, 6, 9, and 12 hours. Both of the watches use luminescent hands and hour-markers for your all-time reading pleasures.
The watches use two different engines, the powerful Calibre 1222 which provides more oomph for a secondary timezone and the Calibre 1226 featuring a slimmer design. Either way, these movements are based on the same engine giving them both 40 hours of power reserve. The only difference is the additional module powering the secondary timezone and several complications such as the day and night indicator and power reserve meter. The visible difference is of course with the slimmer case. The Time-Date edition features 9.7mm while the Dual-Time is thicker at 12.45mm. It all depends on one’s preferences and of course usage.
For more info, please visit vacheron-constantin.com
TECHNICAL DATA
Overseas (simple date)
Reference 47040/000A-9008
Caliber 1226
Mechanical, self-winding
Anti-magnetic protection
26.6 mm (11’’’ ¼) diameter
3.25 mm thick
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve
4 Hz (28,000 vibrations/hour)
143 components
36 jewels
Indications Hours, minutes
Center seconds
Date
Case Stainless steel
42 mm diameter, 9.7 mm thick
Screwed-down crown
Solid case-back with stamped “Overseas” medallion
Water resistance tested at a pressure of 15 bar (approx. 150 meters)
Dial Vanished blue shiny dial, white painted indications
Hands and hour-markers in 18K gold, pfinodal seconds hand
Hours and minutes hands and hour-markers with white luminescent material
Strap Blue rubber
Delivered with a second blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap, hand-stitched, large square scales
Clasp Stainless steel triple blade folding clasp, double security with buttons
Limited edition of 350 timepieces
TECHNICAL DATA
Overseas dual time
Reference 47450/000A-9039
Caliber 1222 SC
Mechanical, self-winding
Anti-magnetic protection
26.6 mm (11’’’ ¼) diameter
4.85 mm thick
Approximately 40 hours of power reserve
4 Hz (28,000 vibrations/hour)
153 components
34 jewels
Indications Hours, minutes
Center seconds
Hand-type date
Second time zone with day/night indication
Power reserve
Case Stainless steel
42 mm diameter, 12.45 mm thick
Screwed-down crown and pushpiece
Solid case-back with stamped “Overseas” medallion
Water resistance tested at a pressure of 15 bar (approx. 150 meters)
Dial Vanished blue shiny dial, white painted indications
Blue snailed counters with rhodiumized diamond-polished filets
Hands and hour-markers in 18K gold, pfinodal seconds hand
Hours and minutes hands and hour-markers with white luminescent material
Strap Blue rubber
Delivered with a second blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap, hand-stitched, large square scales
Clasp Stainless steel triple blade folding clasp, double security with buttons
Limited edition of 300 timepieces
JOVAN KRSTEVSKI – FOUNDER, PROPRIETOR & EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Watch collector, aficionado and an Event profile in the Swedish nightlife. He launched Watchgeek back in 2011, which is now known as WristReview and is one of the most widely read watch blogs on the Web. He quotes ’WristReview is a site to help people find, explore, discover and enjoy wristwatches.’ His passion jump started in his early teens, when he was given his first mid-range wristwatch which was an Omega Seamaster. Since then he has always been in love with wristwatches! Besides WristReview, he also writes for a number of publications. Read his articles here.
