How was Overseas born?

The first example of the collection with which the manufacturer marked its debut in the world of sports watchmaking dates back to 1996, but the origins of the Vacheron Overseas take us even further back, to 1977, when for its 222nd anniversary the Maison presented the “222” an automatic timepiece with an unusual monobloc steel case connected to a bracelet of the same material.

3 Oveseas Photographed Live by Pisa Orologeria

I’m starting with an Overseas chronograph with a gold case and silver dial, the first shot of which appears at the beginning of the article. Its classic look has been combined with a very appropriate and comfortable brown rubber strap which attenuates the austere but pleasant glow of the pink hue of the precious metal. Thanks to a quick release system for which a patent has been filed, it is interchangeable with two others supplied in complete autonomy.

On my normal sized wrist with the 42.5 mm diameter case there is nothing left over but, thanks to the downward tapered attachment of the rubber strap, this chrono fits me well even in length.

The silver dial is very fascinating, which I prefer for this version with a gold case compared to the chocolat brown one of the latest Overseas. The details are impeccable as you would expect from the Vacheron Constantin Replica brand.

It is worth dwelling on the new Manufacture Caliber 5200 for a moment. There is a column wheel with vertical coupling, the best solution for having precise sorting of the chronograph functions but at the same time gentle and beautiful pressure on the buttons. The finishes are also of the highest level; you get lost observing the details of the 22k gold oscillating weight.

Its price is no joke either. It costs 53,600 Euros.

The second Overseas seen by Pisa Orologeria is the most complicated of the collection with the world hours. The steel case is 43.5 mm in diameter and that extra unit, at least on my wrist, is starting to be noticeable.

Complicated, in the sense of sophisticated, also in the representation on the dial of the 37 time zones (even fractions of hours) provided by the automatic mechanical Caliber 2460 WT. Depending on the reflection of the light, the central background of the map of the Northern Hemisphere appears more prominent with lands and oceans created by a play of brown and black shades, or the sapphire disc engraved with the name of the combined cities. The Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time Caliber 2460WT certainly does not go unnoticed on the wrist.