222 Historiques | Yellow Gold

A much-anticipated refresh to the original, this Vacheron Constantin 222 Historiques* is a faithful reworking of the classic, with several key updates for a modern audience. Once considered part of the "holy trinity" of luxury sportswatches alongside Patek Philippe's Nautilus and Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, this 222 Historiques reminds us of an exciting period in contemporary watchmaking design.

This Vacheron Constantin 222 Historiques is a remarkably faithful reworking of the classic 222, a long awaited addition to the series of the beloved original. When the first 222 was produced, it departed almost entirely from the standard notion of a luxury dress watch, which was typically classic in appearance and made from precious metals. Before the disruptive pieces of the ‘70s, stainless steel had largely been considered as a functional, utilitarian material, though it was now transformed into a desirable medium for certain manufactures to display their craft.

A faithful reinterpretation, this Vacheron Constantin 222 Historiques retains the tonneau shape and understated scalloped bezel of the original, yet has redefined key aspects of the piece for a modern audience. The bracelet has been redesigned to be more flexible than the original, while the case has added polished bevels and edges, creating more texture and depth. The design of the dial has the same layout as the original, although the markers and hands have been made larger for increased readability. Meanwhile, the date window has been moved ever so slightly closer to the centre of the dial. The Maltese Cross set in the lower right hand corner of the watch is polished, giving a bright contrast against the brushed sections of the watch.

Where the original 222 made use of the calibre 1120 (which was based off the Jaeger Le-Coultre calibre 920), this 222 Historiques uses the calibre 2455/2, an in-house creation that improves the frequency of the watch. As seen through the sapphire caseback, another modern addition, the calibre has "222" engraved on the oscillating weight, while the bridges and main plate of the movement are decorated with Geneva stripes and perlage respectively.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this Vacheron Constantin 222 Historiques will be subject to 20% VAT

Closer look

This Vacheron Constantin 222 Historiques is in very good condition overall. The case and bracelet show light superficial marks, consistent with minimal wear, most notably light scuffs on the bracelet. The hallmarks and engravings on the caseback and bracelet are crisp and well defined.

The watch comes with a lifetime guarantee of authenticity from A Collected Man as well as the remaining duration of the manufacturer warranty from Vacheron Constantin.