Effortlessly elegant: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph Perpetual Calendar

Few watch brands manage to produce such effortlessly elegant creations as Vacheron Constantin, and this year is no exception. VC have just released two new models in the Overseas collection, their sporting and technical line.
 
The first of these is the Overseas Chronograph Perpetual Calendar model, with its 18-carat pink gold case it features a masterful blend of sophistication and technical Haute Horlogerie.

Limited to 80 pieces, the watch boasts a chronograph and a perpetual calendar – two of the complications most favoured by watch connoisseurs.

The bezel is inspired by Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese Cross emblem, along with the hour-markers, crown, screw-lock pushers, as well as the case-back enhanced by a raised medallion depicting the famous three-mast Amerigo Vespucci ship.

As with all men’s Overseas models,  its 18-carat pink gold 42 mm-diameter case is guaranteed water-resistant to 15 bar (approximately 150 metres) and houses a soft iron cage protecting the mechanical movement from magnetic fields of up to 25,000 A/m.

Again like the other timepieces in this collection, the hands and hour-markers are accented with white luminescent substance to ensure perfect readability even in the dark.

The watch is powered by a Calibre 1136 QP with 228 parts: a mechanical self-winding movement with around a 40- hour power reserve which beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour. In addition to the hours, minutes and small seconds at 6 o’clock, the movement powers the chronograph functions – sweep seconds-hand, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock – as well as those of the perpetual calendar – day of the week, date, 48-month counter with leap years as well as a moon-phase display.

The Overseas Chronograph Perpetual Calendar comes on two choices of strap: one in vulcanised brown rubber and the other in brown alligator leather. 

The watch is presented in  a luxurious case equipped with a rotating mechanism that enables the watch – when not worn – to be kept perpetually wound so as to ensure that the perpetual calendar is properly adjusted.  

We’ll feature the second of the new VC’s, the Overseas Chronograph, tomorrow.

Specifications

Reference: 1136 QP
Energy: automatic
Thickness (mm): 7.90
Diameter (mm): 28.00 (11''' ¼)
Number of parts: 228
Number of jewels: 37
Frequency: 3 Hz (21'600 v.p.h.)
Power-reserve (hours): 40 approx.
Indication: hours, minutes, small second, perpetual calendar (hand-type calendar, day of the week, month, leap year, moon phases), chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour counters