A Legacy Refined for a Milestone Year
As Vacheron Constantin approaches its 270th anniversary, the maison has chosen to celebrate not with grand complication novelties alone but with a careful evolution of one of its most admired icons: the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin. Two new references, one in pink gold with a golden-toned dial and the other in white gold with a burgundy lacquer dial, demonstrate the brand’s ability to reimagine refinement through material and color while preserving the essence of a much-beloved design. For a collection long associated with versatility and sophistication, these additions serve as both a nod to history and a declaration of enduring relevance.
The Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin has earned its reputation as a rare fusion of utility and elegance. At just 8.1 mm thick, the 41.5 mm case houses the self-winding Manufacture Calibre 1120 QP/1, one of the thinnest perpetual calendar movements ever created. Beyond the technical achievement, the watch embodies a philosophy that has guided Vacheron Constantin for centuries: the ability to balance horological mastery with everyday wearability, making the extraordinary accessible without compromise.
This milestone year, the maison underscores its role as custodian of tradition while affirming its capacity for subtle reinvention. By refining what already existed, Vacheron Constantin reminds us that progress in haute horlogerie is often achieved through carefully considered nuance. The approach feels timeless, much like the perpetual calendar itself.
Two New Faces of the Overseas
The first of the new references glows with harmony and warmth. Rendered in 18K pink gold, its sunburst satin-finished golden dial radiates with presence, complemented by a moonphase disc in a matching tone. A fine blue minute track introduces a subtle contrast, anchoring the watch to the broader Overseas design language while allowing the golden composition to stand apart with distinctive personality. The case is paired with a pink gold bracelet as well as interchangeable straps in blue and white rubber, each capable of shifting the watch’s presence from formal to sporty with ease.
The second model offers a more dramatic expression. Encased in white gold, the dial shimmers in deep burgundy lacquer, its surface reflecting light with a richness that moves from subtle crimson to velvety wine depending on angle and shadow. White-gold indexes and numerals ensure clarity against the saturated backdrop, while the matching burgundy moonphase disc completes the composition. Straps in burgundy and white rubber invite collectors to play with tone and contrast, and the Maltese cross-inspired bracelet emphasizes the Overseas line’s blend of elegance and technical strength.
Together, these watches embody the duality that defines the Overseas collection. One conveys warmth, tonal balance, and quiet understatement. The other embraces boldness, depth, and contemporary drama. Both reaffirm the collection’s reputation for adaptability and show how even the subtlest variations in finish and color can transform the character of a perpetual calendar.
The Heart of the Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar
At the core of both references beats the Calibre 1120 QP/1, a movement that remains a benchmark of miniaturization. Composed of 276 components and measuring only 4.05 mm in thickness, it delivers the full functionality of a perpetual calendar. It automatically adjusts for months of varying length, leap years, and moonphase display, and it will not require correction until the year 2100. For the wearer, this means that beneath the surface artistry lies a mechanism of enduring brilliance.
Through the sapphire crystal caseback, the movement reveals its own beauty. The 22K gold rotor, shaped as a compass rose, evokes the spirit of travel that has always defined the Overseas family. Geneva Seal finishing adorns every bridge and plate, ensuring that the standards of craftsmanship extend beyond the visible elements. In the world of Vacheron Constantin, aesthetics and precision are inseparable, and the movement reinforces this philosophy with quiet conviction.
Available now in boutiques and priced at approximately $130,000, the new Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin references embody both tribute and challenge. They honor 270 years of relentless pursuit of horological excellence while challenging future generations to continue pushing the limits of design and technical mastery. Within their slender cases and luminous dials lies the spirit of a maison that has never ceased to evolve, even as it marks its enduring place in the history of time.