Pre-Owned Vacheron Constantin by Analog Shift Overseas Dual-Time 40990397/AS05910

Why We Love It

The Holy Trinity of watch brands: Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin.

Far less understood than either of its respected compatriots, Vacheron Constantin has a legacy of producing some of the very finest haute horlogerie complications in history — and some of the loveliest.

Sports watches came later to VC, as pressure from the new “luxury sport watch” category introduced in the early 1970s forced the storied maison to evolve. Its entry came in the form of the 222, whose design language inspired the current Overseas collection. The Overseas models compete with other watches such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, IWC Ingenieur, and Piaget Polo, and often find favor by merit of design, value, and variety of complications.

This particular example, an Overseas Dual Time Reference 7900V, dates to circa 2020/2021 and features a stunning silver sunburst dial in excellent condition with dual-time display, AM/PM indicator, and date indicator; plus a solid stainless steel case with an integrated steel bracelet as well as rubber and leather straps with a matching deployant clasp. What’s more, this piece comes with its warranty card dated to 2021; a certificate of origin and uniformity from Geneva; an instruction manual; and a Geneva-stamped seal.

With its outstanding, barely worn case and wildly cool design, this is a watch that would have looked fresh in the 1970s, looks fresh now, and will look fresh in another 50 years.

The Story

Few manufactures can claim a lineage as long or as rich as Vacheron Constantin. Established in 1755, the manufacture soon made a reputation for the elegance of its products, by making pocket watches with complicated movements and engine-turned dials. Even today, these are marks of a manufacturer’s expertise, due to the skill and precision involved in crafting them, so for Vacheron Constantin to have achieved this in the eighteenth century is quite an impressive feat.

This expertise carried them through the 19th century, earning gold medals at National Exhibitions and blazing trails in the area of anti-magnetic timepieces. The 20th century saw further achievements, such as the opening of its boutique on the Quai de L’Ile in Geneva, where it still resides today. Even through the Depression and the Second World War, when many watch companies were forced to band together with competitors or else face closure, the manufacture continued to thrive—as it does to this day.