Pre-Owned Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Historiques Chronograph 40991157/AS07919

WHY WE LOVE IT

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

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

The Patrimony line is to Vacheron as the Calatrava line is to Patek Philippe — classic, understated and timeless. This particular Patrimony from the 2000s is a complicated masterpiece: Housed in a 36mm 18K white gold case, it features a sapphire crystal, a signed, 18K white gold crown, a date corrector, and a polished bezel. 

But what if you wanted to access the incredible designs and beautiful movements of the mid-20th century without paying eye-watering auction prices?

That’s what Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques collection is for: Each reference is a contemporary reissue of a vintage Vacheron timepiece. Beautiful to behold, they’re haute horlogerie watches without the worry that comes with fragile dials and discontinued movements.

This particular Historiques timepiece is a Reference 47101/000J-4 from the 2000s. Beautifully sized at 36mm, it’s housed in an 18K yellow gold case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, dual ‘cushion’ pushers, and a polished, stepped bezel. It features an incredible, satin champagne dial with applied rectangular and ‘Arabic’ indices, an outer tachymeter scale, a 1/5th-seconds track, a yellow gold ‘pencil’ handset, and a dual-register chronograph with 30-minute and running seconds totalizers.

Powering this impressive movement and visible via a sapphire exhibition caseback is the Vacheron Constantin Calibre 1140 hand-wound chronograph movement, a highly finished version of the Lemania 2310 that many know as the Omega Calibre 321 of Speedmaster fame.

This gorgeous, vintage-inspired chronograph from one of the Holy Trinity of watchmaking is simply an incredible timepiece in every sense. A truly stunning object to behold.

How can you go wrong?

OVERALL CONDITION

The case is in excellent condition overall showing normal signs of wear consistent with age and use with light oxidation throughout. Opaline silver dial with applied indices and gold subsidiary register rings is in as-new condition with with matching 'pencil' handset. Signed crown. Sapphire exhibition caseback.