Through each of its numerous modern iterations over the past two odd decades since the arrival of the current Overseas Collection from Vacheron Constantin, it has had a number of tweaks and seen the introduction of Chronograph, which itself has been re-designed twice (2004 and 2016), and released in a number of different metals and dial colours, including the rose gold with lacquered translucent blue dial model late last year. But of note for this newest model was the 2018 ‘reverse panda’.
The latest Overseas Ref. 5500V/110A-B686 features the classic panda design on a silver-toned, sunburst satin-finish dial, with snailed black counters, black velvet-finished flange, 18K white gold hour markers, and hours, minutes, seconds and counters hands with Super-LumiNova®.
Along with the hours and minutes is a small seconds at 9 o’clock, a date, and 30-minute and 12-hour counters.
As is familiar from previous Overseas Chronographs, the new Ref. 5500V/110A-B686 is also in a 42.5mm case, this time in stainless-steel case with a thickness of 13.7mm and water resistance of 150m. Both the crown and pushers are screw-down.
Through the open case back is the same in-house automatic Calibre 5200 column wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch. Beating at 28,800VPH with a power reserve of 52 hours, the 22k gold oscillating weight is decorated with a wind rose.
Vacheron Constantin’s new Overseas Chronograph 42.5mm Steel comes with one steel bracelet (which has a triple-blade folding clasp and minor adjustment system) and two straps – one in calf and another in rubber, all easily swapped courtesy of the quick change system. The Australian RRP is $51,500 (including taxes).
[Photo credit: Vacheron Constantin]
Categories: Vacheron Constantin, Watch Profile, watches
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