Vacheron Constantin Overseas

Every watch enthusiast knows the Overseas from Vacheron Constantin. Introduced in 1996, this luxury sports watch is one of the Genevan manufacturer's most famous and coveted models. The most distinctive feature of the Overseas is its toothed bezel, which was reduced from eight to six teeth in 2016. This unique bezel's design is inspired by Vacheron Constantin's logo – the Maltese cross. The timepiece also features a porthole design, making the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak its stiffest competition. However, it was created by Vacheron Constantin's own designers and not by the famous watch designer Gérald Genta, who is responsible for the IWC Ingenieur SL, the Royal Oak, and the Nautilus.

The current Overseas collection includes numerous models ranging from simple automatic watches to top models with ultra-flat cases and a perpetual calendar. Other watchmaking highlights include the Overseas World Time with 37 time zones, the Overseas Chronograph with a 52-hour power reserve and in-house caliber, and the Overseas Ultra-Thin, which is only 7.5 mm thick.

The selection of materials has also expanded in the last few years. In addition to stainless steel versions, there are numerous gold models and bicolor editions in stainless steel and gold available. Women's watches even come with diamond-studded bezels.

What's more, in-house movements power every watch in the current Overseas series. Each movement is assembled, inspected, and encased in Geneva. This is why every timepiece since 2016 has received the Geneva Seal, which guarantees a watch's origin and exceptional quality.

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas with three hands and an automatic caliber is one of the collection's most simple and coveted watches. The in-house caliber 5100 has been powering this model since 2016. The movement provides the watch with its 60-hour power reserve. Both the movement and the watch have been awarded the Geneva Seal.

The 41-mm Overseas ref. 4500V costs about 18,800 USD new and 16,000 USD pre-owned. This model has been available with a black lacquered dial since 2018. There are also versions with blue, brown, or silver dials. As for the case material, you can choose from stainless steel, 18-karat gold, or a combination of the two. Pieces in 18-karat gold demand almost 31,700 USD new and 26,300 USD pre-owned.

Its predecessor model, with the reference number 47040, came to market in 2005 and still had an eight-tooth bezel. The caliber 1226, based on the Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 889, ticks away inside this timepiece. You can purchase a mint-condition version in stainless steel for as little as 10,900 USD. Pre-owned watches sell for around 8,500 USD.

Watches from the 1990s are even more affordable: You can get a pre-owned timepiece for under 5,900 USD. With any luck, you might even find a watch in mint condition, though it may cost upward of 11,700 USD. At 37 mm, these early Overseas watches are much smaller than the current models.

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph is yet another highly sought-after model in the Overseas collection. Its chronograph function allows this timepiece to measure periods of time of up to 12 hours. The in-house caliber 5200 has a 52-hour power reserve, a date display at 4:30, and three subdials: one for the small seconds and one each for the 30-minute and 12-hour counters.

This watch has been available in a stainless steel version with a so-called "reverse panda dial" since 2018. The "reverse panda dial" is black with white subdials. There are also silver or blue dials available. In terms of case material, you can choose from stainless steel, pink gold, or stainless steel and pink gold. The crown, bezel, and push-pieces on the bicolor model are all made of pink gold. Every version features screw-down push pieces to guarantee water resistance to 150 m (15 bar, 492 ft).

The stainless steel Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph costs around 26,600 USD in mint condition and 22,400 USD pre-owned. New models in pink gold cost around 43,500 USD, while pre-owned versions sell for about 34,600 USD. Plan to spend almost 28,200 USD for a bicolor model. Pre-owned examples of this edition are currently quite difficult to find.

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar is an example of haute horlogerie. Thanks to the automatic in-house caliber 1120 QP, this wristwatch features a perpetual calendar with date, day, month, moon phase, and leap year displays that will all be accurate until 2100. This complicated movement is only 4.05 mm thick, allowing for an extraordinarily flat total height of only 8.1 mm despite it also being protected against magnetic fields. This means it is only 0.6 mm thicker than the Overseas Ultra-Thin and 1.4 mm thinner than the comparable Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar from Audemars Piguet. At 41.5 mm, the diameter of this Vacheron Constantin timepiece exceeds that of its competition from Audemars Piguet by 0.5 mm.

The Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar comes in understated white or striking pink gold. In 2016, it had a list price of 91,400 USD.

If you would like to combine the advantages of a perpetual calendar with those of a chronograph, the Overseas Chronograph Perpetual Calendar is the right luxury watch for you. The caliber 1136 QP ticks away inside its 42-mm case. This chronograph with a perpetual calendar costs about 72,500 USD new in pink gold. Pre-owned examples are a bit less expensive at around 63,700 USD.