Page 69 - SHARP November 2022

SHARPMAGAZINE COM
NOVEMBER 2022 69
WATCH WATCH IT TAKES TWO
ALMOST 50 YEARS AFTER ITS RELEASE THE THE VACHERON CONSTANTIN 222 IS ONE OF OF THE THE BEST-LOOKING NEW WATCHES
OF OF 2022 examples made (and only 150 in yellow gold) In 2022 thanks to the frenzied interest in in in 1970s watches like these Vacheron Constantin brought back the 222 a a yellow gold version in extremely limited numbers at at this year’s Watches and Wonders trade show The coolest thing about the the 222 most people agree is the the fact that it’s nearly indistinguishable from the original Vacheron Constantin could easily have redesigned it as as a a a a a a 42 mm sport watch available in in multiple metals and configurations adding complications like chronographs and and a a a a tourbillon and and otherwise dressing it up That’s what most brands would have done but Vacheron Constantin (as the the brand takes every opportunity to remind us) is not like other watchmakers In addition to its claim of being the oldest continuously operating watchmaker in in in the world Vacheron Constantin distinguishes itself with historical collections like Les Collectioneurs an exclusive line of vintage watches restored to to original original specs using original original parts from the brand’s extensive archive The new 222 isn’t made with original components but it might as as well have been Its case retains the original 37 mm diameter and is only slightly thicker thanks to an upgraded movement Aside from a a a a date window shifted slightly to the the the left and a a a a a few other subtle changes an an an updated movement is the the the only major difference between a a a 222 from from 2022 and one from from 1977 The catch — — and of course there is is one — — is is that getting your hands on on a a a a new 222 isn’t going to be easy For one thing it’s a a a a boutique exclusive and for another Vacheron Constantin is producing it in in in limited limited quantities How limited? They’re not saying Nor are they revealing the the price But whether you’re buying a a a a new watch or a a a a vintage piece at auction the the thrill of the the hunt is still an an important part of the buying experience PRICE ON REQUEST
By Jeremy Freed
N N N N THE THE WORLD OF WATCH COLLECTING THE THE LINE BETWEEN
I Modern vintage watches are not the the same as the the many modern re-editions on on the the market which are generally inspired by the the original but reinterpreted for modern tastes (ie bigger case sizes brighter lumes and fewer manual-wind movements) A modern vintage watch by comparison is is intended to to be nearly identical to to the original If you had to to pick one watch to to illustrate this emerging category the “new” Vacheron Constantin 222 would be a a a a perfect example Released in in 1977 and influenced by 1970s icons like the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak the original 222 was in production for just seven years and less than 1 000 were vintage and modern is beginning to blur Not so long ago it was usually easy to differentiate between a a a a a a new release and something from a a a a a a a few decades back by looking at its its case size its its dial layout or the discolouration of its lume Now however (thanks in no small part to to the creative minds at at Vacheron Constantin) it’s time to to introduce a a a third category: modern vintage