Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph Review
Today, one of the most in-demand Vacheron Constantin watches gets some much-deserved attention. Join us as we do an in-depth Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph Review
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph Review
The Overseas collections a popular one for Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watchmaker continuously in operation since it was first established hundreds of years ago. Most of us can’t even begin to understand what it’s like to be in the business that long. Over the many years in operation, Vacheron has established itself as one of the big three Swiss watch brands and continues to impress watch lovers everywhere.
While the Overseas Chronograph is not your run the mill chronograph watch, it does have a unique look with its notched bezel and unique lugs. This collection has a few models that are worth mentioning. The model that you see in the photos within this article is 5500v/110a-b148 and is possibly the most popular one in the 42.5 Overseas Chronograph collection. It has a striking rich blue lacquer dial a slick polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet.
Other models in this collection include the 5500v/000r-b074 which has an 18kt rose gold case, a silver dial and a brown alligator leather strap with a matching 18kt rose gold deployant buckle. This is a more costly model, yet it is more available than the blue dial model or even the black dial model # 5500v/110a-b481 which has “panda” dial with silver sub-dials on a black main dial.
The case measures at 42.5mm which is a nice size, but it wears like a smaller watch since the dial itself only takes up about 70-80% of the available space on the surface of the case. The case measures at 13.7mm thick which can tuck away neatly under a cuff if necessary.
One of the things that makes this watch special is how versatile it can be. The case has a tough build so it can easily be worn every day but to keep things looking interesting and fresh each day, it comes with two additional straps. One is an alligator leather strap and the other is a soft rubber strap. In this collection, the exception is the rose gold model which doesn’t have a matching bracelet and only comes on a brown alligator leather strap but comes with a brown rubber interchangeable strap.
The engineers at Vacheron Constantin implemented a strap changing system that allows you to switch between the bracelet or any of the two straps without using any tools. For the models that have a steel bracelet, the clasp that fastens the bracelet has a design of a Maltese cross that splits in half when opened.
The dial has a date window that is placed between the 4 and 5 o’clock position with applied index hour markers that are filled with luminous material. Polished hour and minute hands are filled with luminous material as well.
The sub-dials for the small seconds sub-register as well as the chronograph’s 30 minute and 12-hour counters have finely printed markers and numerals in a sans-serif font. There is a finely printed seconds and split seconds track on the bezel flange, and there's a railroad-style track on the edge of the dial that passes through the applied hour markers.
The hands used for the chronograph which includes the large central chronograph seconds hand, the 30-minute counter as well as the hands-on the 12-hour counter all have a fine brushed finish whereas the hands for telling the time have a polished finish. It’s a small finishing touch but a nice one at that.
The Overseas Chronograph uses a column-wheel chronograph mechanism over the cam-actuated type. This allows for some slick and smooth stop and stop action. The chronograph pushers screw down just like the winding crown to seal the case and protect it from internal water damage.
This case provides 150m/500ft of water resistance which is ample water resistance for swimming, snorkeling and that’s about it. You can also shower with this watch provided it’s not hot water. For more detailed information about the water-resistance click here.
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph is powered by an in-house movement; the Vacheron Constantin caliber 5200. This is a 4Hz manufacture caliber that beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. This 54-jewel self-winding movement is comprised of 263 components and has a weighted 22kt rotor that does the automatic winding.
The Vacheron Constantin 5200 is stamped with the prestigious Geneva Seal which is also known as the Geneva Quality Hallmark for watches that meet very strict guidelines in craftsmanship and excellence. It has few other noteworthy features too.
For starters, it has a soft iron casing ring that protects the movement from electromagnetic frequencies of up to 25,000 ampere per meter which is equivalent to about 313.5 gauss. To be perfectly forthright, when compared to other watch brands like Omega that offer magnetic protection up to 15,000 gauss on all their watches with the Master Chronometer designation, this watch comes up short in comparison. However, that said, a little protection against magnetic fields is certainly better than not having any at all.
Any watch in the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph collection would find a nice place as either a daily wear watch or even as a precious collection piece, that’s if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one. Click the buttons below to see the price for the Overseas Chronograph.
