The new Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 in stainless steel kickstarts the brand’s 270th anniversary celebrations
This year, Vacheron Constantin marks 270 years of crafting timepieces that demonstrate the watchmaking house’s technical mastery, artistic beauty, and commitment to innovation. This dedication to high-watchmaking, handed down through generations since 1755, has led to the unveiling of the stunning Historiques 222 stainless steel watch.
The latest iteration of the 1977 model, which was launched to commemorate the brand’s 222nd anniversary, the Historiques 222 perfectly expresses the spirit of the era of its birth. Originally designed by Jorg Hysek, and crafted with pilots, divers, and explorers in mind, the new offering blurs the lines between formal and casual styles with a dash of sporty machismo.
Housed in a 37mm stainless steel case, the Historiques 222 is anchored by a beautiful blue dial, accentuated by a polished white gold Maltese cross logo, and white gold hour markers and hands with Super-LumiNova coating that appear off- white during the day and glow lime green at night.
The date window has been repositioned toward the centre to avoid encroaching on the minute track, while the inscription “AUTOMATIC”, rendered in vintage-style font, pays homage to the tritium hue used in historical timepieces.
The finishing demonstrates Vacheron Constantin’s attention to detail. A mix of vertical satin-brushing and polishing on various elements, including the crown, bracelet, and bezel, create a mesmerising interplay of light and shadow. Another notable feature is the use of a triple-blade clasp instead of the conventional twin blade clasp from earlier models.
The caseback has “270th anniversary” etched on every piece with a sapphire crystal that shows off the beautifully decorated in-house calibre 2455/2. Developed and crafted by Vacheron Constantin, this 194-part self-winding movement, which bears the Geneva Hallmark that certifies superlative finishing and functionality, features a yellow gold rotor and boasts power reserve of 40 hours.
The Maison’s 270-year history is best summed up by style and heritage director, Christian Selmoni, who explains that as one of the oldest watchmaking Maisons in continuous operation, Vacheron Constantin has a greater duty of remembrance than any other.
