The Vacheron Constantin Overseas is the maison’s sportiest and most contemporary offering – contemporary, that is, by the way of the 1970s sports watch aesthetic. With just a change of dial and strap, however, the Overseas is catapulted into the 21st century via a pair of ‘Everest’ limited editions that versatility of its core design.
The new models are a chronograph and a dual time, each limited to a numbered 150-piece run. They are named in honour of mountaineer and photographer Cory Richards, a brand ambassador who completed his third ascent of Mount Everest in 2019. Richards wore a prototype of this watch during his expedition, which was later auctioned by Phillips to achieve a price of US$106,250 (about RM445,000), with the proceeds going to charity.
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The familiar Vacheron Constantin Overseas case returns for the new editions, 42.5mm in diameter for the chronograph and 41mm for the dual time. The case material is titanium, rugged and lightweight with matte grey tones contributing to the modern countenance. The hallmark six-sided bezel is in steel, lending a two-tone air.
The dial is a grey-blue with a grained texture, a deep contrast with the vibrant orange used for some of the hands – in the three totalisers for the chronograph, and in the second time zone and day/night indicator for the dual time. The straps are calfskin-lined fabric, colour matched with the rest of the watch including orange contrast stitching. Both watches also ship with an additional rubber strap that can be easily swapped in thanks to the quick-change mechanism.
As seen through the display casebacks, the movement finish is also contemporary: boldly striped with an anthracite grey finish. The pink gold rotors are the only overt display of decadence, sporting an engraving of Mount Everest inspired by one of Richards’ photographs.
While the core of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas is intact in these special editions, the overall effect is markedly different. These special editions are far sportier, and more youthful than the reserved, casual elegance that is the more typical Overseas. It is, if nothing else, a testament to the versatility of the design.
