Many people dream of a life of adventure and exploration, or at least dream of the idea that said lifestyle represents. This idea can be seen throughout the watch world in pieces like the James Cameron Deep Sea from Rolex, or the Top Gun Pilots watches from IWC, even if these watches never see the deep water or soaring skies on the wrists of their respective owners. The Vacheron Constantin 7910V/000T-B922 Overseas Everest Dual Time is a piece that connects the wearer with at least that semblance of being an explorer, on account of its unique origins. Even if one has no intention of climbing Mount Everest, it makes for a perfect traveling companion when globetrotting .
History
Vacheron Constantin entered the sports watch market in the 1970s with the introduction of the 222, which has recently seen a revival in the brand’s “Historiques” collection. This was a profound change in design philosophy for the otherwise traditional brand. The brand’s endeavors in the category expanded in 1996 with the introduction of the first Overseas model. With a campaign slogan of “Designed to weather any challenge,” Vacheron was trying to position this timepiece alongside the Audemars Piguet Offshore and Patek Philippe Nautilus. Skipping forward a bit, the modern version of the Overseas collection debuted in 2016, introducing new in-house movements and a genius quick change strap system. In 2019, the brand partnered with photographer and mountaineer Cory Richards to create a prototype dual time Overseas that he wore on a climb of Mount Everest. This version was in a titanium case with a darker tantalum bezel and featured a blue textured dial with a unique canvas strap. After the climb, this unique piece was sold at Phillips’ Game Changer auction, where it fetched $106k for charity. Collectors loved the look of this model and wanted something similar, so in 2021 Vacheron made this limited edition run of a very similar-looking model based on that popular prototype.
Design Details
The highlight of the Overseas Everest Dual Time is the colorway and textures throughout the timepiece. The watch has this granular matte grey-blue dial as the piece’s focal point. The bright orange hands for the hometime and the corresponding orange hand for the am/pm indicator make for easy reading at a glance. Continuing that easy legibility can be seen with the large bright white luminescent applied hour markers, the white lumed hour and minute hands, and solid white running seconds hand. The Maltese Cross logo is applied to the dial just below the 12 o’clock position, and the brand’s logo is boldly printed in white under it.
Opposite at the 6 o’clock position is a small subdial containing the date indicator, which is stepped down from the rest of the dial and has a smooth surface that breaks up the texture of the rest of the dial. The 41mm case is brushed stainless steel with a slightly darker matte finished titanium bezel that recreates the look from the prototype even with the use of different materials. A screw-down pusher located at the 4 o’clock position gives quick control of the date, while the crown is used to adjust the primary time and travel time. This piece is perfectly finished off with a blue rubber strap to match the dial colors and textures, and a stainless steel deployant buckle.
Inner Workings
Powering the Vacheron Overseas Dual Time is the in-house caliber VC 5110 DT/2. This movement has a solid 22k gold rotor masterfully engraved with Mount Everest and a polished raised compass rose circling the stem of the rotor. Beneath the rotor lies the 234-part movement that contains a total of 37 jewels. On one of the bridges, one can see the Hallmark of Geneva certifying this caliber meets the high standard criteria necessary to receive that mark. The meticulously applied finishing techniques such as the Geneva stripes and the perlage techniques synonymous with the highest finishing standards can be seen throughout the movement. One interesting feature built into this caliber is its ability to advance the date forward AND backward when adjusting the time. That is not very common in most calibers. When the movement is fully wound, it has a 60-hour power reserve, and the escapement beats at a high 28,800 vph. Overall, the caliber is as robust as the watch’s aesthetics and worthy of the brand’s high prestige.
Versus The Competition
This Vacheron dabbled with a material that the brand does not frequently use in this Overseas; similarly, F.P. Journe used a unique metal with the F.P. Journe Centigraphe Aluminum Sport. The way that the Vacheron makes the wearer feel like an adventurer, this F.P. Journe lineSport makes the wearer feel kind of like a race car driver. The extreme lightness of the aluminum case follows the philosophy of adding lightness to race cars. This piece is also very sports oriented for a brand more known for its elegant and timeless formal timepieces. Vacheron and Journe are both highly respected and have been able to break their norms with both of these models.
Personality
This was one of the most sought-after Vacheron Overseas models produced in recent years. Due to this model being limited to only 150 pieces, it sold out incredibly quickly. The type of collector who seeks this out is someone who appreciates the unique elements of the design and someone who wants that ruggedness and tie to adventure. This watch is absolutely a sports watch and probably not the only more casual watch in the collection; however, this exact piece might be the most elevated sports watch in the group. Vacheron is a brand of the highest level of prestige, and it will appeal to the collector who wants the best quality and craftsmanship.
Final Thoughts
The Vacheron Overseas Everest Dual Time limited edition is one of the finest additions to the brand’s repertoire in recent years. The elements of adventure are captured perfectly from its origins as a prototype piece Cory Richards wore on one of his climbs of Mount Everest. This watch has everything a watch enthusiast could ask for in a timepiece, so it is not surprising that it sold out instantly and remains quite sought out among enthusiasts.
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