While the Vacheron Constantin Overseas collection of old continues to be produced (while in truth, it will be phased out soon) and is handsome, in my opinion, it suffered from a lack of any visual updates for too long a time, as well as a movement that was no longer able to compete as well against much of the competition. Of course, one major difference was in that it was not designed by Gerald Genta – a detail that, according to Vacheron Constantin during our private conversations, is not often realized by people who cover the Overseas, mistakenly believing it to be a Genta design.
SIHH 2016 sees the welcome release of a totally fresh and updated Vacheron Constantin Overseas watch collection – several thing I have been awaiting with baited anticipation for quite several time. Originally devised by watch designer Jorg Hysek, the Overseas “luxury sport watch collection” was always Vacheron Constantin’s answer to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Not sure how this works out in real world performance, however it sounds like a nice solution for those who want an anti-magnetic watch however who of course as well want to get a view of the movement. Vacheron Constantin produces very stunning movements, however several of them are a bit too “vintage” in their focus on mechanical designs from a few generations ago. This is up from the much less competitive 3Hz of the outgoing movement. The 5300 will be the movement inside of the new smaller women’s versions of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas, and the 5200 movement is fitted into the Overseas Chronograph. For these Vacheron Constantin Overseas (aka “Overseas Simple Date”), my focus is on the calibre 5100. Instead, this information is best left to the side until needed and not there to obstruct your view of reading the time.
Very attractive in its design and featuring a more modern diameter of 30.6mm wide (for the movement), the caliber 5100 is 4.7mm thick and produced from 172 parts (a suitably low number for what is supposed to be a pretty workhorse). The calibre 5100 movement has a power reserve of 60 hours and finally offers 4Hz (28,800 bph) of operating frequency. This is as well one of the few such modern sport watch movements to bear the Geneva Seal – which, for enthusiasts, is an extra added treat and sign of both aesthetic quality and mechanical performance.
They are a sunburst-finished silvered dial as well as a gorgeous lacquered blue dial. Functionally, the 5100 offers the time with central seconds hand and the date. The 4Hz operating frequency is part of the 5100 movement, as well as the 5200 chronograph, and smaller 5300. For the new Overseas models, Vacheron Constantin replica watches designed a pretty kick-ass dial that is actually an improvement over the previous Overseas dial which wasn’t too bad to begin with. At launch, the brand will offer two dial versions of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas that are both very nice. The applied hour indicators are lume-painted and super crisp, offering truly excellent legibility.
That isn’t the interesting part though. What Vacheron Constantin was able to do is offer a high degree of anti-magnetic resistance however as well offer an exhibition case-back. These same dial colors are accessible for both the three-hand Vacheron Constantin Overseas Simple Date and the Overseas Chronograph. Affixed to the automatic movement is a “compass-inspired” (given the engraved design) 22k gold rotor, and you can view the movement through the sapphire crystal exhibition case back. For me, the three-hand Vacheron Constantin Overseas is best in silver, and the chronograph looks best with the blue dial. Budget notwithstanding, I’d gladly get one of each to get both dial colors.
Finally, in 2016 we welcome a truly modern movement in Vacheron Constantin’s flagship sport replica watches collection. I really can’t see anyone not having a lot of fondness for these dials since Vacheron Constantin satisfied what they should be doing by having a legible dial that is both sporty and extremely classy. An interesting feature is the inclusion of a soft-iron “Faraday cage” core which is meant to ward of magnetic fields making the watch “anti-magnetic.” The new 2016 Vacheron Constantin Overseas watches are brilliantly conceived despite prices that don’t make the collection any more accessible that it was before – not that we were expecting as much.
I would not suggest that reading the perpetual calendar or power reserve information is accessible at a glance, however it really doesn’t need to be. Like the older Vacheron Constantin Overseas model, the case is water resistant to 150 meters. Legibility for reading the time is excellent, and pretty much all the information you need at a glance is there, such as the date and chronograph register data.
