SIHH 2010: Vacheron Constantin Historique 1955

As I have already mentioned before, next month in Geneva Vacheron Constantin is going to reveal its new Historique collection. Besides the gorgeous Historique 1968 watch in a square case, there will also be a Vacheron Constantin Historique Ultra-fine 1955 model in a round super-slim body.

Just like the Historique 1968, the Historique 1955 will be motivated by the vintage VC 1003 hand-wound movement that was first officially revealed in 1955 (hence the name of the new watch) and was in fact a decorated version the vintage JLC 849 caliber that was designed and manufactured specifically for Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet (Audemars Piguet used the same movement in their ultra-thin watches but referred to it as AP 2003, it was first shown two years earlier, in 1953.)

Although it was considered that Vacheron Constantin has long run out of the vintage calibers (they stopped introducing new watches with the movement around seven years ago after Jaeger-LeCoultre finally stopped making the ebauches,) it seems that they still have a stock of production-ready engines.

Being just 20.8 mm in diameter, the tiny movement is only 1.64 mm thick, so VC managed to produce a watch, which is only 36.0 mm large and 4.1 mm thick making it even 0.1 mm thinner than the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin 145.240.792B, which is powered by the same JLC 849 caliber.

Still no info about the price, but, if you want to get yourself a piece of horological history, you should really hurry up to get one: there are not many VC 1003 calibers left, so the production will be naturally limited.

UPDATE: Well, it looks like Vacheron Constantin asks $28,000 for this piece of slender beauty.

Photos: Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin Historique Ultra-fine 1955 ultra-thin watch specification

Price range: $28,000 give or take
Movement: VC 1003, hand-wound, 18-carat gold, Hallmark of Geneva, 20.8 mm x 1.64 mm
Complications: N/A
Power reserve: 30 hours
Case material: Rose gold, 18 carat, 4N
Case shape: Round
Case size: 36 mm
Case height: 4.1 mm
Dial: 18 carat gold, silvered opaline, mirror-polished Maltese Cross and indexes
Hands: Gold
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black hand-stitched, saddle-finished. Square-shape scales alligator leather. Buckle in 18 carat 4N rose gold, polished half Maltese Cross
Crystal: Sapphire, AR-coated