Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph in White Gold

The last year’s Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph watch is finally available in a white gold case.

Inside, the watch has the well-known VC 1141 caliber, which is basically the 1950 Lemania 2310 hand-wound chronograph movement decorated and re-adjusted to fit Vacheron Constantin’s high standards. Judging by the photos, VC also replaces some original parts with its own. The movement uses a traditional column wheel control and features gold-plated bridges.

The watch’s dial features a traditional for the 1940s layout a chronograph totalizer at 9 o’clock, which is perfectly balanced with a small second hand at 3 o’clock. The tachymeter scale, which is printed right on the dial, is also a blast from the past.

With its large and high-contrast Arabic numerals on the sub-dials and faceted applied hour markers, the watch is perfectly legible in the good light, but, lacking luminescent substance on these elements as well as on the hands, is a real pain to look at at night or even in the twilight.

All in all, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph is a beautiful watch and is a nice choice if you are in the market for a vintage chronograph watch in a case made of precious metal and which is priced around $40,000.

Photos: Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph watch specification

Price range: N/A, around $40,000
Movement: VC 1141 caliber, hand-wound, 21 jewels, 18,000 vph, 5.60 mm high, 27.0 mm in diameter
Complications: Chronograph
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case material: White gold
Bezel material: White gold
Case shape: Round
Transparent case back: Yes, sapphire caseback
Case size: 42.0 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Silver opaline
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: White gold
Strap: Black hand-stitched, saddle-finish square-shape scales alligator leather with 18-carat white gold buckle polished half Maltese Cross
Crystal: Sapphire, AR-coated
Water resistance: 30 meters