Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time Automatic in Steel and Titanium (ref. 47450000W-9511)

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time (ref. 47450000W-9511) is a rare breed of sports watches with a bold and energetic appearance that can be worn both with jeans and polo and with a more formal dress. Although its titanium/steel body is slightly oversized, the timekeeper is still compact enough to look as elegant as a classic British sports car that hides its prominent set of muscles under a thoroughly pressed, made to measure Egyptian cotton shirt, if you know what I mean.

Just like some other VC’s collections with a second time-zone complication (aka GMT,) including the beautiful Malte Tonneau Dual Time, the latest member of the Overseas family is equipped with the VC Caliber 1222 SC automatic movement.

If memory serves me well, the latter is based on the brilliant JLC caliber 929/3 engine that was first introduced in 1996 and powered their gorgeous Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Geographic family.

Like most current movements, the Cal. 1222 SC beats at usual 28,800 vph and features a fairly underwhelming (though adequate if you plan to wear the gadget daily) power reserve of around 40 hours.

Besides 34 jewels (those are actually synthetic rubies, but who cares,) the movement also features ceramic ball bearings for its winding rotor. Significantly reducing friction, the tiny ceramic balls also allow for more efficient winding and tend to serve longer than the ones made of a metal alloy: something that may come in handy if you have a habit of storing your collection in winding machines that tend to put extra strain on winding mechanisms.

As usual for “multifunctional” watches, the Overseas Dual Time features a busy dial. Sporting a GMT indicator at 6 o’clock, the dial also features a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock and a day/night indicator right between them. There is also a date subdial between 2 and 3 o’clock position (it is adjusted with the titanium push-piece at 2 o’clock,) so, as you can see on the pictures, the Dual Time’s dial looks somewhat overcrowded with data, yet somehow manages to look surprisingly organic thanks to the complex shape of the signature “Maltese Crown” fixed bezel that serves as a visual bridge between the slightly cluttered dial and the laconic case.

However, thanks to generous amounts of SuperLuminova covering the hour and minute hands and all twelve applied hour indexes made of white gold (the precious metal is more resistant to corrosion making the elements look new for decades), the dial is legible enough, successfully delivering the most needed information and putting the rest in the background.

The ref. 47450000W-9511 comes in a chunky 42 mm case, with its base made of satin-brushed stainless steel and the bezel crafted of light-weight titanium. Because the two metals reflect light in different ways, the Overseas’ body receives additional depth and serves as a proof that you do not need to use forged carbon fiber and other exotic materials to create a bold-looking sporty watch.

See also: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Gray Automatic Chronograph

WWR Verdict

Originality 5/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Overall Legibility: 4.5/5
Nighttime Legibility: 4/5
Value for Money: 4.5/5

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Photos: Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time (ref. 47450000W-9511) specification

Price: $18,000 (MSRP)
Movement: VC Caliber 1222 SC, automatic, 28,800 vph, 34 jewels, 26.60 mm in diameter, 4.85 mm in height, antimagnetic screen, Swiss Made
Functions: Hour, minutes, central second, date, power reserve, day/night indicator
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Bezel: Titanium
Shape: Round
Size: 42.00 mm
Case height: 13.00 mm
Dial: Gray
Hands: White gold
Water resistance: 150 meters
Strap: Black rubber, delivered with an additional strap in hand-stitched dark grey square-scale alligator leather, 20.3 mm wide
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Solid, engraved

Evgueni Matoussevitch

Yep, this is me. Just had my beard trimmed.

I am a founding father of this weblog since 2008.

Bought my first mechanical watch in 1986 and it took me ten more years to realize that I have a problem: at some point in time watches became my passion. Well, it could be worse.