Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph 47101, Platinum

Les Historiques

Vacheron Constantin boast a lengthy and uninterrupted history of manufacture, dating back to 1755. The firm’s founder, Jean-Marc Vacheron, was one of many cabinotier-watchmakers who specialised in the production of complex components. Upon partnering with François Constantin, Vacheron (the brand) became widely-known for upholding the finest horological traditions - enamelling, piercing, engraving and engine-turning.

The Vacheron Constantin Ref. 47101 was introduced in 1989, as part of the brand’s Historiques collection - paying tribute to the Geneva watchmaker’s archives. The origins of the watch can be traced back to Vacheron’s iconic reference 4178, from the 1940s - with its tachymeter scale and placement of the subsidiary dials - considered by many to be one of the most beautifully refined chronographs ever made. 

The Design

The watch displays a finely-grained, silvered dial with applied Arabic and baton numerals. The two sub-dials, at three and nine o'clock are the thirty-minute and sub-seconds registers, respectively, with engine-turned patterning at the centre. The dial is classically understated, balancing the outer five-minute divisions and tachymeter scale perfectly. The watch displays five hands - hours, minutes, and seconds for the time, with seconds and minute hands for the chronograph.

Overall, the dial layout is cleanly designed, with the chronograph highly legible in a variety of lighting conditions. With its 36 mm case diameter, the size of the 47101 is classically inspired - featuring down-turned, angular lugs and a polished, chamfered bezel. The snap-on, display case-back, features the Maltese cross and manufacturer's hallmarks, along with its unique reference numbers.

Most commonly seen in yellow gold, this platinum example with monochromatic dial is perhaps considered as one of the more versatile configurations, attuned to contemporary taste. The down-turned, elongated lugs help the watch to wear a little larger than the traditional sizing would suggest.

The Movement

The reference 47101 integrates Vacheron’s 21-jewel, manual-winding, 1140 caliber, based upon a thoroughly re-worked ‘Nouvelle Lemania’ 2320 ébauche - much like the Patek Philippe Ref. 5070. The movement is beautifully finished, with exquisite chamfering on all angles, polishing and decoration, in the form of Geneva striping. The movement uses a straight-line lever escapement, a monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, self-compensating Breguet spring and swan-neck micrometer regulator.

The Set

This Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph comes with an Extract from the Archives. It is accompanied by one of our tapered, grey grained calfskin straps, along with the watches corresponding Vacheron Constantin platinum tang buckle.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this Les Historiques Chronograph 47101/000P-4 will be subject to 20% VAT. Viewings are currently suspended for the time being.

Closer look