Order of the Day
Vacheron Constantin delivers a solution for all your needs with its new Overseas collection. Brian Adams lets you in on a line of watches that can accompany you from the boardroom to the tennis court
Having the right watch to fit the occasion can be a costly endeavour. Whether relaxing in the great outdoors or heading off to a weekend brunch with friends, making the big boardroom presentation or attending an elegant gala, your wrist and what you strap onto it will be on prominent display. Establishing a stable of timepieces in anticipation of all life’s events can be a real strain on the wallet.
That’s why more and more luxury watch brands are creating stylish timepieces that you can feel comfortable wearing at any time. They understand the difficulty of finding a watch that is rugged enough for our hillside hikes and suitably refined for when we aim to impress. It’s a tough balancing act, but Vacheron Constantin delivers the perfect solution with its Overseas collection.
Watches from the Overseas line merge elegance with sports appeal in an effortless display of craftsmanship, and would be a stylish addition to any wrist. The collection features six all-steel or two-tone references. Two new steel versions are available in a 37mm diameter case and fitted with blue or rosy beige dials. There are four models with steel cases topped by 18K 5N pink gold bezels.
The 42.5mm chronograph is equipped with the manufacture’s mechanical self-winding Calibre 5200, displays its functions on a translucent silver-toned lacquered dial, and has a power reserve of more than 50 hours. The Chronograph displays 37 time zones, including those that are offset by a half-hour or quarterhour in relation to UTC time, making it ideal when travelling the world.
A second two-tone model, housed in a 41mm stainless steel and pink gold case, focuses on essentials, displaying the hours, minutes, seconds and date on a translucent silver-toned lacquered dial. Stainless steel and pink gold also adorn the two models featuring daintier 37mm cases. One of these versions comes with an 18K 5N pink gold bezel lit up by 84 round-cut diamonds.
The versatility of the Overseas Chronograph and Overseas Small Model make them perfect for active weekends in Hong Kong. Their personality can be altered with a few minor adjustments via tool-free band interchangeability: an alligator leather strap is perfect for both work and chilling out on a Friday evening, a rubber strap suits a leisurely Saturday hike on the lush hillsides, and a stainless-steel bracelet adds an option for times in between.
To help clients visualise the chameleon qualities of its new line, Vacheron Constantin returned to Hong Kong last month with an eye-catching exhibition featuring artwork captured through the lens of locally based French photographer Romain Jacquet-lagreze. With the theme “An Invitation to Travel: Blue Hour, Hong Kong,” the images capture that time between late dusk and the dark of night, after the sun sets, when the sky and Victoria Harbour blend in a vibrant hue.
Jacquet-lagreze selected eight unique locations to show the “city life, nature, tradition and serenity” of Hong Kong. The aim was rediscovery, to show such iconic places as Devil’s Peak, Tai O and Cape d’aguilar in a new light to even the most experienced local eyes. The resulting images evoke a sense of calm and centredness in the midst of the hubbub of the city.
The combining of Vacheron Constantin’s new designs and the reimagining of some of Hong Kong’s iconic locales is a sure-fire approach to making the old new again.