A watch showing 37 zone-times, including zone-times offset by a half-hour or quarter-hour in relation to UTC time. That´s the ultimate travel companion!
Actually 39 timezones with 39 zone-times exist, 38 are in use. The latest prominent zone-time change in a timezone was the one in Venezuela. May 1st the government decided to eliminate the 30 minutes deviation and to return to UTC – 4:00. From 1912 to 1965 Venezuela was at UTC -4:30, then past to UTC -4:00 until 2007. In 2007 Venezuela changed back to UTC -4:30. The recent change is a test, so it is not sure if Venezuela will stay at UTC – 4:00 or change again to – 4:30. The government will decide upon if it could save energy with the change or not. I assume there will be no major energy savings but the country will stay at UTC – 4:00 simply because its easier for everyone to deviate from the rest of the world in full hour steps.
As you can imagine now for Vacheron Constantin CEO Charly Torres it is not easy to launch a World Time watch. Look at the dial here underneath … It still indicates Caracas at UTC – 4:30.
When Charly ordered the dials and the mechanic parts to drive it he did not know about a possible change of the zone-time in Venezuela.
I called Charly yesterday and asked him what he considers to do.
This is what he told me: “There is a 50:50 chance that with the first watches that hit the markets already launch a vintage watch or not. If Venezuela stays at UTC – 4:00 some of these watches definitely will be vintage. If they go back to UTC -4:30 we were lucky not to change the dial and the mechanic parts underneath. Let´s wait and see what will happen.”
Whatever will happen one thing is true already today: the Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time is a stunning timepiece!
Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepieces
The dial of the Overseas World Time displays no less than 37 zone-times, including those that are off-set by a half-hour or quarter-hour in relation to UTC time.
The display comprises three parts…
… The centre features a “Lambert” projection map depicting the continents (enhanced by a sunburst satin-brushed finish) and the oceans (in a velvet 1 finish), along with a translucent lacquered disc bearing the city names. A third sapphire disc laid over the map provides day/night indications by means of subtly graded smoky tints, synchronised with the 24-hour disc. Finally, a translucent lacquered velvet-finished outer ring serves to indicate the hours and minutes.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time
The ultimate travel companion
The Overseas World Time features a 43.5 mm-diameter steel-case housing the in-house Calibre 2460 WT bearing the Hallmark of Geneva.
The balance-wheel of the self-winding movement patented, developed and crafted by by the Geneva manufacturer oscillates at 28,800 A/h (= 4 Hz) and has a 40-hour power reserve.
Its 22 carat-gold oscillating weight bears a wind rose – a universal symbol indicating the cardinal points for travellers – adorned with sandblasted, polished and finely grained finishing.
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
36.6 mm (11’’’1⁄4) diameter, 7.55 mm thick
4 Hz (28,800 A/h)
255 components
27 jewels
7700V-110A-B176
Stainless steel case
Soft iron casing ring ensuring anti-magnetic protection
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 15 bar (approx. 150 metres)
All the indications powered by this mechanism are easily adjusted via the crown.
The short video shows the use of the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time which is powered by the same calibre.
So the only thing you need to do is to pull out the crown when you changed the timezone and readjust the indicated timezone at “6 o´clock”. All the indications on the dial will then again show the correct zone-times around the world and the main hands will show you the correct local time. VERY EASY!
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time also features a bracelet easy-fit system.
Each of the three versions is delivered with a stainless steel bracelet – half Maltese cross-shaped polished and satin-brushed links …
7700V/110A-B172 – blue dial
7700V/110A-B129 – silver-toned dial
7700V/110A-B176 – brown dial
A second black/blue/brown Mississippiensis alligator leather strap featuring a black nubuck lining with a micro-perforated effect, hand-stitched, large square scales …
… and a third strap in black/blue/brown rubber.
The interchangeable solution for these bracelets and their folding clasp means they can be switched and secured without any tools, while guaranteeing the same firm hold as on any traditional fixed bracelet.
>>> On page 2 you will find additional pictures of the three versions of theVacheron Constantin Overseas World Time >>>
The 39 zone with airport codes is the Glasshute Original Cosmopolite at similar pricing. The VC gold World Time at 52,000 USD list. I like the blue here best for VC but see the GO white gold!
Will Australians buy this watch if there is no map of Australia? For such an expensive watch I thought they could do better with the world map. Is the map necessary at all?
Great article and good to see the pictures. Here are a couple of thoughts I had:
Since the appeal of these watches is obviously going to be among world travellers. World travel means knowing your airports. One of the criticisms is how difficult it is to read such a busy dial. I know it has always put me off and made me prefer a GMT-type movement. I wonder if VC or other manufacturers with similar watches ever looked at doing a watch based on the IATA three letter codes for the main airports in any given zone? It might sound like you would need to be super-nerdy to know them, but market research might show that the people attracted to these watches are already familiar with the zones.
Take it a step further and simply use a transparent dial that has the zones shaded in and sits over an Azimuthal equidistant projection. One or other can rotate.
Nice watch, but too big. Sorry, not my cup of tea.
This a splendid watch at a fairly stiff price. And that leads me to wonder if I were still travelling the world on business whether I would buy a watch like this because virtually all of the information it provides is available on my smart phone at a tiny fraction of the price. I recognize that for some watch fanciers (I am one but I would be reluctant to spend that much money on any watch again) this will have substantial appeal. While choice is surely personal I would prefer to wear one of the company’s other elegant watches and rely on my iPhone for times in various places.
The blue-dial version of Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time looks truly fabulous and covers almost all the time-zones of the world.
This watch is quite expensive at €33,200 plus VAT, on the other hand Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time was quite similar to this watch based on the same calibre and cost at least €10,000 less than this watch.
Enjoyed your fine report as well as XL-sized pictures immensely, thanks a lot!
This summer I will do lot of travel alone, I call ask if Miss Vacheron is willing to be my travel mate.
Great watch and wonderful article.