The Watch: The Overseas traces its lineage to the 222, the integrated bracelet sports watch Vacheron released in 1977 to answer the Royal Oak and the Nautilus. The Overseas itself arrived in 1996, and this reference belongs to the second generation, which ran from 2004 until the current generation replaced it in 2016. Collectors know the steel and titanium variants of this era as the Deepstream series, and they have aged into some of the most sought-after second generation references.
The appeal is the metalwork. The case is stainless steel at 42mm, but the Maltese cross bezel is brushed grey titanium, and the combination produces a monochrome, almost stealth presentation that the standard polished steel versions never achieved. The grey sunburst dial with applied white gold markers completes the effect. This is a haute horlogerie sports watch that does not announce itself.
The Dual Time is the traveler's version. The dial carries a second time zone subdial with day and night indication, a date subdial, and a vertical power reserve indicator, all driven by the caliber 1222 SC, a Vacheron-modified Jaeger-LeCoultre base. The second generation Overseas also carried antimagnetic protection, a practical feature that rarely gets mentioned. Water resistance is 150 meters.
Vacheron discontinued this reference in 2016, making this example one of the final production pieces. It comes with its box and papers. The box interior has the peeling common to Vacheron cases of this period and is included for provenance.
Condition: Very good condition with signs of wear consistent with use.
Includes: Box and papers. Box interior is peeling, included for provenance only.
