La Maison de connaisseurs, Vacheron Constantin, released this year at SIHH a nice surprise in the Overseas Collection. The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon 6000V is the first of its kind in the brand’s sports collection – an 80 hours power reserve automatic watch equipped with a sixty seconds tourbillon.
Review Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon 6000V
The Overseas Collection was brought back to life in 2016 in a new interpretation. The sports collection “was reinvented to embark on the discovery of new horizons“. Intended for adventurers and active people, the Overseas Collection transpire, beyond its free spirit, elegance. Besides our Tourbillon in review, the collection features a good looking perpetual calendar, a classic chronograph, a complex world-timer, a useful dual time, an elegant small seconds, a date and even a self-winding ultra-thin two hands piece. A fantastic sports collection that has all the situations covered.
When your signature precedes you
You have to be a complete watch ignorant not to recognize a Vacheron Constantin watch. The Overseas Collection is a cumulus of the brand’s key signatures expressed in the most beautiful way possible. The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon 6000V is well cemented in the collection. The 42.5mm steel case with an integrated bracelet denotes its sporty intentions.
The most striking element is the bezel. It makes the watch recognisable by a mile. The angled bezel respects the case finishes with polished and brushed surfaces. I can say that this is one of the most beautiful sports bezels out there.
The face of the watch’s metal is vertical brushed. In contrast, the case body’s side is mirror polished. An elegant note is given by the mirrored chamfered edge.
The crown bears the embossed Vacheron Constantin logo in an overall mirror polish. I know that this watch is intended as a robust sports watch, but its refinement is impeccable.
The case design is concluded with a fabulous integrated bracelet. The Vacheron Constantin signature is present on each link. The closed buckle engravings construct a Maltese cross.
For the love of blue
The Overseas Tourbillon comes with an outstanding translucent dark blue lacquered dial. I talked to some collectors about this watch and all were in love with this petrol blue shade of the watch’s dial.
The Overseas Tourbillon features three sets of indexes and rail tracks. One is heightened by the faceted and luminescent gold hour markers. The inner bezel register features the minutes’ indexes. Every five minutes has Arabic numerals. The last and not least, the small seconds’ track surrounds the tourbillon. The hour’s and minute’s hands are crafted from 18k white gold with luminescent insert. The faceted finish of the indexes and of the hands brings volume and spectacular light games. As perfectly visible in the picture below.
When it comes to Vacheron Constantin, I expect nothing more and nothing less than perfection. The open-worked carriage is visible through the 6 o’clock aperture. It is shaped like a Maltese cross. Again the brand’s signature is present. The finishes are remarkable. Only the beveling of the carriage needs 12 hours of a specialist’s handwork.
More pictures are available in the gallery at the end of the article.
The way to end a horological lust
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon is powered by the Calibre 2160. The manufacturer movement was introduced in 2018. You might be familiar with this movement from the Vacheron Constantin’s Reference 6000T – the Traditionnelle Tourbillon or the Reference 6000E – the Fiftysix Tourbillon. These also are lovely interpretations of Vacheron’s Constantin Heritage.
The Calibre 2160 can be well studied. The tourbillon is visible on the dial side. The rest of the movement can be observed via the screwed in case back’s sapphire crystal.
The Calibre 2160 is a mechanical self-winding movement with 188 components. It is interesting that is offering 80 hours of power reserve. The system oscillates at the rather low 2.5Hz. Great numbers for a tourbillon watch.
The implementation is gorgeous. The architecture is astounding. Even the 22-carat gold oscillating weight is astonishing. Excellent executed finishes: Côtes de Genève, hand bevelled and polished edges, polished screws heads, screws and jewels sink hand-polished, brushing, positive engravings. So yes, many beautiful epithets are needed to describe this. Is a connoisseur’s eyes feast.
If you want the envy of the masses, you wear a Rolex, if you want the envy of a connoisseur, you wear a Vacheron Constantin
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon 6000V is a fabulous sports watch. While the relative large 42.5mm and the metal bracelet reveals the true face of the watch, the leather strap and a large wrist size make the Overseas Tourbillon a delightfull elegant watch. On my wrist, the watch wears smaller. The construction hides its true numbers via some design subterfuges. I consider my proper size to be between 38 and 41mm but this watch was a bliss on my wrist. I did enjoy it! Delightful. But expected from this beautiful collection.
As the title expresses, this is not a watch for anyone. You must have a certain dose of knowledge to properly enjoy this watch. At approx. EUR 112,000, money helps too.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon 6000V Specifications
CALIBRE 2160
- Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
- Mechanical, self-winding, peripheral rotor
- 31 mm (13½’’’) diameter, 5.65 mm thick
- Approximately 80 hours of power reserve
- 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
- 188 components
- 30 jewels
- Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece
INDICATIONS
- Hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon carriage
- Tourbillon
CASE
- Stainless steel
- 42.5 mm diameter, 10.39 mm thick
- Soft iron casing ring ensuring anti-magnetic protection
- Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
- Water-resistant tested at a pressure of 5 bar (approx. 50 meters)
DIAL
- Translucent blue-lacquered, sunburst satin-finished base with velvet-finished flange
- 18K white gold hour-markers and hours & minutes hands highlighted with white luminescent material
BRACELET/STRAPS
- Steel bracelet, half Maltese cross-shaped polished and satin-brushed links
- Delivered with a second strap in blue Mississippiensis alligator leather featuring a blue nubuck lining with a micro-perforated effect, hand-stitched, large square scales
- Delivered with a third strap in blue rubber
CLASPS
- Stainless steel bracelet secured by a stainless steel triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and comfort-adjustment system
- Delivered with a second stainless steel triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and patented interchangeable system compatible with both additional straps
For more information, please visit the nearest Vacheron Constantin Boutique or the Vacheron Constantin Website.