Vacheron Constantin 222 'Jumbo', c. 1978

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

For the watch industry, the 1970s was a decade of great change — from within as well as without — and even Vacheron Constantin, stalwart member of the Big Three, wasn’t immune. The 1969 introduction of the Seiko Astron, the world’s first commercially available quartz wristwatch, sent tremors throughout the industry. Though quartz in and of itself was not a new technology, the Astron’s application of it was revolutionary. Both visually and internally, the Astron was something the industry hadn’t seen before, with a distinctive case shape to house the quartz movement. Attempts by big Swiss manufacturers to release a quartz watch of their own — the Beta 21 — met with failure. As sales of Swiss watches dipped and as a looming oil crisis gripped the worldwide economy, Swiss manufacturers realized that they had to develop something truly unique if they wished to stay afloat. Thus Audemars Piguet tapped the brilliant mind of Gérald Genta to design the Royal Oak in 1972, while Patek Philippe followed suit with the Nautilus in 1976. That left Vacheron Constantin to try its hand at the “luxury sports watch.” To celebrate the manufacture’s 222nd anniversary, Vacheron brought out the 222. For its distinctive design, Vacheron Constantin leaned on a young maverick designer in their stable by the name of Jorg Hysek. The watch that Hysek designed bore a thin, angular case with an integrated bracelet. It was the birth of a new modern look for a classic atelier. Though similar to the Royal Oak, the serrated bezel of the 222 and its clean, elegant dial was entirely unique to Vacheron Constantin. The 222 saw production in limited numbers: 500 in steel, 100 in 18k gold, and 120 in gold and stainless steel, and was discontinued in 1985, making it exceedingly rare. The particular 222 that we have here dates to circa 1978 and features a 37mm stainless steel case with a matching integrated bracelet, a signed Maltese cross crown, a sapphire crystal, a stylized bezel, and a dark grey tritium dial with a stick handset. A legendary reference, it remains in good condition showing honest wear despite its age. These pieces are incredibly hard to come by, with far less of these being produced than its rivals from the era. That is — until spring of 2022 when Vacheron released an excellent reissue in solid 18k yellow gold. Don’t miss your chance to own one of the original luxury sports watches — in steel, no less!