Vacheron Constantin Rectangular Steel Dress Watch, c. 1930s–1940s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Simple doesn’t have to mean boring—and this watch by Vacheron Constantin proves it. As a member of the Holy Trinity of watch brands, Vacheron Constantin is generally less understood than either of its respected compatriots. VC has a legacy of producing some of the very finest high horology complications in history - and some of the loveliest. Sports watches came later to VC, as pressure from the new ‘luxury sports watch’ category introduced in the early 1970s forced the storied brand to evolve — but historically, classically styled dress pieces is where Vacheron cut their teeth. This particular piece, a dress watch dating to circa the 1930s-1940s, features a gorgeous 23mm rectangular case with gorgeous beveled lugs and an acrylic crystal, and a satin silver dial with gold-foil ‘Arabic’ indices, a matching blued-steel ‘sword’ handset, an outer ‘railroad’ minute track, and a sub-seconds display above 6 o’clock. Powered by Vacheron Constnatin's Calibre 435/3C hand-cranking movement, this fabulously cool timepiece comes fitted to one of our Analog:Shift brown alligator-pattern leather straps with a steel pin buckle. You'd be forgiven for mistaking this piece for a Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso at first glance, which is no insult, but this fantastically cool watch hails from one of the most stories houses in watchmaking and offers its own take on the rectangular watch shape, particularly popular at this point in time. With timelessly appealing looks, pedigree to rival the very best, and a versatile size — wear it today with everything from a suit or other formalwear to a t-shirt and jeans; it's all fair game, and there is no saying when another will surface again.