Vacheron Constantin Rose Gold 'Tank', Silver 'J.W. Benson' Dial

Dealer description — Oliver & Clarke

Vacheron Constantin can trace its roots back to 1755 and along with only a handful of other brands, is credited as one of the oldest manufacturers of mechanical clocks, pocket-watches, and of course, watches. In fact, Vacheron enjoys the prestige as the oldest continually operating manufacturer that still operates today. Vacheron is also a member of what has become known as The Holy Trinity , along with Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. All three of these manufactures have very different identities and focus areas within the industry, with VC generally regarded as the technical innovator. And despite a bevy of both technical and mechanical firsts, including the most complicated watch ever at the time of writing this, VC remains the lesser known name of the three in the broader watch community and certainly least understood. The piece that we have here dates to circa 1932 and features a rectangular case reminiscent of a Tank Normale. Coming in at 23mm x 34mm, it is slightly larger than a Normale and is constructed out of rose gold with a gently curved caseback and a rose gold crown. The dial within is silver in color with stunning rose gold-tone 'foil' indices, which connect to and outer border and are complimented by a rose gold 'sword' handset. Powering this piece is a manual-winding movement by Vacheron. Last but not least, this piece is further elevated by an additional signature on the lower half of the dial that reads "J.W. Benson" — a famed London-based jeweler and retailer. This piece is quintessentially Vacheron: heavy on details and beautiful execution. The small details on the dial and subtle nuances of the case require a closer look to really be appreciated, and lets be honest, that is exactly what Swiss watchmaking is all about.