From Prototype to Production: Vacheron Constantin Unveils Pair of Overseas “Everest” Limited Editions


Way back in June 2019, Vacheron Constantin captivated the watch media’s attention with the launch of an unusual prototype watch called the Overseas Dual Time Prototype. The watch – at the time limited to only a single example – was produced in partnership with Cory Richards, a noted professional photographer, explorer, and Vacheron Constantin ambassador, who was then on his latest mission to trek Mount Everest along the arduous Tibetan North-East Ridge.

Today, Vacheron Constantin returns to that original prototype design, applying it to two sporty, regular-production follow-ups. The dual launch includes a chronograph and a dual-time model, each limited to 150 total editions. Collectively known as Overseas Everest, the pair shares many similarities to one another and each takes cues from the original prototype made for Cory Richards.

Both new timepieces are in titanium and hail from the manufacture’s popular, action-ready Overseas collection, stylized with a darkened titanium bezel, produced in the signature Overseas style and resting upon a contracting steel bezel-ring. The chronograph is the slightly larger of the two, sized at 42.5 mm in diameter and 13.7 mm thick and featuring darkened titanium accents for its crown and pusher guards. The dual-time watch is just a touch smaller on the wrist, at 41 mm by 12.8 mm, opting for just a single pusher that synchronizes the watch’s analog date display with the local time. The sizes are in line with those of the larger Overseas collection, and the lightness and hardiness of their titanium cases makes the watches even more adventure-ready.

Both watches use an integrated Cordura fabric strap, accented with orange stitching, lined with black nubuck leather and secured via a titanium-and-steel folding clasp. Each watch also comes with a simpler, grey rubber strap that likely better serves their 150-meter water resistance.

On both dials, we find a blue-gray grained texture, its color and overall style recalling the original 2019 prototype. Each dial features 18k white-gold applied hour markers in addition to white-gold hour, minute, second, and subdial hands — the use of precious metals contrasting with the more utilitarian use of titanium and steel for the case but firmly positioning the “Everest” series firmly in line with Vacheron Constantin’s luxurious character, including that of the larger Overseas family. The two watches are also similar in their use of bright orange accents: the chronograph uses the color to highlight its complication, as seen on the indented registers, and the dual time does the same, as seen on the second-time-zone hand and the home-synchronized AM/PM indicator.

Powering the dual time is the Vacheron Constantin Caliber 5110 DT/2, a GMT-equipped caliber that is a bit more complicated than many standard options on the market, thanks to its additional pusher for synchronizing the date to local time in combination with the AM/PM indicator tied to local time.The movement is easy to adjust while wearing, also boasting automatic winding and a 60-hour power reserve. The chronograph contains the Vacheron Constantin Caliber 5200/2, another manufacture movement, with an integrated stopwatch complication and date displa, in addition to a 52-hour power reserve.

Overseas Dual Time “Everest”
Overseas Chronograph “Everest”

Both movements have an NAC treatment on the baseplate, meant to echo the blue-gray shades on the dial and darker accents seen on the case. Both use a 22k rose-gold oscillating weight bearing an engraving of Mount Everest based on a photograph taken by Richards during one of his expeditions to the Himalayan summit.

The Vacheron Constantin “Everest” models will be available this fall at Vacheron Constantin boutiques, with the Overseas Chrongraph “Everest” marked at $37,000 and the Overseas Dual Time “Everest” priced at $31,300. As mentioned, each will be limited to 150 total pieces.

To learn more, visit Vacheron Constantin, here.

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