Vacheron Constantin

The Caliber 1141 Chronographs

 

Vacheron Constantin has used the manual winding chronograph caliber 1141, based on the classic Lemania 2320, for almost two decades now, and it has been the engine in three of the brand’s most popular watches: the Historiques Chronograph, the Malte Chronograph, and most recently, the Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph. My intent with this essay to share my thoughts on each of those watches, what I like and what I don’t like about them.

Les Historiques Chronograph

With the mechanical watch rennasiansce of the 1990’s underway, Vacheron Constantin found inspiration in its heritage and recreated designs froms the 1940’s and 1950’s. Drawing on the distinctive lugs of its reference 4178 chronograph, the Historiques Chronograph added two millimeters to the case diameter of its 35 mm ancestor.


There were five variations on this design: Yellow gold with silver dial; YG with black dial; Platinum with silver dial; Platinum with salmon dial; Platinum with black dial (limited to 25 pieces for the Japanese market).

I was priveledged to own both a Historiques Chronogrph and a vintage 4178 chronograph. I was very happy with both watches, but there were a few design details of the Historiques Chronograph that always bothered me (nothing about the 4178 bothered me). First and foremost was that the lugs were shortened when compared with the 4178, in which the lugs extend all the way down to be flush with the bottom of the case back. In the Historiques Chronograph they only went down to the bottom of the middle section of the case, and when  the watch was worn the seemed to float above the wrist. My other complaint was that the chronograph hand and subdial hands were black, which gave the watch a too-elegant appeacance when what I wanted was a little more sporty. As so often is the case, the imitation of the origianl is less than the original. Had I not had experience with the 4178 I probably wouldn't be picking nits like this.

Malte Chronograph

Vacheron Constantin obliged the market’s demand for a larger manual winding chronograph in 2004 when it introduced the 42 mm Malte Chronograph. For fans of the Historiques Chronograph it seemed obscenely large, but it soon would prove to be a popular product for the brand. The flared and stepped lugs and the swordblade hands that are the design signature of the Malte line are present and attractive.


I especially appreciate the use of blued hands for the chronograph and totalizer hands, which recalls the look of the great vintage Patek Philippe chronographs, where the hour, minute, and running seconds hard are all of one color, and the chronograph and totalizer hands are of a different color. The use of  both the tachymeter and telemeter scales on the outside of the dial, reminiscent of some vintage VC watches. My only quibble with this watch is the textured pattern on the dial, which strikes me as being precious.


The Excellence Platine version solves this problem beautifully with its sandblasted patium dial. I think this is the most desireable modern chronograph from VC to date.




Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph

With the Malte line consolidating around the tonneau case, it seemed natural for Vacheron Constantin to bring the caliber 1141 into the fold of the Patrimony collection, which consists entirely of round watches. In 2009, VC introduced the Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph, which kept the 42 mm case diameter of Malte, but brings the signature design elements of the Traditionnelle line to the fore. These are the stepped case with stepped lugs and knurling on the caseback edge, dauphine hands, and two-tone dial with faceted hour indices.



I can only give this watch my highest compliment: What’s not to love?

Bill

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