Released in 1996, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas was, in effect, the revival of VC’s previously discontinued sports watch collection, the 222 - released to celebrate VC's 222nd anniversary. As the 222 was VC’s first foray into sports watches, designers Vincent Kaufmann and Dino Modolo sought to build upon that very same aesthetic with the Overseas and create a watch that could “weather any challenge [and] share your horizons”. The first iteration of the Overseas was produced from 1996 until 2004 and came in a tonneau-shaped case with a fluted bezel designed to evoke VC’s emblem, the Maltese cross. However, in 2004, the Overseas was overhauled with an even more modern design, such as a new Maltese-cross-inspired bracelet, an updated dial design and a slew of new movements. The watch we have here hails from that second iteration of the Overseas, the ref. 47040 with a larger 42mm case, which is a noticeable step up from the 37mm cases of the previous generation’s time and date-only models. Boasting a beautiful silver dial that features an intricate guilloche engraved pattern and applied numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12, along with applied indices at each hour, and shorter indices above the numerals, the ref. 47040 is a timepiece that sought to maximize legibility and useability for the wearer. A robust sports watch designed to look and feel like a true luxury timepiece from a member of the Holy Trinity, the Overseas has finally begun to attract the plaudits it deserves, and the second generation of the Overseas was the beginning of the collection’s modern aesthetic that has seen it become a household name for the entire watch collecting community.

Just as capable and visually distinctive as its fellow Holy Trinity rivals, the Nautilus and Royal Oak, the Overseas has finally gained the attention, plaudits, and popularity that it has long-deserved ever since its earlier ancestor, the ref. 222, was launched in the 1970s.