Vacheron 222 announced

[rag5178]

The fully stainless steel Overseas is priced at about 40% the retail price of the full rose gold overseas. That same ratio would put the SS 222 around 25-26k, but given the inevitable high demand, I would bet they price it a bit higher. 30k seems like a good guess.

[huydoan]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Must be a boutique not just an AD. If you don't have a boutique call them at the eBoutique asap and register your interest.

I mean boutique , and hopefully to hear good news


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[mongrelnomoad]

White gold or steel and this would be perfect.

[Guybrush]

The Hodinkee writeup is useful:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/hi...istoriques-222

Interesting that they went with the 2455 movement here--only 40hrs of power reserve, which isn't great by today's standards. I suppose they were constricted by size, but why not use the 5300 that's in the 37mm Overseas. That has 44 hours, which isn't much better, but it is better...

[rag5178]

Originally Posted by Guybrush

The Hodinkee writeup is useful:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/hi...istoriques-222

Interesting that they went with the 2455 movement here--only 40hrs of power reserve, which isn't great by today's standards. I suppose they were constricted by size, but why not use the 5300 that's in the 37mm Overseas. That has 44 hours, which isn't much better, but it is better...

Probably to save some thickness. I think the 5300 is 4.0mm and the 2455 is 3.6mm

[raclaims]

I'm def going to go for the SS version but am worried about the small size...but hey I'll rock it!

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

White gold or steel and this would be perfect.

It will come I'm sure. I'm guessing if you don't get the gold one it's harder to get the steel. I will try for both.

[luster]

Looks outdated to me. I feel like most people would've been ok with a couple slight design changes to make it seem a little more contemporary? Guess I'm in the "if you want an old watch buy an old watch" camp.

Bottom right maltese cross is totally unnecessary, especially with another one on the dial. VC needs to stop slapping their logo all over everything, it cheapens the brand's craftsmanship and heritage

[solaire]

Originally Posted by luster

Looks outdated to me. I feel like most people would've been ok with a couple slight design changes to make it seem a little more contemporary? Guess I'm in the "if you want an old watch buy an old watch" camp.

Bottom right maltese cross is totally unnecessary, especially with another one on the dial. VC needs to stop slapping their logo all over everything, it cheapens the brand's craftsmanship and heritage

I think a lot of people don't understand the 222 or the launch.

The 222 is not relaunched as a separate range it was brought back under the Historiques range. That alone define what's can / cannot be done to the model. It also means this a limited p.

VC have not slapped their logo onto the watch. The Maltese Cross has been in the DNA of vacheron for a long time.

The origonal has the mlastese cross at 5 o'clock. The below shows the new on the left & old on the right



There are some drawbacks on the new one as the case design has changed resulting in a change in WR. Movement was also selected to try and limit any additional bulk on the new model.

As for what the 2nd edition of the 222 will be... Your local boutique already knows.


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[pp3355]

Originally Posted by Guybrush

I’m a fan of the 37mm size as well. Glad they didn’t concede to the silly, gaudy hubcap movement—and there are plenty of options in the larger sizes already.

I just wish they were offering this is in ss too.

And I wouldn’t complain if they’d reissues the 2215 as well.

Altogether, though, this feels (literally) very on-brand for VC.

Now the 2215 would be epic

And the 333..

[solaire]

Originally Posted by pp3355

Now the 2315 would be epic

And the 333..

2215 came out last year as a single piece & the anniversary is soon. Will it return outside of Les Collectionneurs? That's one to debate.

333 unlikely


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[Giangos]

Originally Posted by luster

Looks outdated to me. I feel like most people would've been ok with a couple slight design changes to make it seem a little more contemporary? Guess I'm in the "if you want an old watch buy an old watch" camp.

Bottom right maltese cross is totally unnecessary, especially with another one on the dial. VC needs to stop slapping their logo all over everything, it cheapens the brand's craftsmanship and heritage

It can’t cheapen the heritage - it IS the heritage. Have a look at the original, it’s almost identical.

People have to mindful that this is essentially a re-release and not a new release. Once you come to terms with that, notions of old fashioned etc disappear and you appreciate the watch for what it is meant to be.

It’s not for everyone, the overseas can accommodate those that are looking for modern looking pieces. I personally love it and I will be trying to my hardest to get one.


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[Jmaster]

At first glance it looks like an Oysterquartz (this is Rolex forum afterall…)

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Jmaster

At first glance it looks like an Oysterquartz (this is Rolex forum afterall…)

Oysterquartz has nice lines for sure. In the metal this will make just about any Rolex look like a tissot though.

[thekman]

Originally Posted by raclaims

I'm def going to go for the SS version but am worried about the small size...but hey I'll rock it!

did they tell you when they will release this?

[ndrs63]

Picture the hype when VC releases the stainless steel version at much lower price! I would definitely want one


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[nickorette]

I talked to my VC boutique, they weren't exactly sure all the details, but were thinking around October for pieces to start coming in, they were thinking it would be low supply. I was in contact before, during and after release, so hoping I'm towards the top of the list. I probably would have preferred a SS version, but already having a 37mm RO grey dial, the SS 37mm grey dial 222 might have been too similar.

I'm not usually a fan of yellow gold, but between the brushed surface and what appears to be a less yellow color it quickly grew on me

[RobHK]

Originally Posted by EEpro

$62,500. I called and asked this morning. No fixed number production but extremely limited quantities per year.

Since Im in HK how does this price you quoted work, is it an all in price, or also VAT/tax on top of that? In HK I just got quoted HK$ 495k, so that's slightly more, but there is no tax on top of that, its all in.

[Guybrush]

Originally Posted by nickorette

I talked to my VC boutique, they weren't exactly sure all the details, but were thinking around October for pieces to start coming in, they were thinking it would be low supply.

This video (a bit of promo from vc but worth watching, not least because you see the reissue side-by-side with a 1977 original) says exclusively boutiques in September in low quantity.

https://youtu.be/mBJSoVBau50

They also discuss some of the original production numbers for the 222. Only a couple hundred pieces were ever made in steel, which isn’t surprising.

[AperolSpritz]

I'd have to go against the crowd here.
As much as I respect the original model for what it was in the watch evolution history and for Vacheron. I am definitely not a buyer of this 222 today. I think it's design has not aged well at all. Hard pass for me.
I must say I am very very surprised by all the positive comments it gets.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Giangos

I was hoping that the new line would be reimagined and modern.

Far from it !


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No doubt. Someone needs to go help these people. It’s no wonder you can get their pieces at below MSRP.

[Guybrush]

But (as I think someone else already mentioned) I wonder, based on these critical remarks, if some folks are misunderstanding this release. This isn’t a new “line,” and it’s not meant to be contemporary in design: it’s a reissue.

This is essentially an archival recreation, albeit with an updated, visible movement. I’d be surprised if they make more than 200 of them and if it’s still being produced next year.

Their flagship sports piece remains the Overseas, and aside from a couple new iterations of that, it remains unchanged.

I happen to like the 222 in steel, just as it was, size and all. It’s my kind of anachronism. And if they do reissue that, I will unsuccessfully try to get one. But even if you think it’s ugly and dated now, I wouldn’t raise that a strike against VC as they’re not presenting it as a new direction. That’s not the point.

[RobHK]

Originally Posted by AperolSpritz

I'd have to go against the crowd here.
As much as I respect the original model for what it was in the watch evolution history and for Vacheron. I am definitely not a buyer of this 222 today. I think it's design has not aged well at all. Hard pass for me.
I must say I am very very surprised by all the positive comments it gets.

I don't think its going against the grain. This is more of a niche watch than Overseas which is very hard to hate. Maybe Overseas is not your favorite of all watches out there, but its pretty hard to say its an awful watch that does nothing for you and a hard pass.

Compare to something like Bulgari octo finissimo, there you have something controversial. Some will love it, some will hate it, Octo is hard pass for me. The 222 is not that extreme but more towards that direction, its not a watch for everyone.

[travisb]

Easily one of the best releases of the year for me.

[alllexandru]

One of the best releases in years, what a beauty.

[vitalsigns]

The 222 was always a dog and this one's no different to my eyes. A design that has not aged well. It looks cheap and stuck in the 70s, unlike some competitors that have aged much better.

Original 222 prices were in the dumps for years. But some of the froth of the market for RO, Nautilus, etc. has flowed over into other much less desirable designs.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by vitalsigns

The 222 was always a dog and this one's no different to my eyes. A design that has not aged well. It looks cheap and stuck in the 70s, unlike some competitors that have aged much better.

Original 222 prices were in the dumps for years. But some of the froth of the market for RO, Nautilus, etc. has flowed over into other much less desirable designs.

Weren't RO and Nautilus also sitting in the case and available at a discount during much of the time you're referring to? Even not all that long ago.

In terms of a design that hasn't aged well, that is your opinion, and I think exactly the opposite. The bracelet, case finish, and bezel design look better to me. These are the 70s era competitors from a quick Google image search. Updated with some better RO and Nautilus pics.

[solaire]

People will hate vacheron for being vacheron and sticking to their nda and quality.


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[vitalsigns]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Weren't RO and Nautilus also sitting in the case and available at a discount during much of the time you're referring to? Even not all that long ago.

Yes, absolutely. But the RO and Nautilus were still selling. The 222 had faded into obscurity, and for good reason IMO. And yes, of course, these are my own subjective opinions about the design. Just as others may love the style, I'm happy to forget most of the 70s styles, the 222 included. To a large extent I feel this way about the RO, and to a lesser extent about the Nautilus. I think the Nautilus has aged best of them all.

And don't get me started on the Aquanaut, which was the red headed step child of the bunch until the Nautilus skyrocketed. Apologies to red heads world-wide; I know it's offensive to compare you to the Aquanaut.

[raclaims]

That post made me laugh 3 times...keep it coming!