As the name suggests, the Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 is a vintage-inspired piece. In fact, for long, Vacheron has drawn upon its rich history to create reissues and today their Historiques line has grown to quite a lineup. The Triple Calendrier is inspired by the Reference 4240 which was produced in 1942 and the recreation of this highly important reference is, in my opinion, very faithfully and tastefully done.
Housed in a 40mm stainless steel case, it has been upsized to suit modern tastes. That being said the overall aesthetic of the watch remains remarkably proportionate and elegant, despite the sizing and with the Triple Calendrier it is all about the little details that make this such a great piece. Fancy lugs have always been a thing for Vacheron and the teardrop lugs on this piece is no exception. This is complemented well by the ‘triple gadroon’ style case, a stepped bezel and a raised sapphire crystal that all point towards its vintage roots.
Furthermore, the dial is beautifully done with a two-tone effect comprising of an opaline dial with a white calendar ring. There are two apertures at the top of the dial displaying the day and the month while a third-hand points to the outer ring for the date. While everything is proportionate and very elegant, the cherry on the cake for me would have to be the highly stylized, Art Deco Arabic numerals.
Powering this watch is a manually wound Cal. 4400 QC and it is simple but beautifully finished as you would expect from Vacheron Constantin. While there is a lot going on with the watch with all of the fancy details, they work surprisingly well together to create a very elegant dress piece.
