As the first salvo off Vacheron Constantin’s 270th Anniversary celebrations, the grand maison released the Historiques 222 in a stainless steel case. We handled and photographed the watch in late December, and here is our hands on review of this magnificent timepiece.
New and Reviewed: Vacheron Constantin Historique 222, now in SS case, blue dial
The Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222, now in SS case, blue dial Ref. 4200H/222A-B934 will have a retail price of SGD 46,100. Price is inclusive of GST. Availability is only at VC boutiques.
We made a comprehensive review of the Historiques 222 in yellow gold when it was launched in 2022. This year, for the 270th Anniversary of the grand maison’s founding in 1755, the model is now made available in a stainless steel case and bracelet.

Our review sample is equipped with a magnificent cobalt blue, textured dial. And other than the case/bracelet material and dial colour, all else remain the same as the yellow gold 2022 version. But instead of just describing the differences, for the sake that this review is able to stand alone, this will be a complete review of the Historiques 222 in steel. Of course, with the risk repeating what we have already said in 2022.
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The case and bracelet
This latest release has the same case and bracelet as the 2022 reissue, with the exception of the material used. The case is a nominal 37mm diameter and 7.85mm thick. The original 222 came in three different case sizes. A quartz-driven 24 mm marketed to women, a mid-size 34 mm, and ‘Jumbo’ 37 mm. The Historiques reissue of the 222 is modelled after the ‘Jumbo’, and remains faithful to its original 37 mm sizing.

Both the case and bracelet are now in stainless steel. The mono-block tonneau shaped case middle is a defining feature of the 222. Case finishing is excellent, with the vertical brushing with polished bevels. This vertical brushed finish continues from the flat top of the case middle to the integrated lug end-piece over to the bracelet. The bezel is the calling card signature of the 222, and it is fluted with machined semicircular cuts, and is mounted on the flat top of the case middle. Frank in his review called it a soda bottle cap, but to me, it looked more like a stylised cog wheel. The Vacheron Constantan Malteze cross logo embossed on the bottom right of the flat surface is now executed as a yellow gold medallion.

The bracelet is an elegantly tapered three link design with the elongated hexagonal mid-link. The links are supple and hugs the wrist very nicely for a comfortable fit.

The case and bracelet is as elegant as a sports watch can get. And with a water resistance rating of 50m, it is suitable for exposure to water in everyday situations, including use in sporty activities in aquatic environments. Though not recommended for diving, it can be easily used for swimming.
The dial and hands
The dial is where this novelty departs from its predecessor. It is now in a beautiful blue. The VC literature just describe the dial as blue. But to us, the blue is nuanced, and we would describe it as a kind of cornflower or cobalt blue.

The blue dial, with the its appiqué markers in white gold provides a contrasty backdrop for the white gold hands to give excellent legibility. A white gold Malteze Cross is applied over the transfer printed white text declaring “VACHERON CONSTANTIN GENEVE” in two lines, and “AUTOMATIC” to balance the upper dial. A white gold framed aperture shows the date at 3 o’clock. This dial layout is exactly the same as with the 2022 release model.

The indices and hands also carry SuperLumiNova, which is off white during the day, and lime green at night. The effect of the off white and green glow is to recreate the feel of the tritium used in the original model.

The movement
The movement is the same VC Cal. 2455/2 used in the 2022 reissue. This movement is twenty years old so it is already stood the test of time. As mentioned in our 2022 review, the movement power reserve is 40 hours, and is not as long as the Cal. 5100 used in the Overseas.

Movement finishing is as expected from VC. All the usual accoutrements of haute horlogerie finissage are executed very high. The sapphire crystal back shows the Côte de Genève across the bridges with beautifully bevelled and polished edges. Screw heads have also been polished, and the wheels are circular grained. The base plate displays immaculate perlage. The rotor is vintage inspired, with the pattern of the fluted bezel repeated.
The competitive landscape
The competitive landscape remains largely unchanged from the field facing the yellow gold 222, except that now we are dealing with executions in steel.
Remaining as possibly the strongest is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Ref. 16202 which now is getting a bit less elusive to buy than before, and at SGD 53k, is as competitive as ever. Or the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167/1A-001 at SGD 41k or the Patek Cubitus 5821/1A at SGD 59.7k.
Concluding thoughts
Again, our excitement level rose when we first encountered the watch. We handled and photographed the new Historiques 222 SS in late December 2024, and at first sight the beauty of the steel case with the blue dial knocked us off our proverbial feet. And the feeling grew more intense the longer we spent with the timepiece. This is a magnificent re-creation of an icon, and now made more accessible to the collector with the steel rendition. Vacheron Constantin has done a splendid job with the execution of this Historiques 222, as it has with the yellow gold version. To our eyes, the yellow gold edition feels more vintage, and this steel version more modern.

The watch is not a limited edition, like the yellow gold variant, but expect that there will be a long wait list to get one. So if this latest Historiques 222 in SS tickles you as much as it tickled us, you have to rush to your VC Boutique and place your order for one.
2 Comments
Thank you for the article, Peter. This is a gorgeous watch. I figure it will be impossible to get…
The VC phones are ringing off the hook…but if you want one, better be quick. Having said that, the watch is not a limited edition.