Enjoy exclusive pieces from Vacheron Constantin all year long. To turn heads, the brand’s 270th anniversary celebrations begin with the watch everyone knew: the Historique 222 in steel. The long-awaited watch arrived at Fratello’s headquarters ahead of the embargo. This was the perfect way to experience first-hand whether the revised 1970s steel icon lived up to our high expectations.
For fans of Vacheron Constantin, 2025 will be an unforgettable year. This year marks the 270th anniversary of the Maison, which has made a name for itself by creating intricate, innovative and elegant timepieces. What better timepiece to start the party than the 222, a watch created in 1977 to celebrate the brand’s 222nd birthday?
Trying out the steel Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222
The original 222 debuted in 1977. Designed by Jörg Heiseck, it featured a barrel-shaped case with a round bezel with a notch, also seen on the bracelet, which incorporated a Maltese cross design element. The 222 came in three variations: steel, steel/gold, and full gold. You can choose from two case sizes. The smaller 34mm version was equipped with a quartz movement. However, the 37mm “jumbo” version used the ultra-thin caliber 1121. This 3.05mm thick movement was a perfect match for the 7mm thick monobloc case, which required the movement to be mounted from above. The case is thin and elegant, but thanks to its screw-down bezel it has a practical water resistance of 120 meters. The clock displayed hours, minutes, and date.
Same but different
The 2025 Historiques 222 remains fairly close to the 1970s original, although it doesn’t have exactly the same proportions. The steel case measures 37mm in diameter, 7.95mm thick, and 45.3mm lug to lug. The finishing is top-notch, as you would expect from a watch that has earned the Geneva Seal. Once you put it on your wrist, you’ll never want to take it off. That’s partly due to its extremely smooth finish, but also because of its perfect proportions, charismatic matte dark blue dial, and timeless look. And the yellow gold Maltese cross placed at the 5 o’clock position is really the key point. The new 222 comes with a series of improvements. For example, the bracelet now closes with a triple-blade clasp instead of a twin-blade clasp. It has also been redesigned to hide visible pins, improving both aesthetics and ergonomics.
A sapphire window on the caseback reveals the in-house caliber 2455/2. This new movement is slightly smaller and thicker than the original 222’s caliber 1121, but is still very slim at just 3.6 mm thick. As a celebratory watch, the rotor is engraved with the original 222 logo and has a notch motif reminiscent of the bezel. The beat rate has been increased from the original movement’s 2.75 Hz (19,800 vibrations per hour) to 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour). VC says the new movement is more precise than the old one, but its 40-hour power reserve is six hours less than the old Caliber 1121, which was based on the Jaeger-LeCoultre 920.
History of Steel 222 poses and answers questions
Vacheron’s reintroduction of the 222 made me wonder if this watch made the current Overseas obsolete. The reintroduced 222 model still has a strong 1970s design feel. But these are also the watches from which the current Overseas collection evolved. The current collection’s Overseas models have shed their 1970s origins and grown bigger and bolder. The Maltese cross-inspired bezels and bracelets of post-2004 and pre-2016 Overseas models were so angular and prominent that it was difficult to discern the watch’s origins.
The 39 Overseas models in the 2025 collection are the result of a 2016 reinvention of the Overseas, smoothing and softening its appearance, but they are very different from the 222 watches of the 1970s. Some may argue that it can no longer be said to be the result of natural evolution. . This is a good thing because it means Historique 222 can coexist with foreign countries. Nostalgic watch fans will love the 222, while lovers of more modern watches can choose from a wide range of international timepieces. For example, there are 41mm Overseas automatic models in steel with black, silver or blue dials. This €27,600 luxury sports watch is a completely different beast than the steel 37mm Historiques 222. And it will probably appeal to a completely different audience.
Steel blue dial Historique 222 final information, pricing and availability
What’s the highlight of the blue-dial steel Historic 222? Well, that blue dial. The lack of a smoky finish is a reason to be happy, especially since we seem to be entering an era where gradient dials are the default setting for vintage-inspired watches. Vacheron Constantin stays true to the original, and the 2025 222 is not a retro watch, but rather a reinterpretation, showing that the perfect blue hue trumps special effects.
The blue-dialed steel Historic 222 is not a limited edition per se. However, it is only available in Vacheron Constantin boutiques and costs 35,300 euros. Please tell me now. Is the Steel 222 everything you hoped for? What else do you think will be released during the brand’s 270th anniversary this year? As you may know, Vacheron Constantin Accompanied by an exclusive soundtrack composed by a woodkid, this exceptional timepiece promises to mark milestone anniversaries. Let the watch party begin!
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