Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph reference 47101. This piece has been lingering in my head even before I started properly handling watches. When I first saw the watch in 2023, I fell in love with the watch. The case construction, proportions, the movement, this was it for me for Vacheron. After over 2 years of time and patience, I am extremely thrilled to have this in my inventory.
Everyone has different tastes in collecting watches, and for me pieces like this 47101 are one of my most passionate categories of watches to collect. This era (mid 80s until early 00s) of watches, these types of watches are my most passionate selection of watches to collect personally as the synchronisation of traditional watchmaking with a touch of modern engineering and implementation, these late 80s to 90s watches are my personal favourite era of watches.
I would like to believe that people are overlooking Vacheron’s history of producing gorgeous chronographs way back from the 1930s up until this 47101. The reference 4072, their most understated case design that lasted 3 decades, then we have 6078 Cornes de Vache design, as well as the predecessor of 47101; reference 4178. There were more, but these are just some of my favourite references. One thing for sure is that Vacheron easily made the most interesting case design chronographs out of all higher name brands. Overall, Vaheron chronographs in general deserve a little more attention.
This 47101 reference also has its fraternal twin brother; the 47100. While all 3 watches are based on the same caliber, The 47100 features a wonderfully finished skeletonised movement, and in 1999, 47101 was replaced with a slightly updated 47111 with screwed case back and a same but “new” caliber 1141. What about after the 47111? Well, let’s just say that watches got too modernised for my taste.
Looking at this Les Historiques 47101, first introduced in 1989 lasting until 1999, this 47101 reference was the successor of the historic 4178. Looking at the duo of 4178 and 47101 together, we can clearly see similar DNA running on the pair with its fancy wing shaped lugs, two counter register chronographs, as well as rectangular shaped pushers. I must say, they have transitioned the reference following the predecessor’s dna well, which is not something I can say towards other brands. Patek Philippe has the 1463 and the 5070, both beautiful watches, but it is hard to see a side by side comparison of how they are related to each other except for being a manual wound chronograph from Patek. But Vacheron has done an immense job of maintaining the DNA while upgrading and modernising it. Slightly larger case (37mm) which fits wonderfully on any wrist sizes, more durable dial with a better dial font, and of course the movement.
This specific example is in 18K yellow gold with a clean white dial, which is the classic of the classic. Vacheron also made a black guilloché dial on a yellow gold case, then there is the platinum case with either white dial or salmon guilloché dial which I think is the mack daddy of all 47101s.
The engine behind the watch is definitely one of the main highlights. This clean looking two counter chronograph is powered by Vacheron’s caliber 1140, which is a lemania 2310 based chronograph movement, re-worked by Vacheron beautifully. The lemaina 2310 caliber probably does not need a lot of introduction for collectors as this legendary movement can be found in many historic chronographs in the up until the 2000s such as the Patek 3970, 5070, 5970, Breguet 3230, Omega speedmaster 321 caliber (2310 lemania caliber), and the list goes on. Not all Lemania based chronographs are the same, as they are finished independently by brands, same goes with this example from Vacheron being beautifully finished.
Overall, this Vacheron Les Historiques Chronograph reference 47101 is a beautiful blend of vintage with flares of modern(ish) features. Now approaching 35 years since its release, this 47101 is aging like a fine wine. The bigger and uglier modern watches get, the better this guy looks with time.
