Then and Now, 38 mm Edition

Jul 21, 2014,13:33 PM
 

Two great 38 mm timepieces from Vacheron Constantin, both with distinctive lug designs.




And a profile view:






If you could have only one of the above, which would you choose for your collection?

Bill


 
This message has been edited by WHL on 2014-07-21 13:36:29

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Vintage=Sensual, Contemporary=Sleek....

 
 By: Ancienne Le Brassus : July 21st, 2014-14:17
Hard choice to make. I would have to go for both, you can't appreciate a contemporary VC without understanding why they still thrive as one of the oldest companies around! ;) Beautiful comparison! S

The comparison of the cases, IMO, is not in favor of the modern.

 
 By: amanico : July 21st, 2014-14:42
THAT vintage case is so Vacheron. Elegant, refined. Exquisite. With soul. The Patrimony, in 38 mm, is a nice Watch, but cannot beat that colored gold one. It is a nice normal Watch, if I may say, while the vintage is a Vacheron. There are some coomparison... 

Cruel comparisons.

 
 By: CaliforniaJed : July 21st, 2014-23:37
Perfectly stated, Nicolas. Apart from the vintage, the Patimony is a winner. Next to it is a different story. Best, CaiforniaJed

Your vintage is just sublime

 
 By: 4Js : July 21st, 2014-18:13
A total knockout and VC did such a fab job. No comparison for me Best Bill Joe

With VC it always about the difficult choices

 
 By: respo : July 22nd, 2014-06:28
...for me anyway. I cannot have all of the watches I want -- I guess that is true for many of us -- and this becomes acutely problematic with respect to Vacheron Constantin. So, I have to make tough choices such as the one you have posed. Now in this part... 

Agreed on Les Historiques Line, which is, in my opinion, and according to my tastes...

 
 By: amanico : July 22nd, 2014-06:32
More appealing than the Patrimony line. The cqse of Les Historiques, and the lugs, that was something! Best, Respo. Nicolas

Something for everyone...

 
 By: respo : July 22nd, 2014-06:40
...and everything for me! But I am a greedy boy, as you know. ;-) Best, Respo the Greedy

LOL! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : July 22nd, 2014-07:00

Thank you for the birthday wishes....

 
 By: WHL : July 22nd, 2014-07:56
and your thoughts on collecting VC's. It is definitely true that for me to get one watch means that I have to pass on other desirable pieces, and is the reason that I move on from one watch to the next, so that I can enjoy what so many have to offer. With... 

This is really tough for me...

 
 By: jtodd : July 22nd, 2014-17:22
I generally like White pieces and the Patrimony is no exception. Also, I prefer the slightly heftier profile. I know, this is unusual. However... those lugs... those applied Arabic Numerals... as was stated above, there is a real spirit and Vacheron-ness ... 

What is going on with the radial flip here?

 
 By: Bodo : July 22nd, 2014-18:07
This is the weirdest case of radial flip that I have ever seen. The upper numbers (10, 12 and 2) are pointing with their lower end to the center of the watch, and with the upper end towards the bezel. For consistency's sake I would expect the lower number... 

As I responded in the previous thread about this watch....

 
 By: WHL : July 22nd, 2014-18:50
VC rotated it during service: it was not that way it was when sent in as you can tell from the "before" photo. I don't want to send it in for a fix as I have been without the watch for a year and it doesn't bother me now. Bill

Thx for the explanation

 
 By: Bodo : July 22nd, 2014-19:15
I didn't read that post. To be honest, I was drawn to this post due to the picture of the Patrimony Traditionelle, not because of the vintage piece. So with respect to your question which one I'd add to my collection, it would be the modern piece.

vacheron 38mm which to choose

 
 By: geross : July 22nd, 2014-19:03
hard to choose both are a beauty. technology taken into consideration i would choose the modern one with petite seconds. best geross

I really like the sleek, contemporary one

 
 By: i_am_Sam : July 22nd, 2014-19:34
And would love to see one in metal Best, Sam

The Vintage was probably made in the 1950's. At that

 
 By: kpk : July 22nd, 2014-23:05
time, the market was a few hundred globally and VC probably made only a few hundred. It was probably whipped up without any real market knowledge or research and VC made only a few pieces of each model. The new one has to take into account a global client... 

Even though I love and own the VC Traditionelle (in PG)...

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 23rd, 2014-19:19
The vintage one looks more charming! It has the style of VC all over it I feel. The lugs and case are to die for! Tough one Bill. The modern Traditionelle is also a very nice dress watch (I spoke with my wallet on that!). Esp the Platinum version with the... 

If I was choosing to collect, I'd go with the vintage.

 
 By: watchthatman : July 26th, 2014-10:24
The Lugs!!!! Case!! And it's vintage... To wear around frequently.... hmmm..., I love the design of the patrimony, so I'd go with that. However, I'd take a historiques 1955 over the patrimony if I had to go new. It's only 36, and I don't really like yello... 

Vintage, for sure [nt]

 
 By: Goldenlutin : July 26th, 2014-12:57