Some pictures of the Vacheron Ref 47245, Day + Retrograde Date.

Aug 14, 2013,05:23 AM
 




A quick warning, this watch is a marvel.

Honestly when I remember, as Respo did some days ago, the Vacheron Catalog from the early 2000's, I have, immediately in mind, the reasons which made me love this brand so much.

There were a lot of watches which expressed Poetry, Romantism, and Beauty, in a delicate and exquisite way.

Some examples? The Mercator, the Les Historiques Chronograph, the Perpetual Calendar Skeleton, the Minute rRepeater deeserve to be mentionned, and this is not an exhaustive list.

It is not a secret that I am not a big fan of dates. Most of the time, I feel they ruin the dial.

Except when they are part of the watch, like the JLC Polaris or the Rolex GMT, or when they add something techniical ( The Big Date we can find on some Ulysse Nardin, JLCs or Lange ), really useful, or... romantic, once again, like... This Reference 47245, which displays a conventional and circular day, and a retrograde date.

Please keep in mind that this reference was not available in platinum, only, but also in rose gold and in white gold.

Both being superb and elegant, but the platinum adds some strenght to these aesthetical virtues.

Let's examine it through some pictures I was able to take, of the platinum version, which comes with a superb black dial.

There is a lot to say about the case...

With a diameter of 37 mm, for a height of 10 mm, we cannot say that it is a flat or thin watch.

BUT the case has, shows, " sweats " Charm, and a lot of character, due to the shape of its lugs.

It has style, without being mannered.





The transparent case back reveals the presence of a movement, the Cal 1126/ 1, which sounds familiar to the Jaeger-Lecoultre Moderator I am....



The movement is the only reserve I have on this watch, a reserve I also feel when it comes to the Mercator. Such lovely, fine, and great watches would have, maybe, deserved something finer. Not that the movement is not good, but I don't think it is at the level of the rest of these watches, in my very personal opinion.

A solid case back would have been a better solution, me think...

The dial is a summit of elegance. Its textured finish, the white gold applied hour markers ( roman numbers and dots ) are not disappointing, as well as the very simple hour, minute and day hands.

To avoid any confusion, the date hand is differently shaped. A subtle contrast.



Well the " passage " of the date is normal till the 31th, seeing it retrograding to the 1st is something spectacular.

Two last comments:

1/ For those who think that 37 mm is too small, I can only recommend to try it.

Small is often the counterpart of " exquisite ", and for a watch of this category, I find the size to be perfect.

2/ Is there a better version than this platinum one? I would say that it is a matter of taste, some preferring colored gold cases, but there is another one which is sublime...

The open dial version:



This is the kind of watch which is consistent with the idea I have of Vacheron Constantin, and one of the reasons of my love for the brand.

Hoping that you had as much pleasure to read this view on this reference, as I had to write it,

Best.

Nicolas

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Much pleasure indeed!

 
 By: respo : August 14th, 2013-05:41
Thank you for providing some excellent photos and thoughts on the ref. 47245, Day + Retrograde Date. We do not often get to see this platinum black dial version of the 47245, and it is the loveliest incarnation of the retrograde date from VC in modern tim... 

Agreed on the solid case back. It would have been better with.

 
 By: amanico : August 14th, 2013-06:55
As for the comparison between this reference and its current version, for me, there is no match. This one is much more appealing. Thanks for your great input, Respo! Best, Nicolas

You are right !

 
 By: Spellbound : August 14th, 2013-06:06
You are right, this watch is a marvel. I love the black dial on platinum, and the numerals, 2,4,6,8,10,12 is not a common layout, but it makes total sense and aesthically is perfect on this dial. Another one to add to my ever growing list. Simply elegant,... 

The old catalogs offer so many marvels from Vacheron.

 
 By: amanico : August 14th, 2013-07:38
Will try to write something on that. Best, Nicolas

Ditto

 
 By: 4Js : August 14th, 2013-06:56
Hi Nicolas, thanks for posting up on this watch, and your spot on comments. I agree with you on all the points you made. Respo covered all the add comments I was going to make. My piece has just finished its time at the spa, and I have to get to NYC bouti...  

Have you ever thought about....

 
 By: WHL : August 14th, 2013-19:05
Having VC make you a custom engraved solid case back? :-) Bill

For me Bill, I love open backs

 
 By: 4Js : August 14th, 2013-20:45
While I appreciate the points about the movement versus the saltarello rotor type work, I still love seeing the engine. That's just me. I am most happy with what I have in this watch. Thx Joe

nice post Nico of my first VC

 
 By: dshao1 : August 14th, 2013-07:59
Though mine is the RG version with white dial. (I prefer white dials on "dressier" watches). The guillochage matches well with my heavier cloth dress shirts as well ;-) I originally did not know that it only came out in RG and WG. I just learned last mont...  

The watch which is at the origin of our VC love and addiction.

 
 By: amanico : August 14th, 2013-08:14
That may be a very interesting topic. Thanks for your input, and yes, this is a very nice one, in red gold. Even for a not colored gold fan like me! Best, Nicolas

Thank you Nicolas, what an elegant way of indicating....

 
 By: Sandgroper : August 14th, 2013-18:15
the date and the case...just "mignon". Perhaps in this instance it would have been better to have a solid case back. I definitely prefer it with the dial, I am not a great fan of skeleton dial, you see I look at a watch, especially one like this, as I loo... 

Thanks for your great input, François.

 
 By: amanico : August 15th, 2013-00:29
Well, the problem with skeleton dials, is that you have to see them in the flesh, to be sure you love them, or you definitly don't. I have the feeling this Watch is the kind of Vacheron you like, my friend... All the best! Nicolas

Nice review.....

 
 By: WHL : August 14th, 2013-19:07
This is one of the cassics fom the early 2000's, and one that every fan of the brand should consider (VC having such a wonderful history of retrograding complications over the years). Bill

Yes, that is what this thread boils down to...

 
 By: respo : August 15th, 2013-05:19
respo must get a retrograding VC. This was all about selecting my next VC, right? ;-) Seriously, this thread is driving me a little crazy -- in a good way. Best, respo

Seriously, you are right. You are one of the few

 
 By: amanico : August 15th, 2013-06:36
I was thinking about when I saw this Watch... Seriously. Best, Nicolas.

Very nice post, Nico

 
 By: yesjb : August 15th, 2013-12:03
It was one of my first VC's as well. Many thanks, Joseph

I love the watch

 
 By: wso : August 18th, 2013-00:02
Hard to find these days.