Water-resistant to 30 metres, the case has a more contemporary 38.5 mm diameter than the 35 mm of the original and naturally bears the distinctive lugs reminiscent of cow horns securing it to the strap. The crafting of the latter was entrusted to the Milanese luxury leather goods Maison, Serapian, founded in 1928, which shares the values of excellence cherished by Vacheron Constantin. A dark brown calf leather strap whose patina blends with the retro look of the model was chosen and Serapian also treated the second loop of the strap to the ‘attacco’ shape featured on its handbag handles – a signature nod to the famous Milanese leather goods manufacturer’s first collaboration with a watchmaker.
Chronograph Calibre 1142
The Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 watch is powered by the manual-winding 1142 chronograph calibre with a 48-hour power reserve. In keeping with the grand watchmaking tradition, the short-time measuring mechanism is controlled by a column-wheel, adorned with a screw head shaped like a Maltese cross, the Vacheron Constantin emblem. Entirely bevelled and hand-decorated, with circular-grained finishes on the dial side and Côtes de Genève on the back, this 164-component movement beating at a rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz) can be admired through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback framed by a ten-sided bezel.
The model offers timekeeping functions including small seconds, as well as a chronograph with a central seconds hand and minute counter. A tachymeter scale (serving to determine average speed over a known distance) on a 1000-metre base surrounds the chronograph counter featuring blued steel hands for optimal legibility. A white minute-circle punctuated with dark red numerals highlights the tone of the grey velvet-finished opaline dial, embellished with two snailed counters and bearing applied gold Roman numerals and hour-markers.
