To kick off its 270th anniversary celebrations, Vacheron Constantin introduces the Historiques 222 in stainless steel – one of the most highly anticipated releases among collectors and enthusiasts in recent years. I had the chance to see this iconic watch in person; below are all the details, live photos, and pricing.
Historiques 222 in stainless steel – the version the watch world has been waiting for since the launch of the yellow gold Historiques 222 in 2022. Knowing how hot is the market for steel sport watches with integrated bracelets, Vacheron could launch this watch already for a few years and celebrate financial success of it, but they did it right: build event bigger hunger for it from the watch community and kept it for very special accession, event if they had to wait a bit longer. Well, 270th anniversary is quite a milestone. But connection goes even further, the original model, that was designed by Jorg Hasek, was first unveiled in 1977 to mark its 222nd anniversary.
The Historiques 222 in stainless steel – the version the watch world has been waiting for since the launch of the yellow gold Historiques 222 in 2022 – has finally arrived. Given the strong demand for steel sports watches with integrated bracelets, Vacheron Constantin could have released this model years ago and capitalized on its success. Instead, they chose to build even greater anticipation within the watch community, reserving it for a truly special occasion. And what better moment than the brand’s 270th anniversary? The connection runs even deeper: the original model, designed by Jörg Hysek, was first unveiled in 1977 to commemorate Vacheron Constantin’s 222nd anniversary.
Staying true to the original design and its 37mm case size, the new steel 222 features a matte blue dial that complements the overall aesthetic of the watch. Some online comments have criticized the dial for being somewhat plain, but in my opinion, this is a dial that needs to be seen in person. The color shifts beautifully from a deep blue to anthracite tones, and the matte finish enhances its pure, streamlined, and minimalistic design. The finishing of the watch is also remarkable, combining vertical satin-brushing with polished accents on some elements such as the crown, bracelet, and bezel.
The re-edition features several technical enhancements. The joints of the bracelet – which is now fastened with a triple-blade rather than a twin-blade clasp – have been redesigned to hide the visible pins and improve ergonomics. The caseback, which bears a special engraving marking Vacheron Constantin’s 270th anniversary, is fitted with a transparent sapphire crystal, offering a view of the movement.
Inside is the in-house Calibre 2455/2, which is slightly smaller in diameter than its predecessor yet remains just 3.6mm thick. While the case thickness is only 7.95 mm. The oscillating weight of this movement is engraved with the original 222 logo and edged with a fluted motif reminiscent of the bezel. Operating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour)- compared with 2.75 Hz on the original model – the movement offers enhanced precision and a 40-hour power reserve.
I was fortunate to see both the yellow gold and steel versions side by side during the photo shoot. While they share the same design, each has a distinct character. Personally, choosing between them would be a difficult decision.
This year promises to be an exciting one for Vacheron Constantin, with more notable releases expected as part of the brand’s 270th-anniversary celebrations. Let’s see if more models will be added to the Historiques 222 collection also.
The Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 in stainless steel is priced at €34,700 (VAT included).
More details about Vacheron Constantin you can find on www.vacheron-constantin.com.
